Would you have said anything? (Players asks to see mucked cards)

[Swax]

OK, so excuse my ignorance, please - I've only played in casinos 4 or 5 times, and no one ever asked to see anyone else's hands while I was playing.

So this is a standard rule? Anyone can ask to see your hand if they so desire? If so, that's a complete revelation to me. And where did the expression "I'll pay to see your cards" come from? If people can just request to see the cards, seems kinda pointless. I can totally understand having the right to say "I think that guy's up to something, can I please see what he had," but to be able to just say "hey, you know, I feel like seeing my man's cards" for no reason? That's news to me. I understand that nobody's going to realistically do it all of the time, but could they if they wanted to be an ass? with no justification?

So does this rule only apply at limit tables, or can you do that in cash games and tournaments as well and it's just never invoked by the pros (thankfully)?

Again, excuse my ignorance, but I just don't play that much in casinos (i didn't even know you could chop the blinds until I read it on here!) - however, if I tried to pull that move in a home game that I play in they'd boot me out instantly. It's funny because my friends always say that Pokertracker is a "cheating" program because you can see what everyone mucked. Apparently, that's not the case? Someone enlighten my dumb behind, cause I really never did know this. Come to think of it, I swear that someone asked me to see my winning cards at the Bike when they folded to a river bet and I said no. Was I in contempt?