Is OTHER wrong in the post ? POST : Specifically, going to a table at the coffee shop with a bunch of books and magazines gathered from around the store---frequently not buying anything at the shop--reading for a while (free) and leaving all their stuff at the table.

Sometimes a pile of 12-15 magazines.   And regularly leaving s--t they brought in from outside: soda cans, wrappers from a McDonald's burger, other trash.  And monopolizing tables while people *who did buy coffee/food* cannot find a place to sit.  (The over-harried coffee shop workers put up signs re *tables for paying customers* but are generally too busy to enforce it.)

Live in a major metro area of more than 10 million; we are down to 2 of these bookstores from a high of 6 about 15 years ago.  Big box books stores are not that profitable.  In a significant part, because their business model allows *free reading for hours on end of the product they are trying to sell:  Books.*

I'm guilty of it that too. I seldom buy any books.  But I always buy a drink/coffee. (B&amp;Ns benefit from the rent they get from the coffee shops that share their locations.) And I *always* return everything to its place.

I've spoken to the managers at the regular store I frequented for 6 years now.  They report these non-buying morons coming into the store leaving book/magazines lying around *is an increasing hassle for them.*  They said employees spend about 3 hours a day picking up after these people.

I have no problem commenting to these people when they get up from their tables leaving their mess.  I haven't yet used the *asshole* epithet against them.  But I might do so soon when they take exception to being told to "clean up your mess.  Pick up your shit.  Dump your trash."