Mutually Beneficial Pedantry

On Tuesday I had a pedantic experience very similar to the one that Russ Roberts had in Provincetown with his daughter. I was in Linens ‘n Things, as one is when one moves house, and I ended up with more things in my hand than I expected. So I went back to the front for a cart.

The gentleman working the service desk asked me “can I get you a basket?” and I said “I think I’d better go for a cart.” He smiled, and said “that’s better, well, better for Linens ‘n Things!” Being the pedantic economist I naturally responded “better for me too! You know, that whole mutually beneficial thing about commerce.” To which he responded “yeah, you’re absolutely right.”