A Ponderance During Lunch

[gnomi]

Is there any functional difference between a commissary and a mess hall?

Comments

[kmelion.livejournal.com]

Commissary: a store for equipment and provisions; especially : a supermarket for military personnel

Mess Hall: a hall or building (as on an army post) in which mess is served

Mess: a quantity of food

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Right. Yes, I know the definitions. But what I'm wondering is if there's a functional difference or if one can or does serve as the other and vice versa.

[kmelion.livejournal.com]

I would imagine not... it's like comparing a grocery store to a dining room. Or maybe a pantry would be a better analogy. They're probably near one another?

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

The commissary is the base supermarket, and the mess hall is like a restaurant. Some military people have to pay to eat in the mess hall (if they live off-base, for instance).

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

OK. So when I see them being used interchangeably in fiction, the writer is being incorrect?

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

Up here, on base, they're two distinct buildings. Or they were, now they are decommissioned.

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

If that is your baby in the icon, what amazing cuteness is yours! Wow!

(I'm a big sucker for babies, especially sleepy babies...)

[mbarr.livejournal.com]

Very different. Commissary in the US military, esp the Navy, has many things that are not even related to food - it's a tax free store for use by members of the military and their families. Much more like a SuperK or Walmart in some ways, with food & equipment.

Mess hall would be the place that you can get prepared food, for consumption onsite.

So, very big functional difference.

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

Yes, the writer is being incorrect.

It's like Stop & Shop vs. Ponderosa. Mind you, you don't get served in the mess hall, but there's usually a salad bar, dessert bar, soup station, etc.

[mbarr.livejournal.com]

It could depend on the military in question. However, it's likely the writer is being incorrect. You might be able to get a candy bar at both locations... but one has a box of cereal, and the other has a bowl of it, served w/ Milk. That's at least in the US forces, for my limited set of knowledge.

[kmelion.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) He just keeps getting more and more delicious :)

[introverte.livejournal.com]

I'm not 100% on this, but I believe in British usage they would be the same.

[eireangus.livejournal.com]

Only if you are a penguin.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

::snerk::

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Ah. Good to know. Thanks!

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Another one of those "divided by a common language" things, I guess.

So I guess it depends on if the author is British or not.

[eireangus.livejournal.com]

Hehehe!

Did you get my message regarding the 20th? My mental time line is in shambles! :)

[lonfiction.livejournal.com]

Even more like a taxfree Stop-n-Shop versus a school cafeteria (where some pay out of pocket, and others have their meals paid for by a set-aside of govt. money)

[kuroshii.livejournal.com]

i always thought of a mess hall as being like a school cafeteria.

[lonfiction.livejournal.com]

Niether of which should be confused with the base's "department store" which is called a Navy Exchange for USN and USMC, a Post Exchange for Army (I'm pretty sure--haven't been on an Army base in years) and a Base Exchange for Air Force.

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

You're right -- it's a lot like that! Except instead of the kids forming eating cliques on their own (or in addition to it), you've got the formal segregation between officer and enlisted eating areas.

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

That's true.

I miss the tax-free shopping.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I did. I completely understand from a shambles of a mental timeline.

So maybe we can meet up for non-food before you head West; I work in Kendall Square, so I'm right on the T and able to get most places relatively easily.

[eireangus.livejournal.com]

Great!!!

I'll keep in touch and we will connect before I leave.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

An excellent plan. :-)

[violetcheetah.livejournal.com]

and now my brain is trying to come up with something punny to the tune of "der kommissar."

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

Don't turn around, uh-oh.

(So Dr. Google tells me that the original German version of the song has the line, "Hey, man, wanna buy some stuff, man?" So -- topical!)

[kuroshii.livejournal.com]

just like the teachers going through the same food line (as the students) but eating in their own little room off to the side!