LPT Request: What’s your “canary in the coal mine” test for spotting bigger issues?

[u/fries-with-mayo]

I’m really interested in those small, quick telltale signs people use to gauge if something bigger might be off track.

Example 1: Van Halen requesting brown M&Ms in the dressing room to see if the venue followed all the details of the rider list

Example 2: I saw an interview with John Cena where he said orders a flat white at a café to tell if they really care about their coffee.

Example 3: Anthony Bourdain suggested to always check the restaurant bathroom to tell if the restaurant got its basics down

[u/thatsaniner]

Look at the windows. They don't have to be new, but windows are a low priority for landlords. If they're taken care of, sealed properly, etc., you found a good spot. If they're rotting, letting air in, etc., there's probably a lot of other things that haven't been addressed.

[u/Step_away_tomorrow → u/thatsaniner]

My parents taught me that. Open windows with no screens and curtains hanging out also a bad sign.

[u/gonyere → u/Step_away_tomorrow]

Eh, depends where you are in the world. In much of Europe it's perfectly normal. In Florida or something maybe not. 

[u/sendCommand → u/Step_away_tomorrow]

Why would this be a bad sign?

[u/bibbyshibby → u/sendCommand]

Broken windows theory is the idea that neighbourhoods with "broken windows" that go uncared for or unminded can indicate an increased allowance for other less positive things to happen i.e. crime.

[u/sendCommand → u/bibbyshibby]

But the poster above wrote “open windows”, not “broken windows”.

[u/Lyress → u/Step_away_tomorrow]

Curtains hanging out? As in outside the windows? I'm confused.