Starbucks Debate: Did They Do The Right Thing?

A Starbucks barista started a debate by something they did, and I'm curious to see where you stand.

The story goes ...

A young woman was hunkered down at a table at a Starbucks when she was approached by a man. The workers in Starbucks seemed a little concerned. Why? Well, the man became more and more animated, and they got the impression the teen did not want the attention.

The mom telling the story on X (formerly Twitter) applauds the quick thinking staff for their actions. One  of the baristas quickly put together a hot chocolate and brought it to the young woman. She explained that it was an extra. A nice gesture! But it is what they wrote on the cup that made the difference. Toward the bottom of the cup, on the side facing the young woman, it said:

I have chills.

The post explains that the young woman did feel safe and did not remove the lid, but the parent writing the story was incredibly grateful for the gesture. And I'm glad the story was shared, so others can do something if they find themselves in a similar situation.

https://twitter.com/CalltoActivism/status/1713701389988237540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1713701389988237540%7Ctwgr%5E025d9b5a4ae0141754e3e2898c8eef89f629bc09%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Freal-life%2Fnews-life%2Fstarbucks-baristas-offer-to-intervene-to-help-young-woman-sparks-debate-online%2Fnews-story%2Fe28297ca57ffc057c21bbfc50217996c

So, what could possibly be wrong with some strangers looking out for a girl they thought was in danger? According to some comments, like this one from Phil Labonte,

https://twitter.com/philthatremains/status/1714110180189970660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1714110180189970660%7Ctwgr%5E025d9b5a4ae0141754e3e2898c8eef89f629bc09%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Freal-life%2Fnews-life%2Fstarbucks-baristas-offer-to-intervene-to-help-young-woman-sparks-debate-online%2Fnews-story%2Fe28297ca57ffc057c21bbfc50217996c

What do you think? Did the workers go too far? Was the man who approached the young woman out of line? If you are a man, are you intimidated to approach someone of interest because you are afraid something like this will happen to you? Is this deserving of a Starbucks debate? Did they overstep their bounds? Or was it simply a kind gesture?

A new relationship can be exciting. The possibilities are all ahead, and things seem perfect, at least for a while. This is the "honeymoon phase," where you don't see (or you ignore) all the little annoying things in your partner and feel totally infatuated. If you're lucky, that feeling lasts forever. Well, the holidays can be a difficult time for dating. So, what are some holiday dating do's and don'ts?

It really seems like people are more apt to want to get into a relationship during the holidays. It makes sense. Much of America gets cold during the holiday months, and cuddling with a significant other while watching movies and drinking hot cocoa or an adult beverage is a fun holiday activity. Also, the holidays are the time of year when you're most likely to see family and friends. If they're all hooked up with significant others, you might feel pressure to find someone, too.

Before we get into the light-hearted do's and don'ts, one serious don't is hooking up with the wrong person just to feel like you have someone during the holidays. Sure, you might feel lonely at the annual family gathering if everyone else has a date, but it's not worth dating someone who is totally wrong for you just to have arm candy at Christmas dinner. This really holds true all year, as often times, events pop up where you might think, "Hey, I would love a date for this." But, if it's the wrong person, just don't do it. You'll save yourself a lot of heartache in the end.

So, what are some holiday dating do's and don'ts? Read on for a festive list. These are especially true if you're in a new relationships, because the holidays can be brutal for new love. But, the holidays can also be beautiful for a budding romance. Reach out to us with your holiday dating stories, too.

If you're started dating someone you really like, it might be temping to bring them to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. But, that could also freak them out. I remember going out with someone just once and getting invited to a holiday dinner. It made me a little uncomfortable, because even if I liked that person, it seemed like a big jump. So, if you do want to invite that new love to a holiday family event, make sure to talk it over with them and give them the option to say no.

If you're in a newer relationship, resist the temptation to buy your new love too much for Christmas. "Oh, he's a Packers fan! I'm going to buy all the Packers gear I can find!" Just don't do it. It's okay to give gifts, but keep it small if you haven't been together long, or you might look insane.

If you're in a new relationship, you should get something for your new partner during the holidays. But, as mentioned above, don't overdo it. A small, meaningful gift will likely be welcomed during the holidays and not scare your new love away.

Maybe you're used to seeing your new love a few times a week. What if that's just once a week, or less, during the holidays? Don't freak out or start crying or anything. The holidays are a busy time for all, and that means schedules change.

You might get invited to some fun holiday parties or work parties by your new love, and you might want to invite them to yours. That's fine and much less pressure than a family event. But, be on good behavior. Don't try to be the life of the party or anything, as you might mortify your date. Sometimes, people like to overdo it in the early stages and try to really impress, but you really just need to be yourself when meeting new friends and chill out a bit.