Hm..... when one rents a pavilion at a state park, for a group activity, and rents the pavilion where the seating will be tight for the expected group's picnickers..... does one think then of the freedom of assembly of a family of loudmouths who have not only ignored the posted "reserved" sign and set up in the pavilion, but who then refuse to vacate it, when the posted, authorized user of that RESERVED pavilion shows up?

Nope. One hies oneself to the ranger office to request uniformed assistance to enforce the park regulations that permit reservations. In the meantime one reads over the regs printed on the reservation agreement and sees, in the fine print, the regs one could have quoted if one had thought of showing the regs to the interlopers.

Viewpoint is everything: sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug.

ON THE OTHER HAND it is usually possible to be gracious and, sometimes, even cooperative. The pavilion in question might be our parish's picnic, coming next week. We have welcomed many a stranger at past picnics, even if they got to "our" pavilion first. Viewpoint IS everything-- sometimes you're the driver.


The social contract involves placing cooperation above "rights" in one's personal priorities. It depends on which is the higher value. Behavior flows from that.

~Susan