And the magic number is 8.

Everyone uses it, everyone needs it. No, it's not internet porn. Well, not in my story - maybe in yours?

Supermarkets. Not a place for much planning and thinking, unless you're one of those obsessive types, with a list, who mutters to herself as each item is ticked off. The rest of us are too busy manouvering our wonky-wheeled trolleys, while talking (loudly) on our mobile phones and simultaneously shaking our heads at the stale produce that our supermarket duopolists provide for us - fresh food indeed.

But we should. Think that is. About our public actions and what others would conclude from them. Let's face it, while we go about our supermarket business quietly, every now and again we take a peek into someone else's trolley just to see what they have. And what they're about. And then we can rush to judgement in an "Oh, I see you have potato chips and soft drinks - not going to help you with that big bottom is it?" kinda way.

It's for this reason that I have a strict three item trolley limit rule on generic or home branded items. I will NOT have anyone review my purchases and conclude that I am a tight-arse. Sometimes, mainly as a pick-me-up if I'm feeling down, or alternatively, as a f-u all if I am feeling mischievous, I will perch a forty dollar bottle of olive oil high in my trolley, as a beacon of ostentatious wealth, and wheel that baby around for a bit before quietly returning it to the shelf immediately prior to check out.

But, I digress. Let's cut to the chase here.

Have you ever reflected on the type of statement you make when you haul that 24 pack of toilet paper through the aisle and hoist it onto the checkout conveyor belt? Consider, for a moment, the thoughts of your fellow shoppers and/or checkout operators:

"Hmm. That's a lot of toilet paper - why on earth would they need that much." Or perhaps, "I wonder if he/she/they use that much toilet paper every week?". And hopefully not, "Geez, I wonder if they have a problem with their 'plumbing' - that is a serious amount of toilet paper - he/she/they must have issues".

We pondered this at work the other day (5thcorner.com.au). Agreement was quickly reached that purchasing a 24 pack was, quite simply, a very brave call indeed.

I'm just asking you to think about it.