ARTelevision

I am getting to the point where I need to say something about a current meme that seems to have spread virus-like from the supermarkets where it must have originated out to most of the outposts on the contemporary consumer highway.

When faced with the prospect of bagging one of the the most unwieldy items in my cart, the cashier will look at it and say, "Do you want that in a bag?"

The opportunity to have a nice pair of plastic handles (which are standard on the bags) to tote the bulky product is one that any sane person would prefer over lugging the thing(s) under an arm or over a shoulder while attempting to transport handfuls of well-bagged items out to a vehicle - or worse, walking home that way.

It occurs to me that my choice is not what's being catered to here. I believe the actual subtext of the question, "Do you want this in a bag?," is "Do I actually have to wrestle this gallon of milk, couple of six-packs, big box of stuff, heavy clumsy object into one of these difficult to hold open, cheap, thin plastic bags we give away for free with your purchase?"

Am I getting this right? Has this insidious meme found its way into your life? Do you ever choose the "no, I'll just foolishly struggle with this heavy, bulky object until I get to my car" option?

Even worse, are you a cashier who offers customers this silly choice? Or worse yet, is there a store policy that encourages saving dirt-cheap bags and miniscule amounts of time by promulgating this absurdity?

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