We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore

It's astonishing what will make normally docile people slam their fist into a table and cry, "no more!"

I grabbed a burger at Hartsfield while I was waiting for my flight to NY. Afterward, as my mouth was burning with the salt of a burger and fries from one of those wretched dine-in places that only has plastic silverware, I swung by Ben and Jerry's for some ice cream.

As an aside, I have two favorite ice creams. First and foremost—particularly after a heavy meal—is mint chocolate chip. However, some places tend to offer gigantic chips in their chocolate chip ice cream. I don’t care for this. Best mint chocolate chip? Breyers or Baskin Robbins. You're welcome.

B&J is sadly of the "enormo chip" contingent, and so I went for strawberry. I had fabulous, charming service, and so I looked around for the tip jar. Not seeing one, I asked, "do you not have a tip jar?" The nice ice cream lady smiled shyly and reached behind the counter for a small jar. I put my dollar in and said, "You've got to keep that out, hon!"

She responded, "We did, but people kept stealing it. Employees and also customers!"

"Who robs the ice cream stand?" I asked, huffy. "that's awful!"

The woman behind me, overhearing a snippet, shrieked, "WHAT? What?"

I turned to her, and said, "They get robbed. People steal their tips."

This information sent the lady behind me into a complete, towering rage. "That's despicable! Have you prosecuted? I would raise holy hell! I think I might anyway!"

I left my dollar and my good wishes with the nice but beleaguered ice cream lady, and walked off to wolf down my small cup of strawberry ice cream. (Side note? Best strawberry ice cream comes from Haagen Daz.) The woman behind me was still going, pulling out her wallet to offer the ladies extra cash to try and make up for the fact that they had their tips stolen.

The funny thing is, I bet that both that woman and I would be far less moved by seeing these women in other more obvious distress. Hooking on a corner, for example. Fallen on hard times. But because they sell innocent pleasures, they sell ice cream, we are overcome with a protective impulse. NO ONE MESSES WITH MY DAIRY DEALER! NO ONE!