# Serious question: What kind of person sits next to you on the train when there are empty rows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891 "2011-08-16T13:28:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [August 16, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/1 "2011-08-16T13:28:52Z")
I need to know who these people truly are. Inside. Where do they come from? What are their ethics? What forces them to smile? What are they afraid of? I need to understand them on a fundamental level. I have a theory about these kinds of people, and will share soon. Please share what you know. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/2 "2011-08-16T14:54:26Z")
Well, it could be that all the empty rows are facing backwards, and your seatmate hates facing backwards on a train. I don’t mind it for short rides, but if I’m going on an extended Metro jaunt, I’ll share a front-facing seat rather than grab a backwards-facing seat I’d have to myself. Perhaps there aren’t many empty seats, and your seat-mate thinks the ones available all look nasty - not uncommon on public transit. Maybe your seat-mate saw someone else they thought would want/need the empty row (old woman, person with walker, very obese person, etc) and is trying to be polite. Maybe they just didn’t notice the empty seat. Or maybe there _wasn’t_ an empty seat when they sat down next to you, and they don’t want to bother moving just because one suddenly opened up. Look, I prefer grabbing a row to myself, all else being equal - but it often isn’t, and that just isn’t a big deal. _shrugs_ ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/3 "2011-08-16T14:55:31Z")
Sex offenders? ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/4 "2011-08-16T14:55:43Z")
It’s the same person who, faced with 20 empty stalls in the bathroom takes the one right next to yours. StG ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/5 "2011-08-16T14:58:39Z")
They want to tell you about the tracking chip the gang mob planted in their head, and the electronic stunning device the government is zapping them with in their sleep. That, or they want to know what kind of underwear you have on. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/6 "2011-08-16T14:58:47Z")
It only bothers me when it’s obviously a guy being weird, which has only happened a couple of times in years of riding the train every day. I don’t know why they do it. The only times I have were when a seat was seriously disgusting, which has happened once or twice. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/7 "2011-08-16T14:58:48Z")
Maybe some of them are painfully shy and nursing a fervent hope that you will make start making conversation with them and (insert necessary storyboards, timeline and musical scores here) eventually live happily ever after? ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/8 "2011-08-16T15:04:51Z")
Overly social? ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/9 "2011-08-16T15:09:42Z")
Creatures of habit who like to sit in specific rows. People who aren’t paying attention. People who don’t like when someone scary, smelly, or otherwise objectionable eventually ends up sitting next to them, so they pick the most innocuous looking person on the train and sit beside them. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/10 "2011-08-16T15:12:13Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Or maybe there _wasn’t_ an empty seat when they sat down next to you, and they don’t want to bother moving just because one suddenly opened up. No no. I’m talking about walking onto a half empty train and sitting down right next to me. > [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Sex offenders? Ha! > [@StGermain](#): > > It’s the same person who, faced with 20 empty stalls in the bathroom takes the one right next to yours. > > StG Yes! Exactly this type of asshole. > [@Steken](#): > > Overly social? Oh no. They never talk. 70% of the time it’s little old ladies, and they don’t say a word to me. Do little old ladies think I’m sweet or something? Because I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/11 "2011-08-16T15:12:34Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > It’s the same person who, faced with 20 empty stalls in the bathroom takes the one right next to yours. Or take the middle one of three not used urinals. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/12 "2011-08-16T15:14:29Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Oh no. They never talk. 70% of the time it’s little old ladies, and they don’t say a word to me. Do little old ladies think I’m sweet or something? Because I’m not. I rescind my suggestion then. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/13 "2011-08-16T15:17:21Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > No no. I’m talking about walking onto a half empty train and sitting down right next to me. > > Ha! > > Yes! Exactly this type of asshole. > > Oh no. They never talk. 70% of the time it’s little old ladies, and they don’t say a word to me. Do little old ladies think I’m sweet or something? Because I’m not. Little old ladies are assholes? I’d guess that they’d rather sit next to you than risk being trapped next to whoever gets on at the next stop. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/14 "2011-08-16T15:18:08Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > People who don’t like when someone scary, smelly, or otherwise objectionable eventually ends up sitting next to them, so they pick the most innocuous looking person on the train and sit beside them. You know, this makes a lot of sense. Most of the time when someone sits next to me on a train with empty seats, it’s a tiny or old woman. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/15 "2011-08-16T15:18:07Z")
> [@Implicit](#): > > Creatures of habit who like to sit in specific rows. People who aren’t paying attention. People who don’t like when someone scary, smelly, or otherwise objectionable eventually ends up sitting next to them, so they pick the most innocuous looking person on the train and sit beside them. Damn it, this might be it. I look too innocuous. 80% of my train rides are to/from work, so I’m sitting in business casual, quietly reading a book. They probably spot me and think “She doesn’t look like trouble,” so these meek old ladies sit beside me hoping for a quiet, pleasant ride. Wrong move on my part. From now on I’m coming to work in my pajamas, unshowered, smelling like yesterday. We’ve got a gym downstairs; I’ll shower and dress there. I’m so doing this.\* Or maybe I’ll be the loud a-hole talking on a cell phone that nobody wants to be near, except who would I call that early in the mornig? Seriously, who are these people talking to at 7:30? Edit: > [@Implicit](#): > > Little old ladies are assholes? Some are! \*Okay, no I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/16 "2011-08-16T15:19:48Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > They want to tell you about the tracking chip the gang mob planted in their head, and the electronic stunning device the government is zapping them with in their sleep. That, or they want to know what kind of underwear you have on. And they’re hoping that you’re not wearing ANY undies. Usually, the people who sit next to me on public transportation are harmless enough, except that they want to talk. And talk. And talk. And they won’t take a hint that I’d rather think about things quietly, or read my book. They assume that everyone else is as eager to talk as they are. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/17 "2011-08-16T15:20:50Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Oh no. They never talk. 70% of the time it’s little old ladies, and they don’t say a word to me. Do little old ladies think I’m sweet or something? Because I’m not. Do you get up and move when that happens? Sometimes I feel weird moving, like will it offend them? (Not necessarily in a totally empty train situation, just a situation where there’s an empty seat I’d prefer to sit in because there’s more room.) ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/18 "2011-08-16T15:24:21Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > And they’re hoping that you’re not wearing ANY undies. > > Usually, the people who sit next to me on public transportation are harmless enough, except that they want to talk. And talk. And talk. And they won’t take a hint that I’d rather think about things quietly, or read my book. They assume that everyone else is as eager to talk as they are. I hereby reinstate my suggestion. (Post #7) ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/19 "2011-08-16T15:26:20Z")
Spread out. If there’s even the slightest hint of a confrontation, those who are looking for the safe seat will never choose to sit beside you. The GO Bus I take usually has enough seats that each rider can have two. For some reason people would always sit beside me even when there were many sets of two still available. I now (on the day I still go into the office) put my laptop beside me. On the rare occasion that the bus starts to fill up I immediately move it. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/20 "2011-08-16T15:30:03Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > Spread out. If there’s even the slightest hint of a confrontation, those who are looking for the safe seat will never choose to sit beside you. These are the first people I choose to sit next to, purely out of spite. Not if there are empty seats, of course (and you mentioned that you move your stuff if it gets crowded, so this doesn’t apply to you anyway), but if the train is getting full and someone’s got their shit spread out all over, I make a beeline for that seat. I refuse to allow them to have a seat to themselves on a crowded train just because they’re obnoxious. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891.md?page=2)