Your comment is self-contradictory, as you clearly argue that there is no absolute.

Wine brought to a dinner party is meant to be served with the dinner, not to be a gift for the host(ess) to keep for themselves. If they don’t like the wine the guest brought, they should simply open more than one bottle at at time so everyone can choose what they want.

In that case, they should have left at least 20% 25% of the bottle.

“The host sheepishly said: “Do you want to take this home with you?” I don’t think she was completely committed to that offer / Was that tacky of me to take back the bottle I brought over, even if the host insisted?”

Its also not a healthcare surcharge (the employers are paying the employees’ healthcare regardless) - it’s a presumed-but-opt-out-able additional-profit (for the owners) surcharge. A business owner who can’t bring themselves to properly structure their prices to cover their CODB and turn a profit probably shouldn’t be…

I never said they were altruists. In fact, I very clearly pointed out that they used the employee benefits as a marketing angle. There is nothing wrong with a business making smart business decisions that benefit the employees as well as the business, and marketing themselves as a business that sees the value of…

What makes you think I live in Austin?

Care to rephrase your question?

“you’re supposed to tip the hot dog and beer vendors, right?”

You are ridiculous.

I would much rather support a business that respects and invests in their employees (and their health, education, and families) and community over one that purposefully makes use of guilt / shame to get customers (i.e. members of their community) to help them cover their cost of doing business while making their own…

Dick’s. It’s a wildly popular place. They even offer childcare to their employees, and their salaries vary by neighborhood depending on the cost of living (which varies quite a bit by neighborhood in Seattle). It’s a drive-up place, and their lots tend to be quite full and festive during late-night hours - lots people…

Just raise the prices and make it plainly known that your business is now providing healthcare coverage for it’s employees - you can even use that as a marketing angle, which could increase business. There’s a small local burger chain where I live that has always advertised the fact that they provide healthcare and…

Yes I’m quite familiar with the column, and completely unsurprised by the idiocy of this particular letter (for the reasons you cite).

Or, the writer for a food blog could do a proper job in writing out a recipe.

That guy’s an asshole.

Seriously. They should just rename this column “Dumb Questions.”

Sounds to me like you’re still in the midst of your childhoods, given the complete lack of basic problem-solving skills.

“The manager explained (...) that “it’s the customer’s responsibility to check their purchases before leaving the premises.”

Exactly what kind of “consequences” do you believe there should be for expressing one’s thoughts to a public official?