The opinions stated in this article are solely those of the author and not of The Davis Clipper.

Over the years I have learned a valuable lesson: never overestimate the intelligence of people.

The evidence abounds. Gun manufacturers have been sued by people injured by a criminal…We have people who move away from the city to “enjoy the country,” only to complain about the smells of the country animals…We hear of people driving or walking in front of fast-moving trains or mass-transit vehicles, then charging that the trains were a safety hazard…We have people trying to censor or ban a movie or a play which they’ve never seen…We have parents telling teachers not to discipline their lovely sons and daughters, yet moaning that their children aren’t learning enough…We have taxpayers demanding huge cuts in federal spending, then screaming that a base closure committee could eliminate a local military base.

And the Internet has made things worse with everyone having an “expert” voice.

Two recent examples come from a sampling of restaurant reviews in which customers comment on their experience at a specific eatery. There is nothing wrong with the concept. Yet I’m always amazed at the expectations of some human beings.

In one incident, a customer registered an online complaint about a Weber County restaurant which otherwise was receiving rave reviews for its food and “eclectic” atmosphere. Here’s the complaint:

“The server came and she didn’t introduce herself or even ask how we were doing.”

Now I’m not sure about you, but when I sit down for a restaurant meal, the last thing I worry about is whether the server is named Sarah or Hank or Jethro. I expect them to be pleasant and attentive – and serve a good meal. Neither do I expect the server to ask me how my day has gone. (How am I doing? Well, I’m hungry, thank you for asking, and that’s why I’m sitting here in this booth.)

The customer later complained that his drink refills were served in the same glass. In other words, if the customer had six Pepsi refills, the server should dirty six different glasses – and presumably the same for water refills. So much for conservation.

At a different restaurant, a customer reported that the server brought a basket of tortilla chips, told them they could refill the chips with a variety of salsas eight feet away at the serve-yourself salsa bar – and then complained that the server expected his wife to rise from her seat and walk the eight feet.

“My wife is a little overweight, and the server could have easily brought more chips to her. I expect better service.”

Gee, and I would expect the husband to get off his duff and get the chips for his wife. And if the wife is too overweight to walk eight feet, maybe she shouldn’t be going for refills in the first place!

We have a Better Business Bureau. Now we need a Better Customer Bureau to weed out the people who shouldn’t be allowed to enter restaurants.