I go to the movies often. If what I’m seeing is terrible, is it OK to walk out and find a seat at another movie at the same theater? Or even to ask for my money back? —Blaine Greenfield, Biltmore Lake, N.C.
ANSWER Your ticket gives you access to a specific movie in a specific location at a specific time. That’s the transaction. There’s a risk with subjective art—there’s no guarantee you’ll like it, and your opinion doesn’t dictate a refund. And if you pay for a bad movie but end up watching a different one, you’re rewarding the bad director while taking revenue from the director who made entertainment you liked, thus
—Adapted from “The Ethicist” in The New York Times Magazine