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The newspaper headlines read:
OVER 1,000 MCDONALD'S LOCATIONS
OFFER FREE WI-FI TO CANADIANS
STARBUCKS ENVISIONS ITS STORES AS
"THE THIRD PLACE"--A WIRED COFFEE
HOUSE THAT BRIDGES THE HOME AND
"DOS BYURO" (THE OFFICE)
A relatively new "vort' (word) has been added to our vocabulary: "Wi-Fi squatters.
Upon visiting my local Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks, Wi-Fi squatters are seated at several of the tables. Wi-Fi squatters are persons who linger in public locations because of its Wi-Fi internet connection.
Paying customers who would like to relax with a cup of "kave" (coffee) have no place to "zetsn zikh" (sit down). Some "kafe" (cafe) owners have tried a variety of tactics to foil Wi-Fi squatters. They put out signs that ask laptop users to share tables. (FYI: The Yiddish word meaning "to share" is "taylin zikh mit.") Other owners point them to nearby Wi-Fi hot spots like the nearest public "bibliotek" (library). Other businesses have taken Wi-Fi off the "menyu" (menu).
Jon Eiswerth, manager at The Literati Cafe in Brentwood, CA, was receiving complaints that lines were forming because tables meant for four people were taken up by a "eyntsik" (single) person on their laptop. Some store owners are pulling the plug on Wi-Fi at least during "lontsh" (lunch) hours.
One man admits that he has access to broadband Internet connections at "heym" (home), but he chooses his surfing location to get out of the house and concentrate-- albeit among a group of strangers.
Wi-Fi squatters are a "greser kopveytik" (larger headache) during the recession when frugal "shnorers" consume less and stay even longer, prompting more cafes to impose restrictions to encourage turnover. Today, we also have computer bans extend to iPads and even Kindles and other e-readers.
I recently wrote to Rabbi P. Waldman (Aish.com) to ask his opinion of Wi-Fi squatters. I also inquired whether there are any laws in Judaism that ask us to consider how our behavior affects businesses.
He wrote, "It is forbidden to enter someone else's property without his
permission. Moreover, we may not ruin or have a negative effect upon someone else's
business." (Source: Deuteronomy 19:14;
Talmud Baba Kama 33a.)
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Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe agrees that
coffee shops are not offices; they have rent
and wages to pay. In other words, be a
"mensch."
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