Reminds me of a guy who came to my door to get me to sign a survey to stop an ice cream shop from opening up down the street. Except, he started with the argument that he thought would get agreement and ended with the way it would affect him.

He started by talking about how dangerous it would be for children because the ice cream shop was going to be next to railroad tracks.

I pointed out that the kids who would cross the tracks occasionally for ice cream were already crossing the tracks every day to get to the elementary school. He then shared his true reason: he lived next door to the proposed ice cream shop and didn’t want to deal with the crowds or trash.

When I suggested his “think of the children” argument was dishonest, he got a bit angry with me. I might have ended the discussion by telling him to fuck off.

He didn’t prevail. Ice cream won out as it often does. When we moved here a few years before, the first thing we said when we saw that little building was that it would be perfect for a little ice cream shop.