So I’m at a conference (Condor Week) in Madison, WI this week (in which the weather is astoundingly clearer, cheerier, and warmer than predicted by wunderground.com and The Weather Channel), and despite the fact that the auditorium is seriously less than half full I have people who elected to sit on either side of me. I find this not just a little aggrevating, particularly since:
[list=a][li]I got here early to get settled and get a good seat,[/li][li]There’s plenty of extra room, and [/li][li]efcker to the left is blocking the view of the only reasonably attractive female in the room, the inverterate wanker.[/list][/li]Is it just me and my unusual sensitivity to personal space, or am I reasonable in my desire to maintain more than a foot of elbow room about me, circumstances permitted. (Or maybe I’m just irritated because I can’t figure out a sauve way to shift over toward said young lady.)
Oh, and the rental company gave me a convertable red Mustang for the compact car rate 'cause I complemented the rental agent on her jewelry. My life is so rough. Don’t cry for me, Argentina.
Man, that must be one boring-ass conference. (This is only a comment on how this annoyance is worth opening a thread about, not on the merits of the subject matter. About which I know nothing.)
But seriously, I hear ya about the personal space thing. Drives me nuts. Last week I went out to lunch at a sports bar and sat at the bar, ordered my sandwich, and opened my magazine. There were a few people sitting at the far end of the bar; I sat one seat in from the corner on my right. To my left, seven empty stools, and to my right, at least 8 or 9. Guy comes in, sits at the corner on my right, so there is one seat between us. It was a slow day in there so I was enjoying my relative solitude, but he totally broke into my field of alone-ness.
He could have chosen from many other seats and still had several empty stools between himself and myself or another patron.
And yes, at that moment, it was the worst thing in my world.
Stranger, it’s not just you. Husband and I usually stop off at a local bar on the way home from work, and at the time we get there, it usually isn’t crowded - sometimes it’s just us and the bartender. It’s inevitable that the next shmoe to walk in will sit next to one of us. And it’s not like they’re our friends or anything - total strangers. It gets to the point where we get up and move. And don’t get me started on the clueless idiots who continue to talk to you AFTER you’ve turned your back on them…
Perhaps I’ve developed an inaccurate idea about him from his posts, but it strikes me that there are few people less likely to conduct that sort of warfare than Stranger On A Train.
If I’m wrong about this, don’t tell me.
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train]
[list=a][li]I got here early to get settled and get a good seat,[/li][li]There’s plenty of extra room, and [/li][li]efcker to the left is blocking the view of the only reasonably attractive female in the room, the inverterate wanker.[/list][/li][/QUOTE]
I hate when I’m basking in solitude with a book on a train or in a restaurant and some dumbass I’ve never met who can’t stand the thought of silence unfilled by his own voice plops down next to me and says “Whatcha readin?”
When someone comes in and stands at the urinal right next to mine, it’s freeze-up time. Sometimes I can concentrate really really hard on the wallpaper (“oh, look, there’s a rip; how would I fix that rip if I owned this place? maybe I could use superglue…”) and manage to accomplish my business, but it’s nip and tuck.
What kind of insensitive wanker would take the urinal right next door when there are others free?
Yeah, it’s an epic tragedy: “Now cracks a noble heart; good night sweet prince/And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
Where in the heck would you get an idea like that? I’d much rather just kill him and impersonate him.
Nah, that’s pretty accurate.
Update: said wanker is even more annoying that first reported; he’s an inexorable nail chewer; not your average hangnail nawer, either, but one of those who gets into it like a beaver in spring. I am, in fact, surprised that after the morning’s activity that he still has any fingertips left with which to type, and indeed, had I not observed the intact digits I would have inferred that the index finger was down to the second joint. On the other hand, he isn’t playing with the annoying little LED lights/noisemakers that they handed out as swag, unlike many participants. On the gripping hand, I sat next to and had an engaging conversation with the afformentioned young lady. So…we’ll see how that goes.
Any UWM alumni/Madison expatriots offering recommendations for dinner on State Street?
So, waitaminit. There is at least one empty seat between you, and you’re still complaining? Why don’t you just read at home?
And if you’re sitting at the bar, there’s an implication that you are open to complete strangers just up and talking to you. Otherwise, you’d sit in a booth.
This reminds me of parking far out in a parking lot. Safer for your car, and you get some exercise. But almost invariably when you come out, somebody’s car will be snugged right up beside yours.
On State Street - Himal Chuli - absolutely wonderful, super fresh Nepalese - Indian style food. (Or Chautara, its more upscale, but yummy sister restaurant, right down the street.)
Depends on what you’re looking for. Tutto Pasta is nice and cozy for a date. Himal Chuli is one of my favorites (Nepali), but the atmosphere isn’t the best for a quiet dinner. Husnu’s is good both in terms of food and atmosphere. Let me know where you’re going and I’ll see if I can get the table right next to you.
(This is only a comment on how this annoyance is worth opening a thread about, not on the merits of the subject matter. About which I know nothing.)
