After queuing for over three quarters an hour at a
restaurant for an (unreserved) table it occured to me
(after my meal) that occupancy of my table had a value
and was worth something to two parties.
1) Fellow would be diners waiting in the queue who might
be prepared to offer me money to
'jump the queue' - with
those at the end of the queue perhaps offering more and
2) The restaurant, who would dearly like me to vacate my
table for the next customer.
Whilst there is an etiquette about vacating a table at the
end of your meal it can always be 'stretched out' until
discomfort arises and the waiter asks you to leave.
Would it not be more civilised to enter into a simple
financial transaction and be rewarded for a hasty
departure ?