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Comment by quelsolaar | Hacker News Reader

I had dinner with Dan once, he ”social engineered” me and claimed he forgot to bring money. I knew what he was doing, but also knew that if picking up the tab was the price i had to pay for getting to hang out with him, I got the better end of the Deal. Rest In Peace

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You may have misread the situation.

I have known him for decades, and I have never seen him take advantage of another person. Not ever. Not even once.

If he said he forgot to bring money, then he probably did.

Let us raise a cup to his name. A kind soul and an inspiration to us all.

For what it’s worth, he had left his wallet elsewhere at a large dinner where a friend ended up paying for the group anyway.

They didn’t expect him to pay and yet he paid them back fairly promptly and actually gave a few cents more than he technically owed - which he claimed was interest at the prevailing rate.

I certainly don’t see him “hacking” his way to a free dinner on a(n) (un)suspecting victim.

Agreed. I've eaten and had many drinks with Dan. He was generous. Never cared about throwing a few bucks down to help someone else eat or drink. We often had very large group dinners at conferences and Dan typically threw in a few extra to cover those who weren't as well off. (Standard practice for these things.) Definitely feels like a misread.

> You may have misread the situation.

Very true. Either way, I didn't feel taken advantage of. He truly was special, and I'm incredibly happy I got to spend some time with him.

Given the sheer number of things I've seen Dan space out, I strongly suspect you're dead wrong about this one.

I don't know how many years ago this was, but he's been a man of independent means for longer ago than whenever this happened.

I think you intended this as a sharing of a cool moment you had with the recently deceased, but you thoroughly missed the mark.

I agree, this was clearly voiced very respectfully and with good intentions, but I’m astonished the commenter couldn’t see what a classless thing this is to imply – especially about someone who just died. I was pretty dumbfounded reading this.

It is a funny moment. When I die, if people care, may they reminisce on all my quirks and roast me for moments like this. I won't care, I'll be dead.

I think you got the better end of the deal. Similar things have happened to me and I am happy to have known them and the joy they added to our transient lives.

I read comments like this and wonder whether--after I die--everybody will mock me for every moment I forgot my wallet.

I maybe forget my wallet once per year, but I'd like to think that my friends have forgiven me for it. (And I always Venmo my share of the bill anyway.)

I guess there really is no such thing as a free lunch.

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