Ethics and Ice Cream

[oakenguy]

I went over to the Pru for Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day. When I got there I saw a line, but at the end of the line there was this clot of people eating from cones, and it wasn't clear where the line actually began.

ME: Is this the line?

WOMAN EATING CONE: Yup.

ME: But...you're already eating?

WEC: The rules just say you can only have one cone *at a time*.



I've been going to these for the last 3 years, and this NEVER OCCURRED TO ME. I still can't decide--greedy? Or brilliant?

Comments

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Can't it be both?

[oxfordpeas.livejournal.com]

Hahhaa. o_O
...Brilliant!

[mdyesowitch.livejournal.com]

I think it's not just greedy, but also responsible for the decline of western civilization. When kids go trick-or-treating, they're taught to take one and only thing unless invited to take more by the giver so that everyone can have one and throughput is optimized. Why should you be forced to spend additional time waiting so someone who has already received something can receive it again.

Even if we assume you have infinite time to spend getting an ice cream cone, they have infinite time in which to hand them out, and there's an infinite supply of ice cream, I'd still object on the grounds that free cone day was intended to be "free cone" not "free stuff your face."

At least pretend to walk away before coming back. Don't stand in the line EATING your free cone while waiting to get your next one.

[kissedbythegods.livejournal.com]

I agree with this. Who really needs two cones? Especially with the obesity problem that we're seeing in North America right now. I'd almost rather see Ben & Jerry's doing a 100-percent-of-the-proceeds-go-to-charity day than a free cone day.

[magickcat.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. That's freakin' insane man.
Boyfriend drove he and I to Salem to get a free cone because I haven't eaten a single solitary thing all day (tummy ache) and ice cream helps, and both of us are broke, and what better than free Ben & Jerry's, right? (don't say free Cold Stone, we did that last week and they give you two bites, yeesh!) but anyway, WE thought it was bad when this parent who was completely barricading the entrance with her family said "You have to go in! It's free cone day!" while making it impossible to enter... but waiting in line for a second cone when you haven't even finished your first is just downright WRONG. I could go for more ice cream, yes... but that's just wrong.
I had a point here.. oh the proceeds thing... instead of tips today, everything in Salem's tip jar goes to the Northeast Animal Shelter. :)

[anadandy.livejournal.com]

I'd still object on the grounds that free cone day was intended to be "free cone" not "free stuff your face."

This. Exactly.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yes. On the walk back to the office I was thinking "there's a reason it's not 'Free ConeS Day'."

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

I think your last paragraph put your finger on what bothered me the most--the lack of effort!

Walking the four minutes to the scoop shop on Newbury Street for another cone? I'd applaud them.

Going away, eating the ice cream, putting on a hat and coming back so at least there's a pretense of deception? Enjoy your scoop, you rascal you.

Making loops through the ice cream line while you eat as fast as you can, like Homer Simpson in Hell's Donut Machine? Um, no. Not so much.

[anadandy.livejournal.com]

Homer Simpson in Hell's Donut Machine?

This reference is why you win at life :)

[redfishie.livejournal.com]

that's kind of despicable and made of greed. Not cool. If it wasn't free would they normally eat two cones? who misses out because they do? I know people who would turn away if the lines were like that.

[bosfan24.livejournal.com]

Def' both.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Long, long ago I had a summer job as an ice cream scooper. Having been such, I know that I was working at Ben & Jerry's and someone was getting in line more than once, there would be a high probability of my recognizing them. If getting in line multiple times were against the rules, I would call them out. If it wasn't against the rules, I would just look at them with condescending pity and shake my head.

[flynngrrl.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't think I want a free ice cream cone. I am an adult, so I can buy ice cream whenever I want it. And I don't think I want any today.

I am pretty sure that this is NOT that willpower thing I have heard of. This moodiness and contrarianism, plain and not-so-simple.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Moodiness and contrarianism: the principles this great state were founded on!

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Possibly just brilliant if cone #1 was for her and cone #2 was a surprise present for someone who was nearby but couldn't make it. Otherwise, greedy and clever, but not brilliant.

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. I think Ben & Jerry would approve. :D Now if only there were a scoop shop within 20 miles of me....

[superrob.livejournal.com]

I vote: FAT

[ayelle.livejournal.com]

I used to get so excited about various free things days (like yesterday's Free Iced Coffee day at Dunkin' Donuts -- I did notice the rules said "one coffee per person PER VISIT," actually) -- and eventually realized that for the most part, I'd be willing to pay $2-4 not to have to stand in a long line. Y'know? Particularly at B&J's, where (IIRC) they only have, like, 3 choices of flavors on free cone day. If anything, it's the worst day to happen to have a sudden craving for ice cream.

My feeling: if there's a lot of kids in the line, or other people who are *only* getting the ice cream because it's free and prolly couldn't otherwise, it's kind of a jerk thing to do, making the line longer. But otherwise -- hey, go for it, if it's not against the rules. Sure, logically "if everybody did it" the line would be unfairly long; but realistically, "everybody" won't do it, because it's not really worth it.

Just my 2¢. Anyway, I just added you as a friend because I'm directing one of the shows in F@F (OMG!) and have been in Tomes of Terror w/ you and etc ; it seemed like it was time. :)

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Hello and welcome! I can already see we're going to have a lot of fun exchanging student-related anecdotes. :)