Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CCXXXV

The tenth round of trivia had just wrapped, and Seth had done it—eight correct answers, doubling up second place. His prize: a $500 donation to Fear My Heart, a nonprofit started by Bassmaster Elite Series angler Carl Jacobson that organizes worldwide river, stream, and lake cleanups. But before the score was settled, the crew spent a surprising amount of time debating office sardine etiquette.

The Sardine Question

Clayton, an executive director who loves sardines, wrote in with a dilemma. His coworkers hate the smell when he eats them and the lingering odor when he puts the empty can in the shared kitchen trash. He started rinsing the cans thoroughly, then carrying everything to the outside dumpster. Now he's wondering: should an executive director be allowed to throw a sardine can in the office trash? Has he created a precedent he has to live with?

The room split. Some argued that office environments come with a social contract—microwaving fish and leaving smelly trash is inconsiderate. "How fragile are you that you can't have some sort of minor discomfort for some bad smells?" one contestant asked. Others pointed out that some people have genuine sensory issues. The consensus landed on being a good human: the minor inconvenience of walking to the dumpster is worth keeping peace with coworkers you presumably like.