And getting the seat you demand of someone else isn’t a life or death matter. Of course, reacting childishly and PUNISHING THE OTHER PATRONS with your farting is the correct response instead.
I’m not sure about your guys’ areas and upbringings, but I think it might just be a regional culture clash here. In my area, and in my general upbringing, I’ve been conditioned that unless a theater is packed (opening night, one-day-only feature, whatever) you always leave a buffer zone between groups. It’s considered incredibly rude to not leave an empty space between parties, and I’ve seen, while not necessarily fights, very confused arguments erupt when parties from a different background sit next to strangers and don’t leave that buffer zone.
So, to me, the OP seemed to be in the right because there were empty seats and the couple was asking them to remove the buffer zone. Not only were they asking to be accommodated for their incredibly picky seating choices when others were available, but they were trying to unnecessarily remove that socially expected “grace” of a buffer zone from three parties to get that space. It wasn’t just a question of causing one or two people to move, but rather robbing three parties of an expected social convention.
I wonder if those of you against the OP are from other areas where this isn’t the norm, or else usually go to movies on opening weekend or such when there isn’t an expectation of a buffer zone due to completely packed theaters.
The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. It’s what Jesus would of wanted.
Well, that settles it. Have you asked a mod to close the thread, since all discussion has officially been declared over?
In principle, if you want to ensure your seating, arrive in a timely fashion. If you arrive late, nearly late, barely on time, don’t expect people to compensate. Some people like to get in on time, pick the seats they want and settle in.
As for earlier suggestions that people yield their planned, assigned seats, just no.
I had a friend out on a special event that happens maybe once every two or three years. We planned and paid for very specific reserved seats, on the aisle. Had a similar conflict with a person in a group who wanted my friend’s seat. No, the aisle seat is her seat, and I’m next to her. Sorry, next time reserve your own aisle seat. Kicker was that person’s friend had an aisle seat that he yielded. Seriously? We plan ahead, reserve the seats that we want, and you and your group can’t be bothered to plan ahead? You were perfectly willing to press me on my reserved seats before trying your friends?
No, plan ahead.
It was a joke. Geez people…
And the Godwin remark he made was ridiculous, and full of hyperbole.
Seriously not getting how anyone is defending the late-comers. They come in five minutes after the movie has started and expect people to move over? If I appear at any movie/play/musical/concert five minutes into it, I try to be quick and quiet as a mouse and slide into a seat and not bother anyone, let alone ask them to move. Good grief! And then these people texted throughout the movie? If I was against them before, that pretty much seals it. Why do people even bring phones into movie theaters?
How about this…
Was he a jerk for asking? NO
Were you a jerk for refusing? YES
Was he a jerk for continuing to ask / curse / create a scene? YES
That works perfectly for me
Do people in America ask you to move inside a movie house? Is that why they’re called ‘movies?’ That’s the dumbest story I ever heard.
I didn’t say people should - I said I would, but that’s just how I am. There would be an exception though - I wouldn’t give up the aisle seat if I had my kid with me…I choose it specifically so that exits are fast and not disturbing if she gets upset, so that one is a no no,
Movies is serious bidness!
Or if you think it is, perhaps then you wouldn’t be late or make disturbances for the other theatre goers.
Maybe it’s only serious if you’re supposed to move and take no responsibility for yourself or own actions? Hmmmm.
Well I’ve never tried to calculate how much each post/response is about each party so I don’t know if I can agree with that.
What were our respective percentages when you calculated?
I wasn’t really thinking that someone named mademoiselle had that as a problem. I was more talking to the number of people who commented back amazed that anyone would ever have a reason for not wanting to move to fill in. Hell, even narrow people gotta like an uncontested armrest. 
I guess it’s one of those different cultural things. I would never consider asking someone to move in a theater for my comfort. And I would be actually shocked if anybody asked me to move while there were open groups of seats. I would be fairly surprised if someone asked me to move even if there were only singles open at the time, Late groups just split up and sit where there are seats. If people sitting notice they will often nod quietly and move to make room, but if you’re late you don’t expect to get to sit together.
The only time I have ever seen a customer ask is a parent who requests seats together with their young kid in a nearly packed place.
The only other times were a few major new movies like opening night of LOTR where ushers tried to compact people toward the middle proactively, and even in those cases half the people looked surprised and said they liked where they were, or lied and said they expected a friend.
I pretty much assume that anytime we’re in other-than-aisle seats there’s a chance people might have to scootch over. And if the theater is crowded enough, the usher will move people.
Why didn’t the SO just move? (though in hindsight I’ll bet you’re glad you didn’t have to sit next to the texters).
“You ain’t Jesus Christ”.
And this is the person who feels the need to correct me on my (admittedly mistaken) usage of words.
Glass houses and such.
I asked him. He said he agreed with my decision.
He added:
“I was not going to let some guy try to intimidate my girlfriend.”
So, there it is.
And yes, I was not thrilled with watching people text for 3 hours…ugh.
Just weighing in, in case anyone was waiting for the Blackberry report (I know they weren’t; shut up).
Them asking you to move in an uncrowded theater when they’re late: Moderate nerve
You declining: Reasonable (also wouldn’t have been unreasonable to do it)
Them refusing to take no for an answer and further disrupting eveything: All the way trippin
should have
I don’t think most people are defending the late-comers, nor are they saying that mademoiselle was more rude than they were, but this situation “could of” been defused much more easily. If the late couple had asked nicely, I probably “would of” moved - it’s a perfectly reasonable request. You can say no, of course, which should be accepted gracefully, which is why the late-comers are the bigger assholes here. It would, however, have saved a lot of hassle and bitterness for everyone if a) they had asked more nicely and b) mademoiselle had just taken the two seconds to move over.
Thank you!!