[Avodah] Maaris Ayin & Dan l'chaf z'chus

[cantorwolberg at cox.net]

There's a very good example given (don't recall the source) of M.A. and D.L.Z.
If you see someone eating meat and drinking what looks to be milk, dan l'chaf z'chus, you should assume it's coconut milk.
However, if you are eating meat and drinking coconut milk, be sure to keep the coconut shells right next to the meal so that
ma'aris ayin, nobody will think it is milchig milk.

In regards to: My understanding is that Maarit Ayin relates to confusion over whether something is assur or mutar, such as such as when you do something which is halachically allowed, but people will think that you're doing something wrong. For example, entering a non-kosher restaurant to use their bathroom -- some people may mistakenly think that you're eating the non-kosher food, and some people may mistakenly think that the restaurant is kosher. (Actually, I think one of those is Maarit Ayin, and the other not, and I don't remember which.)
It would depend on the situation. If you saw R' Micha going into McDonald's on the hwy, dan l'chaf z'chus, you would obviously assume he's going to use the restroom.
If you saw ME going into McDonald's, dan l'chaf z'chus, you would hope I was going in to use the restroom.