View Full Version : I don't understand people!
frugal-one
4-21-17, 4:03pm
I recently went to a cooking club meeting at our local library. The concept is there is a theme, you check out a library book and then make one of the recipes from the book. We all lined up our food and put the book behind to show the recipe. First, a gal started taking food I brought and putting it into a container to take home before we all even sat down to eat. I told her I didn't care if she took some later after everyone had taken a taste ... to be sure there was enough. I thought that was a lot of gaul. Then when I got home I realized that the library book was not on the table behind my food. I brought the book in but it was not there for me to take back out of the room. BTW the gal who took the food earlier left early and the book was there. So, someone actually TOOK a library book that I checked out. I spoke to the library director and explained. It is now listed as lost. WTH!!! I will just take the recipe in the future (if I decide to continue to go). This really bummed me out.
Teacher Terry
4-21-17, 4:13pm
That is so bizarre!
Not sure what to say about the food. Some people are just strange that way. Regarding the book, I assume your library has those gates that beep if an unchecked out book goes through them? Maybe next time, when you arrive, have them check the book back in. That way it's no longer your responsibility, plus, if someone tries to steal it it will set off the alarm.
Oh that is very weird, I would be especially upset about the book. What if you get charged for it? And the food, wait until the end or let the cook take leftovers or offer them. You spent the money on the recipe after all.
I have after school clubs and we set out snack for the students who are signed up for clubs. I had one child with a lot of food allergies so he had a special snack set off to the side. All the kids totally understood, but a grandparent who was visiting just started randomly eating things off the table, including the special snack. Who eats the 3 apple slices in a room of 70 kids? People are weird.
I may be cynical but I believe there are people who look for free food events. When I worked at the university, we would have buffets for lecturer guests. People would show up, load up their plates and leave the room. I hear the same thing happens at hotels during special events.
I may be cynical but I believe there are people who look for free food events.
You're not cynical at all, it happens. I used to go to a lot of network events with this person Lee. He would show up, eat the free pizza and leave before the speaker or event actually started. I talked to him once, and turns out he was single and didn't like to cook, so he found these industry events to attend (Boston area- so there was something pretty much every day).
Whole Foods has some good free samples on weekends.
Whole Foods has some good free samples on weekends.
Yeah, I saw what had to be a homeless woman in Whole Foods once, going around sampling the free food.
frugalone........what did the lady say to you, after you told her to please wait until after everyone had eaten? Did she collect other foods? Was she even part of the cooking club? Very strange.
ToomuchStuff
4-21-17, 11:33pm
I know a couple that was kicked out of one of those wholesale clubs, as they paid their memberships and all they ever did was walk around all day and eat on the free samples (and keep going back). They had purchased the membership just for that.
I see it, I just don't get it.
Yes, there are people who follow all of the arts programs to attend free food events. One of those women lived in my neighborhood.
gimmethesimplelife
4-22-17, 9:36am
I know struggling people in the 85006 who do this - there are a number of airport hotels not far away from this neighborhood that often have job fairs with food and refreshments served. These folks have some nice clothes to wear for these events - bought secondhand of course, and can appear as if professional and even have resumes if anyone asks but the goal is the free food and drink and the swag, some of which can be later sold. Ethical? You tell me. I look at how corporations treat workers these days and I also think two wrongs don't make a right and I look at the struggles in the 85006 - and I can understand why this takes place.
Is this any different than going to my credit union's annual meeting just for the door prizes (I won $50 last year and $75 this year) and the free spread? I really believe people are finding small creative ways to even their scores with the system, and before you think that's not right, might I suggest pointing the finger back at America and questioning what causes such behavior in the first place? Rob
iris lilies
4-22-17, 9:44am
I know struggling people in the 85006 who do this - there are a number of airport hotels not far away from this neighborhood that often have job fairs with food and refreshments served. These folks have some nice clothes to wear for these events - bought secondhand of course, and can appear as if professional and even have resumes if anyone asks but the goal is the free food and drink and the swag, some of which can be later sold. Ethical? You tell me. I look at how corporations treat workers these days and I also think two wrongs don't make a right and I look at the struggles in the 85006 - and I can understand why this takes place. Is this any different than going to my credit union's annual meeting just for the door prizes (I won $50 last year and $75 this year) and the free spread? I really believe people are finding small creative ways to even their scores with the system, and before you think that's not right, might I suggest pointing the finger back at America and questioning what causes such behavior in the first place? Rob
You are a member of your credit union and as such, you are their intended audience for door prizes. In the big picture I do not much care about people who glean free food (not including frugal-one's alarming example here, that was rude and pushy!)
There is never all that much great stuff at these events. When working at the downtown library I helped with several wine and cheese events, and the taxpayers don't fund good wine or much beyond cheese squares and mediocre crackers, let me tell ya. Haha.
I still remember being young, frugal, and nursing a beer all night in order to dance and take part in the free happy hour food.
I think what OP is describing is really creepy. Unfortunately, our local library is a gathering place for many people who seem to have addiction issues they are not dealing with, especially in the winter, as it is warm. Who knows that her problem was? I would not participate anymore, which is sad, but life is too short to meet up with that kind of stress. As I age, I have much less tolerance for bizarre situations as in my experience, they can turn violent. (Not saying the library food get together is going to get violent!)
The woman should be asked not to participate. But that never seems to happen.
frugal-one
4-22-17, 8:42pm
Yeah, I saw what had to be a homeless woman in Whole Foods once, going around sampling the free food.
frugalone........what did the lady say to you, after you told her to please wait until after everyone had eaten? Did she collect other foods? Was she even part of the cooking club? Very strange.
The gal who took the food actually stopped and later went back for more after everyone had eaten. She actually works at the library. There was another guy who just showed up (he also works at the library) and said he had to be somewhere and could not make anything. I would not come if I didn't bring something. I don't get it. This guy previously brought his wife too even though she didn't make anything. The person from the library who "hosts" this event doesn't make or bring anything either but eats too. I think that is strange also. I really enjoy the other people but think it is time to move on.
Some people simply cannot resist temptation. I think it's a disorder, or just plain social incompetence. My cousin had all her heirloom tomatoes she had tended and babied stolen from the community garden where she rents a plot---it's supposed to be for those on limited incomes. There just doesn't seem to be a respect for leaving alone that which does not belong to you. Out for no. 1.
One of my sons just confessed to me that last summer he and a few friends would meet at various hotels for breakfast...the free breakfast for guests...on a daily basis! I was so mad at him. He said they never were asked if they were guests or not.
I may be cynical but I believe there are people who look for free food events. When I worked at the university, we would have buffets for lecturer guests. People would show up, load up their plates and leave the room. I hear the same thing happens at hotels during special events.
My DH was a video producer and AARP was one of his main clients. He would shoot senior citizen events with speakers, and he used to come home and tell me how the seniors would just stuff their pockets and pocketbooks with the bagels and other food provided. I really hope I NEVER become THAT senior. I remember my grandmother-in-law once trying to steal the flatware!
My DH was a video producer and AARP was one of his main clients. He would shoot senior citizen events with speakers, and he used to come home and tell me how the seniors would just stuff their pockets and pocketbooks with the bagels and other food provided. I really hope I NEVER become THAT senior. I remember my grandmother-in-law once trying to steal the flatware!
I would like to think these aren't desperately hungry old people; what with the price of pharmaceuticals these days, you never know.
The perils of free food. At my workplace, people will go around sniffing out (no pun intended) areas that have food out for holidays, birthdays, etc and help themselves, even if they were not in the department.
At my community garden we have had thefts of entire crops: one person had all his onions stolen and I mean ALL of them. I could see taking one or two if needed (not that it's OK in any case) but all of them? One year everyone had their pumpkins stolen during a bad year for the local pumpkin crops. Seems that some people view the garden as a place to help themselves, some are truly needy and we have no problem with that. But we prefer that they ask and not just take.
The perils of free food.
And you're not immune from it even in your own family!
We had a scheduling conflict one year--DD was showing some artwork in lower Manhattan, and it was BIL's birthday. So we decided to combine the two events. MIL had JUST died the previous summer, so we wanted to give BIL a nice birthday (they had lived together for BIL's entire life). We decided to take him to a steak house. We agonized over the online options, and I offered Delmonico's. DH nixed it because the menu had a "Porterhouse for Two" and he was afraid his brother would order that steak for himself: it was $90.
I told DH, don't be ridiculous! and we decided on Delmonico's, as it was right near my daughter's art exhibit.
Well, you KNOW the end of this story. The waiter goes around the table and collects our order, and BIL says "I'll have the Porterhouse for Two."
To the point of the OP, what was he thinking??? Who does this?? Don't these people have any common courtesy? WHO would order a $100 meal when someone else is paying for it??? We laugh about it at this point--but we now take him to Outback on his birthday. If his birthday were in the summer, it would a grill on the barbie.
My daughter tells me her university has a "free food" app - when campus organizations are having events that serve food/drink, they register what they have and where, once they are finished with their event, and the rest of the hungry students show up like locusts and scour the remaining food from the surface of the Earth.
My daughter tells me her university has a "free food" app - when campus organizations are having events that serve food/drink, they register what they have and where, once they are finished with their event, and the rest of the hungry students show up like locusts and scour the remaining food from the surface of the Earth.
I can see today's college students having an app for that. Very resourceful :)
I like the kind of free food provided by the organization Food Not Bombs. My DDs friends would dumpster-dive and then organize and cook using the free food and then give it away to the homeless in Dupont Circle.
My daughter tells me her university has a "free food" app - when campus organizations are having events that serve food/drink, they register what they have and where, once they are finished with their event, and the rest of the hungry students show up like locusts and scour the remaining food from the surface of the Earth.
Sounds like whenever vendors bring food for "lunch and learn"'s at my office. Email goes out about leftovers and it's gone.
Sounds like whenever vendors bring food for "lunch and learn"'s at my office. Email goes out about leftovers and it's gone.
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gimmethesimplelife
4-24-17, 9:49pm
One of my sons just confessed to me that last summer he and a few friends would meet at various hotels for breakfast...the free breakfast for guests...on a daily basis! I was so mad at him. He said they never were asked if they were guests or not.When I worked at the Radisson by the airport I caught a few people doing this as I was supposed to get a coupon from them that was handed to them at checkin. Can I be honest? I let a few go based on their zip code or the story they told me.....I know this isn't exactly right and I know this is not going to go over well here - but this is something I wish to be honest about. In such a country of inequality such as the United States, people will find creative small ways to even the score which I why I believe I let it go sometimes and looked the other way. A few times, however, when the "guests" involved displayed attitude - I had no problem calling hotel security if they would not quietly leave - not everyone who pulled this got away with it on my shift. And I did not advertise this to my friends and neighbors nor did I ever invite anyone ever for a freebie. Rob
Just saw the movie "going in style". While it was entertaining and humorous, just under the surface was a strong message of social justice for those whose hard earned pensions were stolen by corporations. Yes they broke the law. And yes the corporations stole from them and yet that was considered legal.
I hate wasted food, so I love these stories of addressing waste by serving to college students or others. We had a dinner program at our school but the area is changing so fast I realized we were serving kids who had enough to eat at home (a few that could have used it were picked up too early). Meanwhile other schools had kids who were not picked up until after dinner or whose parents came and stayed until after they ate so they got a good meal.
ToomuchStuff
4-25-17, 2:26am
And you're not immune from it even in your own family!
To the point of the OP, what was he thinking??? Who does this?? Don't these people have any common courtesy? WHO would order a $100 meal when someone else is paying for it??? We laugh about it at this point--but we now take him to Outback on his birthday. If his birthday were in the summer, it would a grill on the barbie.
There is a guy I know, who I ran into with his granddaughter. She was embarrassed as (location), due to he goes into restaurants and says, "guess who is (age) today". They assume he means it is his birthday and give him the free birthday dessert.
But then family can be the worst. I have a friend, whose stepson and dil, would show up and lift up the grandkid and expect to be fed, not because they were broke, but because they thought they shouldn't have to pay for themselves. The dil and her ex, owe him around $35K, and she married his stepson who owes him who knows how much, and all they think is gimmie gimmie, gimmie.
I have a LOT more stories like these unfortunately.
Meeting announcement in the work lobby today and at the bottom in big letters says free donuts! Free food always works around my workplace.
On a more serious note, food waste bothers me so hearing about free food apps at universities and dumpster diving for food then cooking it for the homeless are great ideas to combat it. When I have found things missing in my community garden I manage to hope it's being used and not wasted even in the midst of being ticked off over it.
When I worked at the Radisson by the airport I caught a few people doing this as I was supposed to get a coupon from them that was handed to them at checkin. Can I be honest? I let a few go based on their zip code or the story they told me.....I know this isn't exactly right and I know this is not going to go over well here - but this is something I wish to be honest about. In such a country of inequality such as the United States, people will find creative small ways to even the score which I why I believe I let it go sometimes and looked the other way. A few times, however, when the "guests" involved displayed attitude - I had no problem calling hotel security if they would not quietly leave - not everyone who pulled this got away with it on my shift. And I did not advertise this to my friends and neighbors nor did I ever invite anyone ever for a freebie.
Last summer we stayed at a hotel where you were given a coupon for free breakfast every day and had to present it to the server to get it. First time we had run into this, actually, but there was a homeless population around so I guessed that was why.
On one hand, I can understand people trying to take advantage in order to get something they truly are in need of (such as a homeless person) but on the other hand, trying to do this out of entitlement or just to see if one can get away with it when they are not in need, is another. Sometimes it's obvious, but other times there's no way to gauge whether there's genuine need or not. I get where Rob is coming from: it may not be entirely right yet at the same time, people will do what they need to do especially when one considers not just the inequality in this country but also the lack of a strong social safety net.
Teacher Terry
4-26-17, 12:38pm
I agree that food waste is terrible and it is good that those in need are getting it. Until we address helping the severely mentally ill with housing we will always have a homeless population. Before we closed all the institutions we did not have a homeless problem. Yes many of those places were horrible which is another whole debate. I read that Madison, Wi is building a tiny home community for the homeless. I actually donated some $ to the cause.
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