I went to a community event with a friend where they had a bunch of freebies and giveaways. I love freebies so I usually grab whatever is being offered while I learn about different services and business. Midway through my friend told me I should stop grabbing things because there was limited supplies and I should save it for those who were in need. She insinuated that I was being selfish.
For context this was an event open to anyone, I am middle class, and I did not grab anything I wouldn’t actually use. Freebies included snacks, books, fans, hand sanitizer, first aid kits, shirts, ect.
After this I didn’t grab anymore stuff and there was a whole food section I wanted to explore.
So AITAH for wanting to collect freebies at a community event even though I have the means to get these items myself?
Edit: This was an event geared towards families and health care. I brought my baby with me. I grabbed about an item per table that was offering free stuff that was relevant to me.
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I went to a community event with a friend where they had a bunch of freebies and giveaways. I love freebies so I usually grab whatever is being offered while I learn about different services and business. Midway through my friend told me I should stop grabbing things because there was limited supplies and I should save it for those who were in need. She insinuated that I was being selfish.
For context this was an event open to anyone, I am middle class, and I did not grab anything I wouldn’t actually use. Freebies included snacks, books, fans, hand sanitizer, first aid kits, shirts, ect.
After this I didn’t grab anymore stuff and there was a whole food section I wanted to explore.
So AITAH for wanting to collect freebies at a community event even though I have the means to get these items myself?
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> Taking free stuff at a community event though I am not in need. This would result in less supply for those who need it.
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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
INFO: How much of these were you taking?
INFO: What sort of community event was this? There’s a considerable difference between a job fair and a traveling food bank, yet both are open-attendance community events.
NTA. And most vendors encourage you to take the samples. They usually have more under the table to replenish.
NTA. Most of these events they bring extra supplies that they put under the table to replenish and you only took one item per table. It was also relevant to you so you had every right. The only time YWBTA here is if you were ONLY there for the freebies and were taking multiple items per table. Your friend needs to mind her own business tbh, though I can see where she’s coming from
Typically when someone expresses guilt about taking items at events like this the hosts will tell you that you don’t need to justify taking the offerings and they are for anyone who feels they would benefit from them. Ntah
As someone who helps set these things up vendors LOVE when you take freebies and chat with them. There’s nothing worse than sitting at the table with all this stuff and no one takes it and then you’ve got load it back into your car. Take! Take! Edit to add NTA at all but your friend seems kind of judgy
NTA
These companies have those items to promote their businesses. You shouldn’t feel guilty for getting a few things here and there.
NTA
I think you need new friends personally. You weren’t grabbing stuff so that nobody else would get it. You actually have a baby and would use these things. I wouldn’t have gone with your friend and I would’ve ditched her.
Ultimately I would say no, NTA. Booths that bring stuff to give away usually have so much of it and will have some left over after the event. Sometimes they even have extra stuff that they will put to the side for special cases. Since you said you were middle class I don’t feel like it would have been appropriate to take some of the food distribution, but everything else in the event sounded like it was perfectly geared towards you.
NTA. They are there to be taken.
NTA. That’s what freebies are for. What’s up with this controlling “friend”.
NTA. Next time leave your judgmental friend at home. You were doing nothing wrong and your friend has some really weird ideas. If your friend feels that she shouldn’t take free stuff that is for her to decide. She doesn’t get to make that decision for you.
NTA – you were there with your baby, getting info and taking one of the items from the table. You weren’t going into a food bank wearing a top hat and monocle, grabbing every bag of flour available.
Some of the why tee aye responses make it sound like you stomped an emaciated child to grab the bottle of hand sanitizer that was going to be their only meal this week.
NTA holy shit lol I can’t believe the people who saw “food distribution” and decided you were looting a food bank.
For the record it’s also much more likely that food distribution means hooking you up with ways to acquire food like helping you sign up for food stamps or other local programs and not giving away food.
Additionally, even if it did mean giving away food it doesn’t also actually mean OP took the food being handed out.