At what point is it okay to call out a potluck freeloader?
By @remyhm · Food
We have a monthly game night with friends. One person consistently brings a bag of chips or a 2-liter of soda and then eats three full plates of the complex, expensive food everyone else made.
The full story
I know this sounds petty. It's just a potluck. But it's starting to get under my skin. Our group has a monthly game night, and we all bring a dish. People make things like homemade lasagna, slow-cooker pulled pork, elaborate salads, fancy desserts. Then there's one friend who, without fail, brings the cheapest, lowest-effort item possible. A bag of generic tortilla chips (no dip). A bottle of off-brand soda. We're talking a $4 contribution, max. But when it's time to eat, they take a mountain of food. They'll have a full serving of the lasagna, a huge pulled pork sandwich, a side of the fancy potato salad someone made, and then go back for seconds. I'm not trying to police plates, but it feels like they're gaming the system. The rest of us are spending $20-$30 and a few hours of effort on our dishes, and this person is basically getting a huge, multi-course meal for the price of a bag of chips. Is this just the unspoken social contract of a potluck, or is it okay to feel a little bit ripped off?
How people voted
- Totally Cooked — 33% (45 votes)
- It’s Complicated — 44% (60 votes)
- You’re Fine — 23% (32 votes)
Readers say “It’s Complicated” (44%) — 137 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@willsorta — Why not just suggest a sign up sheet so it's more organized?
@reeseish — Time for a group chat text: "Hey everyone, for next month let's have NAME bring the lasagna and I'll bring the chips!"
@maraagain — Their business model is flawless.
@nottoday — I wonder if they have money issues and this is the only way they can afford to participate.
@gusliterally — lmaooo
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