免費的洋芋片，不香嗎？ / Free potato chips—who wouldn’t want that, right?

那天，我一走出捷運站，就看到滿滿的排隊人潮，哇！我心裡想，這麼熱的天氣，怎麼會有這麼多的人在排隊，到底是甚麼活動啊？後來，我環顧四周，走走看看，原來是品牌洋芋片廠商的行銷活動，當天，人們只要帶一包未拆封的樂事洋芋片 (56g以上)，就可以上場挑戰，依照挑戰者在24秒內抓到多少吊掛在空中的馬鈴薯道具，便能依抓到的馬鈴薯道具數量，兌換整箱樂事洋芋片 (口味隨機)。

可能是因為暑假，或者是週末吧，現場排隊的人還真的是蠻多的，有不少的學生、父母及孩童，我又仔細一瞧我看，前方主舞台，我本來以為圍觀活動的群眾，原來並不是，原來是繞著一圈又一圈的排隊人龍，排隊的人龍依序排隊上主舞台，上場挑戰，我本來就是無意間路過，也沒想要上場挑戰，不過，看現場，好像很多人是有備而來的，畢竟，免費的洋芋片，真香。

我記得以前和朋友去電影院看電影時，總是會偷渡一些洋芋片入場，當電影螢幕一暗，我們便開始拿出各種口味的洋芋片，手指輕巧地伸進去，拿起一片片的酥脆的馬鈴薯片，放進嘴裡輕輕咬下，清脆的聲音與鹹香的滋味瞬間在口中擴散，之後，我們就一口接著一口，停不下來，洋芋片就一路陪伴著我們度過電影劇情的高潮起伏，不過，近幾年來，因為 Netflix 等串流平台的風行，我去電影院看的機會越來越少了，我還真懷念那種看電影配洋芋片的儀式感。

題外話，這次活動過後的幾天，電視上有則新聞提到，那幾天的活動，吸引大批民眾排隊參加，其中一名工作人員在核對民眾資料時，不慎被排隊民眾的傘骨戳傷眼睛，導致創傷性結膜炎，工作人員當下獲得對方和解承諾，不過，事後該名排隊民眾，不讀不回訊息，甚至封鎖工作人員來電，想逃避賠償責任，該名排隊民眾的素質真是差啊！會參加這類活動的民眾，可能多多少少都有投機心態，不過，還是要對自己的行為負責啊！

That day, as soon as I stepped out of the MRT station, I saw a huge crowd lining up. Wow! I thought to myself, “It’s so hot today—why are there so many people waiting in line? What’s going on?” I looked around and walked a bit to check it out. Turns out, it was a marketing event by a well-known potato chip brand. People could join the challenge just by bringing an unopened bag of Lay’s chips (at least 56g). The challenge was simple: within 24 seconds, grab as many hanging potato props as you could, and based on how many you caught, you’d get a box of Lay’s chips (random flavor) in return.

Maybe it was because of summer vacation or just the weekend, but the place was really packed, with lots of students, parents, and kids. When I took a closer look at the main stage, I realized what I thought was a crowd watching the show was actually just a long, winding line of people waiting their turn. One group after another would go up to the stage to take on the challenge. I hadn’t planned to join at all; I was just passing by. But looking around, it seemed like a lot of people came well-prepared. I mean, who can resist free potato chips?

It reminded me of the old days when my friends and I would sneak chips into the movie theater. As soon as the lights went out, we’d take out bags of different flavors, carefully reach in, and grab a crispy chip. One bite—and the crunch and salty flavor would explode in our mouths. Then we’d just keep eating, one after another, totally unable to stop. Chips would carry us through all the twists and turns of the movie. But now, with Netflix and other streaming platforms becoming so popular, I rarely go to the theater anymore. I really miss that ritual of watching a movie with a bag of chips in hand.

On a side note, a few days after the event, I saw a news report about it. Apparently, the huge turnout caused some issues. One staff member was injured while checking a participant’s info—someone accidentally poked them in the eye with the tip of an umbrella, leading to traumatic conjunctivitis. At the time, the participant agreed to settle things, but afterward, they ghosted the staff member, ignoring messages and even blocking their calls to avoid compensation. That kind of behavior is just awful. Sure, people join these kinds of events hoping to get something for free, but you still have to take responsibility for your actions.

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