Free stuff and hook-ups

What is our obsession with free stuff?
Why are we always looking for the hook-up?
Where did, "they want us to take them" come from?

Centerpieces: I love my Mother with all my heart and I know she would give me her right arm; however, it is inevitable for her to take the centerpiece at the end of an event. And she isn't close to being the only one who does it, many, many, many folks do it. WHY????

Samples: All I have to say is breakfast at Starbucks, lunch at Whole Foods, afternoon snack at the local bakery and dinner at Costco. I've actually heard people ask cashiers were putting out more samples. WHY???

"Please take one": Since when did "one" come to mean as many as you can fit in your purse?

Gift bags: I have seen people get to their tables and before the napkins hit their laps, they've searched their gift bags, compared the contents with neighbors and have begun bartering for different or better contents. WHY????

Tickets/admittance: Two words: the Salahi's. They wanted the ultimate DC hook-up.

Really folks, is it that deep?