# Etiquette faux pas?: the economic ditch

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-faux-pas-the-economic-ditch/366737>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 31, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-faux-pas-the-economic-ditch/366737 "2006-07-31T17:13:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\
**Post date:** [August 4, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-faux-pas-the-economic-ditch/366737/101 "2006-08-04T03:21:52Z")

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> [@davenportavenger](#):
>
> The decision was made while I was sitting in a panel (I sit in all the panels because I want to get my money’s worth) and sprung on me, so I think the $15 price tag was less “omfg that is so expensive!” than “you made this decision behind my back, you’re trying to trick me, and also, that’s kind of expensive.” It’s not really about the money at all, or at least, most of it. It’s about feeling yet again that I am not in control of anything and the anger I have at the spontaneous.

In the future, I think the best thing for all concerned would be for you just make a flat statement like “I’m going to **Cheapie McMiser’s** for the $3.98 all-you-can-eat fish sticks special, then to **Pukey McHeadache’s** for the $1 malt liquor drafts.” Your friends can then elect to accompany you for dinner or meet you for drinks afterward. You’ll be able to set the whole agenda for yourself that way. Whether they’ll wish to accompany you will, of course, never be something you can control.

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etiquette-faux-pas-the-economic-ditch/366737/102 "2006-08-07T03:35:45Z")

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> [@KGS](#):
>
> Originally Posted by msmith537  
> Well, true friends can also dig a little deaper into their pocketbook to pull out an extra $10 for dinner.
> 
> You may be right…but if you expect every person in your life to be a “true friend”, you’ll have a lonely life.

This is true. Sometimes you just hang out with certain people because you share a similar interest, you enjoy their company and it’s convienient.

> [@WOOKINPANUB](#):
>
> Nor am I implying that you should. You would simply not propose any of those activities to one of your less affluent friends, no?
> 
> (I’m kidding: I know you don’t have any poor friends)

I have friends who make less money than me. None who are like $10 will make or break their budget for the month if that’s what you mean.  
The way it works is that people generally form a group of friends they routinely go out with. Their “posse” if you prefer. Generally the group as a whole will settle on places where they can agree on price, location and entertainment.

If you have one guy who always has issues - cost, needs to leave early, whatever - eventually they drift off from the group.

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