glupson
I think you are imagining some false dichotomy. You, the chill, friendly host, me (or others) uptight, breaking in to some party-pooping anger.
No. Someone puts their drink on my speaker, I solve the problem by getting a tray or coaster and putting the drink on that for them. People feel very at home in my place. I host people all the time (I have guests coming tonight to watch a movie, had guests a couple days ago watching movies), my place is the de facto gathering place for certain big sporting events (I have a great home theater room with a big projection screen) and everyone raves about the experience.
But, for instance, there is a speaker covered in black velvet (to disappear in low light near the projection screen) near the room entrance. I will sometimes point out to new guests the presence of that speaker so they’ll know not to bump in to it by mistake and possibly knock it over.No one’s time is spoiled by this and usually they thank me for letting them know.
I don’t want my equipment to be ruined; my guests don’t want to unknowingly ruin my equipment either. This is not some non-negotiable situation that can only mean me being a prick or their being made to feel unwelcome.
Again...do YOU not care about ruining anything in someone else’s home? If YOU as a guest decide to put out a cigarette through the speaker grill of the host’s expensive speakers, do you really see that as your right, and that any consternation from the host is their fault?
If so, you’d be a truly rotten guest. If not...then I don’t know what you are going on about this "a host should let a guest do whatever he wants and everyone should be fine with that."
I understand the mathematical point. I truly do. However, having some kind of attachment to humans rather than to some inanimate object is what I am talking about. It may be whatever kind of difference, but I had people put glasses all over the place and I never got upset. It is simply that once I invite a person, that one is welcome to feel at home. Including opening refrigerator, moving speakers, etc. What kind of host restricts guests? Again, maybe different world and values we all have.
I think you are imagining some false dichotomy. You, the chill, friendly host, me (or others) uptight, breaking in to some party-pooping anger.
No. Someone puts their drink on my speaker, I solve the problem by getting a tray or coaster and putting the drink on that for them. People feel very at home in my place. I host people all the time (I have guests coming tonight to watch a movie, had guests a couple days ago watching movies), my place is the de facto gathering place for certain big sporting events (I have a great home theater room with a big projection screen) and everyone raves about the experience.
But, for instance, there is a speaker covered in black velvet (to disappear in low light near the projection screen) near the room entrance. I will sometimes point out to new guests the presence of that speaker so they’ll know not to bump in to it by mistake and possibly knock it over.No one’s time is spoiled by this and usually they thank me for letting them know.
I don’t want my equipment to be ruined; my guests don’t want to unknowingly ruin my equipment either. This is not some non-negotiable situation that can only mean me being a prick or their being made to feel unwelcome.
Again...do YOU not care about ruining anything in someone else’s home? If YOU as a guest decide to put out a cigarette through the speaker grill of the host’s expensive speakers, do you really see that as your right, and that any consternation from the host is their fault?
If so, you’d be a truly rotten guest. If not...then I don’t know what you are going on about this "a host should let a guest do whatever he wants and everyone should be fine with that."