Lets suppose I want to take my family to a fancy dinner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about taking my kids to the Palm. But then I got turned off by some of the other diners, snapping their fingers for the waiter, saying "Gimme the lobster," letting their kids run around the restaurant because "we're regulars and they know how much we tip."

Instead, we opted for the neighborhood potluck. Everyone's invited and we all pitch in. Sure, there's usually that family that lets their kid double-dip her chip, or the ones who never offer to host. But for the most part, we show our kids how much fun dining together can be.

Best analogy yet!

Indeed, this is an excellent analogy. Because at the neighborhood potluck, there's no diners looking at what they're getting and comparing it to what other diners are getting. And I'm sure when someone brings mystery meat and you ask "what's in the mystery meat?" no one bats an eye when they're told to pound sand. There's no diners who think they should be getting more than others because...hmm, how do I put this delicately?....they're smarter than the other patrons.

I ate at neighborhood potlucks all my life, I guess I did fine, but heck, I like steak. And though our neighborhood potluck is really, really good, they don't have the all-you-can-eat carnivore goodness of an awesome churrascuria. As they say, YMMV

All that said, in addition for paying for all of my steak, I 100% believe in paying for part of your potluck as well, I really do. It'd be great, however, if I didn't get a side order of sanctimony flung back at me for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about taking my kids to the Palm. But then I got turned off by some of the other diners, snapping their fingers for the waiter, saying "Gimme the lobster," letting their kids run around the restaurant because "we're regulars and they know how much we tip."

Instead, we opted for the neighborhood potluck. Everyone's invited and we all pitch in. Sure, there's usually that family that lets their kid double-dip her chip, or the ones who never offer to host. But for the most part, we show our kids how much fun dining together can be.

Best analogy yet!

Indeed, this is an excellent analogy. Because at the neighborhood potluck, there's no diners looking at what they're getting and comparing it to what other diners are getting. And I'm sure when someone brings mystery meat and you ask "what's in the mystery meat?" no one bats an eye when they're told to pound sand. There's no diners who think they should be getting more than others because...hmm, how do I put this delicately?....they're smarter than the other patrons.

I ate at neighborhood potlucks all my life, I guess I did fine, but heck, I like steak. And though our neighborhood potluck is really, really good, they don't have the all-you-can-eat carnivore goodness of an awesome churrascuria. As they say, YMMV

All that said, in addition for paying for all of my steak, I 100% believe in paying for part of your potluck as well, I really do. It'd be great, however, if I didn't get a side order of sanctimony flung back at me for it.

But why? If I've been a slack off all my life, a user who goes to potlucks for the free meal but contributes very little, if anything, in return, why are you happy to have me there? Don't you see how you're being used?

[Anonymous]

I am not sure why everyone has chosen to keep writing with the restaurant metaphor. Odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about taking my kids to the Palm. But then I got turned off by some of the other diners, snapping their fingers for the waiter, saying "Gimme the lobster," letting their kids run around the restaurant because "we're regulars and they know how much we tip."

Instead, we opted for the neighborhood potluck. Everyone's invited and we all pitch in. Sure, there's usually that family that lets their kid double-dip her chip, or the ones who never offer to host. But for the most part, we show our kids how much fun dining together can be.

Best analogy yet!

Indeed, this is an excellent analogy. Because at the neighborhood potluck, there's no diners looking at what they're getting and comparing it to what other diners are getting. And I'm sure when someone brings mystery meat and you ask "what's in the mystery meat?" no one bats an eye when they're told to pound sand. There's no diners who think they should be getting more than others because...hmm, how do I put this delicately?....they're smarter than the other patrons.

I ate at neighborhood potlucks all my life, I guess I did fine, but heck, I like steak. And though our neighborhood potluck is really, really good, they don't have the all-you-can-eat carnivore goodness of an awesome churrascuria. As they say, YMMV

All that said, in addition for paying for all of my steak, I 100% believe in paying for part of your potluck as well, I really do. It'd be great, however, if I didn't get a side order of sanctimony flung back at me for it.

But why? If I've been a slack off all my life, a user who goes to potlucks for the free meal but contributes very little, if anything, in return, why are you happy to have me there? Don't you see how you're being used?

No Miss Rand, to be honest, I don't. We all need to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But why? If I've been a slack off all my life, a user who goes to potlucks for the free meal but contributes very little, if anything, in return, why are you happy to have me there? Don't you see how you're being used?

No. Because, for one thing, the children of slack-offs also need to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is just funny that you think everybody is treated the same at a restaurant and everybody pays for their meal.

Don't go to a Chinese restaurant, they won't even give you the real menu.

I am not bothered by the fact that some do not pay. I am glad that the kids still get a good education even though their parents can not afford it.

I am upset that jealous snobbish jerks want to shut out innocent kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why everyone has chosen to keep writing with the restaurant metaphor. Odd.

I know OP's style is contagious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about taking my kids to the Palm. But then I got turned off by some of the other diners, snapping their fingers for the waiter, saying "Gimme the lobster," letting their kids run around the restaurant because "we're regulars and they know how much we tip."

Instead, we opted for the neighborhood potluck. Everyone's invited and we all pitch in. Sure, there's usually that family that lets their kid double-dip her chip, or the ones who never offer to host. But for the most part, we show our kids how much fun dining together can be.

Best analogy yet!

Indeed, this is an excellent analogy. Because at the neighborhood potluck, there's no diners looking at what they're getting and comparing it to what other diners are getting. And I'm sure when someone brings mystery meat and you ask "what's in the mystery meat?" no one bats an eye when they're told to pound sand. There's no diners who think they should be getting more than others because...hmm, how do I put this delicately?....they're smarter than the other patrons.

I ate at neighborhood potlucks all my life, I guess I did fine, but heck, I like steak. And though our neighborhood potluck is really, really good, they don't have the all-you-can-eat carnivore goodness of an awesome churrascuria. As they say, YMMV

All that said, in addition for paying for all of my steak, I 100% believe in paying for part of your potluck as well, I really do. It'd be great, however, if I didn't get a side order of sanctimony flung back at me for it.

Perfect. You likely pay for that potluck than all but a few of those attending without so much as a thank you.

[Anonymous]

Please, get a life OP! Let go of your anger.

[Anonymous]

OP if its going to anger you, leave. The whole point of private schools is that they get to do what they want. And one of the many reasons they offer FA is because its what the vast majority of parents want. If some school announced "no more FA" they would lose a lot of applicants who could pay whose parents want them to go elsewhere. All these schools know the bottom line and turning themselves into a bastion of wealth would perversely harm that bottom line.

But seriously, if you hate it so much it makes you this angry, just don't send your kid there. When you choose to send them to private school you play by the school's rules.

[Anonymous]

OP - you make the choice of how to spend your money - if you feel you are being cheated and not getting your money's worth at the private school you have chosen, then find a better option and leave. Meanwhile, you'll do yourself and your kids a favor if you stop worrying about what other people are getting or doing...it's a waste of your time and energy. Make choices that are true to yourself and own them. If you need to adapt along the way, be honest with yourself and adjust accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about taking my kids to the Palm. But then I got turned off by some of the other diners, snapping their fingers for the waiter, saying "Gimme the lobster," letting their kids run around the restaurant because "we're regulars and they know how much we tip."

Instead, we opted for the neighborhood potluck. Everyone's invited and we all pitch in. Sure, there's usually that family that lets their kid double-dip her chip, or the ones who never offer to host. But for the most part, we show our kids how much fun dining together can be.

Best analogy yet!

Indeed, this is an excellent analogy. Because at the neighborhood potluck, there's no diners looking at what they're getting and comparing it to what other diners are getting. And I'm sure when someone brings mystery meat and you ask "what's in the mystery meat?" no one bats an eye when they're told to pound sand. There's no diners who think they should be getting more than others because...hmm, how do I put this delicately?....they're smarter than the other patrons.

I ate at neighborhood potlucks all my life, I guess I did fine, but heck, I like steak. And though our neighborhood potluck is really, really good, they don't have the all-you-can-eat carnivore goodness of an awesome churrascuria. As they say, YMMV

All that said, in addition for paying for all of my steak, I 100% believe in paying for part of your potluck as well, I really do. It'd be great, however, if I didn't get a side order of sanctimony flung back at me for it.

But why? If I've been a slack off all my life, a user who goes to potlucks for the free meal but contributes very little, if anything, in return, why are you happy to have me there? Don't you see how you're being used?

No Miss Rand, to be honest, I don't. We all need to eat.

We all need to work too. Some people just don't see it that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The op has every right to find a school that offers no financial aid and send his kids there. I'm sure such a school will have great reputation and high academic standards.

everyone knows it's "easier" to get into private schools if you can afford to pay full freight - call it affirmative action for rich people. So stop whining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But why? If I've been a slack off all my life, a user who goes to potlucks for the free meal but contributes very little, if anything, in return, why are you happy to have me there? Don't you see how you're being used?

No Miss Rand, to be honest, I don't. We all need to eat.

We all need to work too. Some people just don't see it that way.

So is this the OP who believes all FA families at his kid's private are freeloaders, or a garden variety glibertarian who believes all poor and/or immigrant kids in public schools are all gaming the system and destroying our way of life? Because my asshat detector is finding it difficult to distinguish between these embarrassing displays of Objectivist claptrap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, part of the dining experience is richness of the conversation that comes from diners of all backgrounds and experiences. It's not just about the food that the waiters serve you, but about the way the tables are arranged so as to mix up the diners and promote enlightening conversations. The owners of the restaurant recognize that not all diners can afford their restaurant, but they want that richness that diversity brings to their table conversations, and so they offer their meals at a discounted or even free rate to some.

All diners know this going in. Some have more money than they know what to do with, and some save and scrimp to eat there. But they feel it's worth it because the food and the service AND the rich conversation from the many and varied diners makes it a completely wonderful dining experience. There is no resentment on their part that others do not pay because they recognize the value those others bring AND they're not petty morons.

+1000000

Well put. Not that OP will get it.