I think the annoyance is that they weren't interested in giving tours until someone asked, and they figured out they could make a profit. Pretty reasonable to expect a ticket, even if it isn't free.

I guess the annoyance is they said never, changed their mind, and auction the ticket off.

If I were the factory owner, I would reserve a ticket for him and give a discounted price to thank for his idea.

Yeah I felt sour but I didn't really have any reason to in today's modern world. I shouldn't expect the human I talked with to actually care.

Depending on the trade secrets involved it could be a paranoid choice made in an area that rewards paranoia.

Maybe having somebody reach out for a tour was just red flaggy enough. I agree it’s weird and kind of crummy to then offer an auction up.

That's not why I felt sour. My original request even offered to pay for it.

Could you not participate in the auction?

I found out well after unfortunately. And tickets were sold pretty damn fast.

Auction? So, for charity?

Man A: "Hey B, here's a nice idea. Will you do it?"

Man B: "No. Fuck off."

Local News: "Man B wins the lottery after exploiting a free idea."

Yep, you can advocate everything is fine with this scenario. You could instead advocate for a different scenario. You know, when you talk to your kids. Or family. Or friends. Or neighbours. And they talk to their x/y/z/a/b/c. Or you could advocate for being an asshole to, what amounts to, a finite number of people. Like a pebble in the pond, causing ripples. Some are poison. Some are not. But you choose which it is.

I think the issue here is a form of main character syndrome. Where people over-value their ideas, feel entitled, and make up stories where everyone else is the asshole.

Man A thinks he is a genius, and man B never considered a tour. Man A assumes nobody else has ever asked, and they aren't the 10th person this week. Man A thinks the idea is a critical contribution, not having the knowledge, planning, giving the tour, or having a factory.

Yeah this is why I let my sour feelings go but still consider the interaction funny.

Why would I, a grown man, be let into a factory based on a bucket list idea out of nowhere? Even if it's something people would have gladly done in this corner of the world 20 years ago.

Why would they, a professional company, talk to me ever again even if I were the straw to break the camels back of "touring". haha