Life as a table
I sometimes think of life as a table. A massive table laden with food and drink, like you often see at parties. Everyone you meet comes to this table looking for food, conversation, etc. I know it’s a messy analogy, but work with me. 
Some people are givers, and bring more food to the table, in the form of good times, encouragement, laugher, help, conversation. They improve your life simply by being a part of it, and are often your best friends or your family, those people in life you seek to associate with.
Some people don’t stay for long at the table. They just come for a look, and then go away again. These include cashiers, people on the street and, if you’re lucky, your mother-in-law. 
Some people just gorge themselves on your food, and then go away when you stop providing it. This class probably includes people that you no longer know. If you don’t know anyone like this, count yourself very lucky.
But the most pernicious class are those who string you along, either by malice or ignorance, promising you untold dainties if you’ll just do this for them, or that, or the other. People who behave like this sometimes don’t realise that they’re doing it. That doesn’t change the fact, though, that what they’re doing is unacceptable (unless, of course, you’re OK with working hard for little or no reward). I have people like this in my life. I bet you do too.
How do you deal with them? Do you cut them out completely, or limit interactions, or what?
