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Comment by metaprogrammed | Hacker News Reader

Another 'how [tech company/product] is ruining [social norm]' thought piece.

Right, and this is more of an evolution of generation. This is a social norm amongst millennials.

Not in my neck of the woods. If you sent a Venmo request amongst us you would be invariably called an asshole (and it wouldn't be a kind way of saying it, that sort of thing is real shitty). We use Venmo to push money around (Square Cash is nicer, but that ship has sailed), but it's more like "ehh, $25 is about right and I'll get it next time so the rounding will work in my favor".

We are not doing down-to-the-penny nonsense because that would be silly and we are not dunning our friends because that would be awful.

I live in a transplant city dominated by young professionals. Multiple roommates (paying for utilities, grocery shopping together, house-shopping), many nights out a week with friends, etc. all yield to a multitude of spotting cash/credit for everyone.

The only assholes are the ones who freeload often. venmo keeps everyone in check.

What is your neck of the woods, partner?

I live in Boston, which is about as young-and-transplanty as it gets.

I don't know, maybe I just hang out with folks who take friendship with a degree of seriousness, but nobody I know would need to dun somebody in either our group or our extended group to pay their share. You grab the bill, you eyeball it for your stuff, you add twenty percent for tip, you're done.

If you try to freeload, you just wouldn't be invited again. Because friends don't do that, just as they don't send each other invoices.

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