In article >, Sqwertz
> writes
>A few restaurants have trained their wait-droids to ask, "How does
>everything taste?" instead of the usual, "Can I get you anything?"
>or, "Is everything OK here? <smile>".

It's possible their training has stopped at the point where they try to
avoid asking, or paraphrase, questions to which the answer is a blunt
'yes' or 'no', as the 'no' response pretty much blocks any opening
gambit right away. (I've seen a training video aimed at sales people,
possibly by John Cleese, which made this point).

In the restaurant setting yes/no questions are appropriate when diners
have just commenced eating or are part way through their meals. I'd
expect to be asked 'is everything all right?', or even 'how is your
meal?' or 'how is everything?'.

It's before the customer has ordered, or once they've finished a course,
that the selling up kicks in and the yes/no question (and in particular
the 'no') needs to be avoided.
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