Nancy Young > wrote in message
...
[snip]
> I was shocked to see a woman feeding her kid a cup of soup,
> that kind that's in a styrofoam cup, and when she was done,
> just put the empty back on the shelf. I thought that was just
> unbelievable, so much so that I went back and checked for
> the empty, thinking, my eyes must have deceived me. Gross,
> too, imagine the next person who wants that soup and picks
> up someone's trash. Yuck.

I'm not so much worried about what the next person thinks as much as the
norms that type of "parent" is passing on to her child. "Stealing is
a-okay... As long as you don't get caught." I say something to people like
that -- especially when my three are present -- because food-theft costs me,
both directly and indirectly. Her feelings, or problems, aren't my concern.
The messages she's broadcasting are.

I've also seen people sample the soups with the same spoon, even though
there are six dispensers with signage reading, "Sample away but please use
clean utensils." The shock and dismay these clods display at being called on
their gauche behavior is sadistically entertaining.

Hit them one person at a time but hit 'em hard so you leave a lasting
impression.

The Ranger