# Of Munchies and Morality **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 5, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781 "2005-08-05T20:45:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781/1 "2005-08-05T20:45:58Z")
I have an hour to go here at the ol’ grind, and I go to refresh my Tasty Beverage at the fountain in the break room. I pause to preuse a review of the _Dukes of Hazzard_ film. As I sip my drink, I hear a THUNK behind me. I turn around and see that a bag of FritoLay Munchies has fallen from its perch in the vending machine behind me, and is now available to any who might care to take it. I’m all alone, there are no cameras, and our company has a very liberal vending-maching-refund policy. Doubtless, some poor sap ponied up his $0.75, and received nary a munchie for his hard-earned dimes. However, they were likely replaced by the nice lady downstairs. Was it wrong of me to take this salty snack? Should I put it back? Or should I gorge myself on its savory salinity? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781/2 "2005-08-05T20:47:22Z")
If the machine ever ripped you off and you neglected to secure a refund, I say they’re yours. Otherwise, petty pilfering, my friend…petty pilfering. Stealing is stealing. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781/3 "2005-08-05T20:58:34Z")
You should totally take it and enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781/4 "2005-08-05T21:00:33Z")
Are you kidding? Those munchies were practically _throwing_ themselves at you. They were totally asking for it. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781/5 "2005-08-05T21:06:25Z")
Much on, my friend, munch on! Cpnfession time: for over 4 years the Department of Industrial Relations had a Coke machine in the basement of their William Street building that would give two or three cans of Coke for the price of one. I estimate I benefitted from this machine to the tune of around 900 cans of Diet Coke from 1998-2002. I’m baaaaaad people. mm ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781/6 "2005-08-05T21:06:47Z")
Munch on, my friend, munch on! Cpnfession time: for over 4 years the Department of Industrial Relations had a Coke machine in the basement of their William Street building that would give two or three cans of Coke for the price of one. I estimate I benefitted from this machine to the tune of around 900 cans of Diet Coke from 1998-2002. I’m baaaaaad people. mm ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781/7 "2005-08-05T22:48:04Z")
\TWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIX!\ Well, once I went out to the machine right after the vendor guy filled it and left. Sitting on top of the machine were a couple bags of chips. He must have set them there and forgot. I’m honest, right? Mostly. So I called over to talk to the vending machine liaison lady to ask her what to do with them. She said to enjoy my snack. And so I did. Free stuff tastes better. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-munchies-and-morality/315781/8 "2005-08-05T22:58:22Z")
I’m probably the [wrong guy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=320168) to ask about this.