Another glass of water, please

07.12.2011                      11.Kislev. 5772

Café-Schnorrer:

Another glass of water, please

How do café owners really feel about parasites like me who sit in their establishment for hours sipping one cup of coffee and reading the paper? A report from the field.

You know the type. They drink a single cup of coffee drained to the last drop. To the question, "Would you like anything else?" they invariably answer "No thank you." They sit for hours, reading all the newspapers, surfing the Internet and conducting stormy conversations via text message. They don't need a home or an office; they have exchanged both for a cafe. This is their kingdom.
In northern Israel people complain that the cafes are inundated with life coaches who use the venue for meetings with clients. In Jerusalem the small cafes have come to terms with the presence of lingering customers. In Be'er Sheva an accusing finger is pointed at unemployed students, and in Tel Aviv, a round of late morning visits to cafes raises the question: Doesn't anyone in this city have a job?…