# 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:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/61 "2011-08-17T10:39:13Z")
> [@Vihaga](#): > > 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. I once asked some old bat if her bag had payed a fare as I had and I didn’t have a seat. I am sure she put a hex on me. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/62 "2011-08-17T13:57:14Z")
You seem to have answered your own question. According to you, people who do that are assholes. Just sitting next to you (when there are other options) is assholish behavior. My only real problem with that is that you have lowered the bar to being an asshole to a point where it has no real meaning. Now, when someone calls me an asshole I have to consider that I am sharing that epithet with anybody that sits next to you. I’m an asshole, goddammit! That used to mean something. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/63 "2011-08-17T14:34:47Z")
> [@ethelbert](#): > > I’m an asshole, goddammit! > That used to mean something. Take a number buddy, Bitch was devalued years ago. ---
**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 17, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/64 "2011-08-17T15:21:31Z")
> [@ethelbert](#): > > I’m an asshole, goddammit! > That used to mean something. I’m sorry, dear. How about they’re just plain douches? There. You’re welcome, asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-what-kind-of-person-sits-next-to-you-on-the-train-when-there-are-empty-rows/592891/65 "2011-08-17T18:17:05Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > \ > I do not, but I think the singing method is improved by not having an iPod. You make an excellent point. > [@Broomstick](#): > > Certain sub-cultures tend to huddle - when faced with a nearly-empty room they’ll invariably choose to sit right next to _someone_ rather than taking a seat roughly equidistant from all other people (a “dispersal” sub-culture).\ I totally come from a dispersal culture; when choosing seats, I always choose the ones equidistant from other people. One foot either way - not right. Equidistant - just right. > [@ethelbert](#): > > \ > > I’m an asshole, goddammit! > That used to mean something. I call it the dilution of superlatives. (Did you mean [I’m an asshole, goddammit!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgpZ0fUixs&ob=av2e) 😃 ) [Previous 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=3)