Service with a Smile - Come on, you can admit it. You've been struck by the bug too. We've all been there. A glance from that hot barista (hi, Sean!) or a shot poured extra heavy from that cute bartender. That's right, Salon has uncovered the world of the customer service crush.

As the article notes, this particular brand of lust can "spring into existence just about anywhere: restaurants, banks, video rental stores, even airplanes" or "the guy at Kinko's whose dirty, shaggy hair is dirty and shaggy in a good way." You may know that a relationship (or, hell, even a first date) wouldn't work out, but it's fun to think about the possibilities. So how does our lust develop? It's usually not just appearance. It's also because the object of our affection's "place of employment can provide an automatic common interest: You drink coffee? Oh my God, I drink coffee, too!" Hehe. Okay, it's mostly about appearance.

Adding to the allure, the author argues, is the fact that service worker crushes allow customers to consider the "hidden depths" of the other person: "In other words, a bartender who went to Harvard Law School is for some of us more intriguing than a lawyer who went to Harvard Law School."

But interacting with your customer service cutie is safe because of the "plausible deniability quality of the flirtation: If you strike up a conversation with someone on the subway or in a bar, you're hitting on them. But if you chat with the deli guy as he slices your smoked turkey, well, you were just being polite."

For most of us, it's just a silly fantasy, but for some, the crush can turn into love, resulting in both "a boyfriend and a discount." And everyone enjoys a good discount.