Musings On Modern Manners

I bring a big bag of chocolates to the office every Friday, an assortment of individually-wrapped dark chocolates from Ghirardelli, a San Francisco company. I like the idea of individually-wrapped pieces for an office environment. One day about a year ago, I purchased a bag on a whim. My colleagues, some that I knew and many that I didn’t, were so enthusiastic about the idea and so generous with their thanks, that I decided to bring in a bag every week thereafter. 

I set the bag in a central location and let people help themselves. Most folks take one or two pieces, but there are two guys who I have seen routinely take more. One fellow carefully picks through the bag and takes one of each variety. Occasionally, he’ll empty the bag onto the countertop and group the chocolates into stacks to ensure that he has identified each of the categories.

The other guy isn’t as meticulous. He just reaches into the bag, grabs a handful of chocolates, and walks away. Then he’ll come around later in the afternoon and grab some more.

I don’t mind spending the money on a big bag of chocolates - it’s not much in the grand scheme of things, especially if it makes people happy - but I buy them with the idea that they will be shared by everyone, not so a couple of gluttonous cheapskates can binge for free. Eventually, I printed a sign that I place beside the candy bag. It reads:

“Please help yourself to up to two pieces of chocolate. We want to ensure that everyone in the office suite has a chance to enjoy them.”

It aggravates me to have to do this. I don’t work in a kindergarten. These are professional people with college degrees. 

There weren’t many people in the office today. A lot of folks are taking summer vacations or working from home, so they can watch their kids. At 5:15, Mr. Grab A Handful walks over and peeks into the bag. “Wow, there’s still a lot of chocolate left!” he says aloud to rationalize his intentional disregard for my printed request.

Crunch! The hand dives into the bag and pulls out as many pieces as it can grab in one motion.

Sigh! What can you do?

Copyright © 2018 Daniel R. South 

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