The reason I ended with a faux-clever turn of song was to reinforce the fact that this is a music forum. Yes. Wow. Musicbanter. So Jazz, what sort of jazz are you here to spread?

Then the grocery store should probably get rid of the football discussion area if they don't want anyone using it. Motive shouldn't be a factor. Unfortunately it is at some of the more elitist grocery stores.

ever notice how grocery stores and malls have those little signs that say 'no loitering'? with the express purpose of discouraging behavior that goes against the intended use of the facility.

it's one thing if a store has a section to discuss football for people who are waiting for their significant others to finish shopping. it's another thing for people to hang out in that area for no other reason than to hang out. at that point they're simply taking up space and impeding the flow of people who want to use legitimately use the place.

Good point. In that case maybe Random guy should be excused.

As long as the grocery store continues to make good money by selling groceries then no harm done. Presumably some of the football discussers would buy some groceries while they were there. If they don't then why should the grocery store even keep it's football discussion section in the same building?

If the management feels that only shoppers are entitled to use the football discussion section, then that needs to be made clear and posted in the rules. Otherwise, there's no illegality happening. And to penalize or otherwise ostracize a customer for failing to follow a rule that is not in place is fundamentally wrong.

Too funny, I had a roommate in the Navy that would steal my fingernail clippers all the time. I ended up locking his comp up in my closet when I went home for vacay, when I got back we duked it out, I got the much better end of the exchange and we never had problems with him touching my stuff again. SO definently beat him up.