Is this a sin?

[coolcatholicguy]

My dad, me, and my brothers sometimes go to a place to play basketball and do other things. You are supposed to pay but they usually don’t make us, should, we pay anyway or just go along with it?

 

[DexUK]

If a shop keeper gives you something from his stock of his own free will that other customers would normally pay for, are you committing theft?

No, you aren’t.

Neither are you in this case, provided you aren’t deliberately avoiding paying for the services you use.

Rest easy.

 

[phoenixrrt62]

My dad, me, and my brothers sometimes go to a place to play basketball and do other things. You are supposed to pay but they usually don’t make us, should, we pay anyway or just go along with it?

Hum. Yeah. I’d say there’s nothing wrong with the kind soul letting you all in for free…but…something like that happened to me about 2 weeks back.

I got into work a bit early, and lo and behold, the cafeteria was still open…sweet, I says, I can get a fountain soda to wake me up before my shift…so I get my soda, get my funds ready to pay the cashier, and she waves me on through, and says “don’t worry about it…”

Well! I was thrilled, let me tell you! However, when I went up to the office, and told my co-workers about my freebie soda, then I felt guilty…

I probably should have given my soda back, but I drank it…



tongue firmly in cheek

Listen, if the people are letting you all in, what’s wrong with that? I’d venture to say they are just being kind…nothing wrong with that.
Are you the kid who thinks everything’s a sin? Lord, child, you need to let up…enjoy life a little, you know?

 

[coolcatholicguy]

Well, we don’t exactly offer to pay.

 

[DexUK]

If they wanted money from you they’d be chasing after you, especially if this is on more than one occasion. Give thanks for their generosity and stop with the scruples.

 

[sjmb]

Hi!

I understand your concern; in those types of situations, I always insist on paying because I don’t know if the people trying to give me something free are allowed to do so or not. For example, I think that restaurant managers can give someone a free meal or whatnot for a just reason (like making up for a bad experience), but a server couldn’t simply decide to give out a free meal. While people are trying to be nice, in case they’re stepping beyond their boundaries and are giving away something that’s not theirs to give away, I always insist on paying.

Have a good night!

God bless
sjmb

 

[promethius]

Hi!

I understand your concern; in those types of situations, I always insist on paying because I don’t know if the people trying to give me something free are allowed to do so or not. For example, I think that restaurant managers can give someone a free meal or whatnot for a just reason (like making up for a bad experience), but a server couldn’t simply decide to give out a free meal. While people are trying to be nice, in case they’re stepping beyond their boundaries and are giving away something that’s not theirs to give away, I always insist on paying.

Have a good night!

God bless
sjmb

This is my position too. If someone offers me free goods or services from an establishment, my first question in return is if they are an owner or manager. If they aren’t, I insist on paying. If it’s not theirs to give away, then I can’t accept it freely from them… not because it would be me stealing, but I would be allowing them to take a good or service from their workplace which is supposed to be for sale and be enabling them giving that service away for nothing. This would be a minor theft on their part unless they’re authorized to do so.