Strange but True: Police Escort College English Prof from Starbucks for Incorrectly Placing an Order

Lynne Rosenthal, a college English professor, has had several confrontations with Starbucks baristas over the proper way to place an order. Yes, there is a right way -- "Venti, please, no whip" -- and a wrong way -- "Just a large cup of coffee, please." Things got nutty over Rosenthal's order for a multigrain bagel recently. She was informed that she would not be served without specifying whether she wanted butter, cream cheese or neither on it. She refused and, after a heated exchange, three NYC police officers ejected her from the Starbucks for incorrectly placing an order. 

"I just wanted a multigrain bagel," Rosenthal told The [New York] Post. "I refused to say 'without butter or cheese.' When you go to Burger King, you don't have to list the six things you don't want. Linguistically, it's stupid, and I'm a stickler for correct English." NPR's Ian Chillag asks "What do you think? Is Rosenthal a Noble Linguistic Defender or Just Kind Of Obnoxious?" The answer is neither. She's a New Yorker!

Hat tip to TaxProf Blog for calling attention to Starbuck's taxing ordering procedure. [JH]