# I'm not giving up my seat **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 16, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431 "2013-01-16T22:34:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 37
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/721 "2013-01-19T19:56:12Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > First off, I love this resting guy. Almost missed him at first. January 2013 join date noted. > > Anywho, > Wait, hold up. Someone starts an opinion thread, details an account of how she acted like a fussy little child, and someone says, “Dude, that behavior was dickish,” and the person who points it out is the asshole? Interesting. And whether or not the OP was being asstacular depends on how much you like how those who say she was have responded to this thread? Really? You weigh whether something is dickish or not based on the manner in which people respond? So are the responses disagreeing with the OP that did not include the terms “assholish” or “dickish” invalidated? All right then. Gibberish. I formed my opinion of the OP when I read it. Your responses didn’t influence my opinion of the OP at all. They did influence my opinion of your character. And my opinion is you indeed are an asshole. It doesn’t invalidate your opinion. I can see your side of the issue. I concede you have a right to express your opinion. I don’t have to like the manner in which you express it, though. You come across every bit as entitled as the douchenozzles who swore at mademoiselle when they didn’t get their way, then proceeded to talk and text through the movie. I’m glad I could hold your interest. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/722 "2013-01-19T20:03:04Z")
> [@l1I235](#): > > You truly live up to your moniker, don’t you? > > Somebody pegged you earlier as one of those types who act big and bad on the internet, to make up for your inadequacies in real life. Hmmmmm. mademoiselle, didn’t you say this earlier? > [@](#): > > Damn, who would of thought I would have gotten so much support when I hit The Pit? > > Thanks for pitting me Anonymous User! Ok. With the support, comes the not so supportive. You can’t lap up one but growl at the other. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/723 "2013-01-19T20:03:21Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Kumbaya Who doesn’t love a good donnybrook? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/724 "2013-01-19T20:05:40Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Gibberish. I formed my opinion of the OP when I read it. Your responses didn’t influence my opinion of the OP at all. They did influence my opinion of your character. And my opinion is you indeed are an asshole. It doesn’t invalidate your opinion. I can see your side of the issue. I concede you have a right to express your opinion. I don’t have to like the manner in which you express it, though. You come across every bit as entitled as the douchenozzles who swore at mademoiselle when they didn’t get their way, then proceeded to talk and text through the movie. > > I’m glad I could hold your interest. Oh, well I don’t really care about your opinion of me, but thanks for sharing. I just thought it was odd that you brought up people’s responses as if that has anything to do with the price of tea. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![l1I235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@l1I235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l1I235)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/725 "2013-01-19T20:06:07Z")
I don’t really see what one has to do with the other, Nzinga. MOL has been acting like this long before we hit the pit. MOL was acting the same way in IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/726 "2013-01-19T20:19:49Z")
I’m baffled by the notion of assigned seats at a movie theater. I’m short, have short kids, and often have to move when taller people invariably end up in front of us. (Staking out seats early makes no difference; taller people never bother to see who they’re blocking when they choose their seats.) Often I’ll scout out other shorties and sit behind them. But with assigned seats, the option of us scooting over to unobstructed seats before others take them is gone. My opinion on the OP: it probably depends on the custom in the area she lives in. Where I am, anyone who leaves buffer seats knows ahead of time they may be expected to move. You either don’t leave a buffer seat when you sit down, or you do leave one but know you may not get to keep it if it gets too crowded. If you think the movie will be crowded, there’s no sense in leaving a buffer seat because you know you’ll have to scoot over anyway. No one would consider it a particularly unreasonable request, not even just 5 minutes into the movie. That’s how festival seating works. If the vacant seats were far apart, or if it were any further into the movie, it would definitely be more unreasonable, though. I suspect this is the norm in any crowded urban area theater. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/727 "2013-01-19T20:23:00Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Who doesn’t love a good donnybrook? I had to look that word up. On the plus side I’ve just pushed my IQ to around 243 or so (and frankly that’s scaring me a little bit, at some point I may have to petition the SDMB for a special forum for those of us in the mid to high 200’s). ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/728 "2013-01-19T20:29:28Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Exactly. When I go to a popular movie I ask them at the ticket window if seating is flowing down into that area, if they say yes I get a ticket for a later time or different day. I’m sure some people are ok with those seats, but not many. I see people sitting in them even when there’s room elsewhere, so I guess someone likes them. Regardless, if you don’t fancy the seating choices available to you when you arrive, it is perfectly understandable that you may choose another viewing. That is undoubtably the most courteous move available to you. But if I show up late and try to strongarm earlier people out of their fair-gotten sixth-row seats, well, that’s a dick move, no two ways about it. If people give up their seats for me, they’re being pretty accomodating… but even if they don’t budge, I’m one being rude. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/729 "2013-01-19T20:36:01Z")
> [@colander](#): > > I see people sitting in them even when there’s room elsewhere, So you think in a poll that most people would say the first 5 rows are just as desirable as the last 20? If so I would bet you 2,000,000,000 internet dollars that most people don’t agree with you. And the fact that you would even think you could be correct with that idea makes me wonder if I should petition the SDMB for a special forum for those with IQ between 50 and 70. (note: I assume you have an IQ of at least 50 because you seem to be operating a keyboard ok). ---
**Author:** ![l1I235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@l1I235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l1I235)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/730 "2013-01-19T20:39:15Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > I had to look that word up. On the plus side I’ve just pushed my IQ to around 243 or so (and frankly that’s scaring me a little bit, at some point I may have to petition the SDMB for a special forum for those of us in the mid to high 200’s). Keep patting yourself on the back there. Let us all bow down to your proclaimed 243-ish IQ. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/731 "2013-01-19T20:49:49Z")
> [@l1I235](#): > > Keep patting yourself on the back there. Let us all bow down to your proclaimed 243-ish IQ. That’s just a conservative estimate, wouldn’t surprise me if it was even close to 300. I bet yours isn’t even above 200. is it? ---
**Author:** ![l1I235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@l1I235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l1I235)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/732 "2013-01-19T20:51:57Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > That’s just a conservative estimate, wouldn’t surprise me if it was even close to 300. > > I bet yours isn’t even above 200. is it? You don’t think I know those numbers are pure BS? I mean come on. Yeah, your IQ must be 300. Add a few extra zeros. 3000? 30,000? Why the hell not! ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/733 "2013-01-19T20:56:44Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > So you think in a poll that most people would say the first 5 rows are just as desirable as the last 20? > > If so I would bet you 2,000,000,000 internet dollars that most people don’t agree with you. > > And the fact that you would even think you could be correct with that idea makes me wonder if I should petition the SDMB for a special forum for those with IQ between 50 and 70. (note: I assume you have an IQ of at least 50 because you seem to be operating a keyboard ok). Yes, I suppose I must have been pretty dumb to have mistaken you for someone interested in a rational discussion. Farewell. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/734 "2013-01-19T20:58:41Z")
> [@l1I235](#): > > You seriously don’t think I realize those numbers are pure BS? > > I mean come on. :rolleyes: Well, it was a bit unnatural to respond to my comment in the way you did. It couldn’t come across as a negative to me given the nature of my comment, so that left a few options, one of which is that you didn’t realize. I laid the trap assuming 28% chance I might get something. ---
**Author:** ![l1I235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@l1I235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l1I235)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/735 "2013-01-19T21:01:59Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Well, it was a bit unnatural to respond to my comment in the way you did. It couldn’t come across as a negative to me given the nature of my comment, so that left a few options, one of which is that you didn’t realize. > > I laid the trap assuming 28% chance I might get something. Mk. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/736 "2013-01-19T21:03:12Z")
> [@colander](#): > > Yes, I suppose I must have been pretty dumb to have mistaken you for someone interested in a rational discussion. Farewell. Well it wasn’t clear you were interested in a rational discussion because your comment appeared to be ignoring the reality that a small minority could be ok with something but that doesn’t change the fact that the vast majority are not. But, I’m happy to ignore which forum we are in, so lets start with your comment about people sitting in the first 5 rows. What percentage of people do you think the first 5 rows are a non-issue, meaning that they either prefer them or have a neutral opinion of using them? My guess is that percentage is \<=10%. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/737 "2013-01-19T21:05:02Z")
> [@splatterpunk](#): > > Sad or no sad, that’s the Pit. > > Maybe you should FOBTMPSIMS. Admittedly I don’t spend that much time here, but when I have been here I have often read intelligent discussion mixed with some actual entertaining and witty insults. Not this time. This time I see a group that act like playground bullies self-affirming each other’s specialness. And they are trying to convince those who can communicate without calling each “cunt” on what is polite behavior. You are right, I don’t need to spend any time here; no one made me open the thread. But you are wrong to declare unilaterally that being in The Pit requires one to be as pathetic as some are coming off here to me. Not they do, or should, care about my assessment of them, any more than I give a rat’s ass about their thoughts about me. **Brynda** that was the “You’re our Trig Palin” line I was referencing. -DSeid. Never gifted, never was. And if being gifted meant acting like the asses here, happy to be less than a genius. ---
**Author:** ![l1I235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@l1I235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l1I235)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/738 "2013-01-19T21:06:37Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > Well it wasn’t clear you were interested in a rational discussion because your comment appeared to be ignoring the reality that a small minority could be ok with something but that doesn’t change the fact that the vast majority are not. > > But, I’m happy to ignore which forum we are in, so lets start with your comment about people sitting in the first 5 rows. > > What percentage of people do you think the first 5 rows are a non-issue, meaning that they either prefer them or have a neutral opinion of using them? > > My guess is that percentage is \<=10%. If you don’t want to sit in them, fair enough. Then don’t show up late to a movie. I have stated many times, that I have sat in the exact seats in question. And they were fine. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/739 "2013-01-19T21:14:15Z")
> [@l1I235](#): > > If you don’t want to sit in them, fair enough. Then don’t show up late to a movie. If you magically knew the reasons why the people were late, are there any reasons that would make you more sympathetic? Family emergency? Fandango system problem? Accidentally went into the wrong theater because they misheard which number it’s in? Credit card declined due to fraud, needed to go to cash machine? etc. Alternate question: what if they weren’t late (as in lights are still on) but same conditions with seating, would you still not move? ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431/740 "2013-01-19T21:24:55Z")
> [@RaftPdon't tease her abe](#): > > If you magically knew the reasons why the people were late, are there any reasons that would make you more sympathetic? > > Family emergency? > Fandango system problem? > Accidentally went into the wrong theater because they misheard which number it’s in? > Credit card declined due to fraud, needed to go to cash machine? > etc. > Alternate question: what if they weren’t late (as in lights are still on) but same conditions with seating, would you still not move? This is the reasoning I was using. You need to understand that the late comers were already probably upset. It could have been any reason. On top of that it is hard to get anywhere in time with the ridiculously low speed limits we have. Seriously, the government needs to make them more reasonable. Anyways, I think your problem is your lack of sympathy. If you had felt something for them, maybe things would have gone better. RaftPeople, dont tease her about anything else because I bet she can barely contain of herself. Don’t talk about other things with her like IQ and tease her because she is already upset enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-not-giving-up-my-seat/647431.md?page=38)