Let’s leave aside the quibble that the sign over the grocery-store line for the abstemious shopper should say “10 items or fewer.” (I think Pinker okays the “incorrect” version in his latest book.) I happened to be in such a line yesterday, with but three items, and the person in front of me blithely removed 16 items from her basket (I counted). I’m always tempted to say something to such people, like, “Can’t you count?”, or ask the checkout clerk if they ever refuse anybody who violates the sign, but I’m always too cowardly.

I would never get in a 10-item line with even 11 items (and no, four cartons of yogurt don’t count as one item). But presumably those signs are up there for a reason, and where is the enforcement?  Do you ever call out such people? I wonder what the ever-frank Advice Goddess Amy Alkon would do?

I think, in fact, I’ll ask her. Stay tuned.