# Which way do you face when exiting from the center of a long row of stadium/arena seats? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931 "2011-08-16T18:52:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/1 "2011-08-16T18:52:40Z")
This comes from one of the “Letters From A Nut” books, where “Ted L. Nancy” (a presumed pseudonym for Jerry Seinfeld) writes to the head of a manufacturer of sports stadium seats to ask this question (to which the President/CEO of the company replies, admitting this was the “most interesting question” he’d ever received “in all his years in the business”). Imagine you’re seated in middle of a row with 24 or more seats (pretty common these days in many ballparks and arenas, especially in the cheap “steerage” section seats). You need to get up to use the restroom, buy a special concession, whatever, and have to push past lots of people to reach the aisle. So, which way is the more proper way to face? As “Mr. Nancy” puts it, facing the field means waving his butt into 12 peoples’ faces… And yet, doing the opposite could well be even worse. So, which option do you typically choose? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/2 "2011-08-16T18:56:49Z")
Face the field. If I face the other way, my heels are going to be on the “downhill” side, and I will feel more likely to take a bad tumble. I don’t care what I might, or might not, be waving in people’s faces. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/3 "2011-08-16T19:09:04Z")
I face the people. I want to make eye contact to make my excuses/apologies. I don’t want to step on feet, coats, purses and it seems easier to see and avoid that stuff if I’m facing the people. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/4 "2011-08-16T19:25:46Z")
I read in an etiquette book (Miss Manners? Emily Post?) that one is supposed to face the people, and I do that if is safe. Unfortunately, sometimes the combination of wearing heels and the narrowness of the “foot room” means it’s safer for me to face away from the people. I make my apologies to my row mates either way. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/5 "2011-08-16T20:13:24Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > I face the people. I want to make eye contact to make my excuses/apologies. I don’t want to step on feet, coats, purses and it seems easier to see and avoid that stuff if I’m facing the people. This is me in a nutshell. heh ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/6 "2011-08-16T22:39:10Z")
? I usually face the direction I’m headed with an occasional twist to one side or the other to avoid obstacles. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/7 "2011-08-17T03:02:33Z")
Tyler Durden: Now, a question of etiquette - as I pass, do I give you the ass or the crotch? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/8 "2011-08-17T06:11:43Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > ? > > I usually face the direction I’m headed with an occasional twist to one side or the other to avoid obstacles. Yeah, I don’t get it either. How big a person or tight a row is the OP imagining that walking out normally (so people would see your side, not your front _or_ back) wasn’t included in the options? ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/9 "2011-08-17T12:41:39Z")
Every stadium or arena I’ve ever been in. I’ve never been able to just stroll on naturally down the row, not touching all the seated knees. I face the row, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/10 "2011-08-17T12:49:21Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > This comes from one of the “Letters From A Nut” books… That was a great book. I read it a couple of years ago, and laughed several times out loud while reading it. (I really liked the “Topps the Slender Giant” letters.) Anytime I exit my seat at a theatre or stadium I’m reminded of this letter, and the book it came from. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/11 "2011-08-17T13:13:55Z")
I take an aisle seat. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/12 "2011-08-17T13:22:25Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Yeah, I don’t get it either. How big a person or tight a row is the OP imagining that walking out normally (so people would see your side, not your front _or_ back) wasn’t included in the options? What stadium/arena have you been in where the seating rows had enough leg room for an adult to walk “sideways” (facing the aisle) without tripping over all the other people’s legs, bags, drinks/food they left on the ground in front of them, etc.? Remember this scenario is a fully occupied row, not one where you’re the only person in it. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/13 "2011-08-17T14:14:45Z")
I face the people. It’s easier to navigate the feet and bags if I can see them, and if I’m facing the people I’m squeezing past, I can give them apologetic looks as I do so. Also, this way, nobody can grab my ass. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/14 "2011-08-17T15:50:17Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Tyler Durden: Now, a question of etiquette - as I pass, do I give you the ass or the crotch? Exactly. Tyler’s answer, as is the correct answer to this question, is to present your ass to everyone you find sexually undesirable, and the crotch to all others. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/15 "2011-08-17T16:09:06Z")
Facing the field/stage. While navigating the gauntlet of legs, I have the backs of the seats in the next row down to hold in case of loss of balance, which is a good possibility after several beers. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/16 "2011-08-17T16:46:45Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > “Ted L. Nancy” (a presumed pseudonym for Jerry Seinfeld) Apparently, [Barry Marder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_L._Nancy). ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/17 "2011-08-17T18:52:02Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > Exactly. Tyler’s answer, as is the correct answer to this question, is to present your ass to everyone you find sexually undesirable, and the crotch to all others. Which is exactly what I do, based on Tyler’s advice. [slight hijack] I once picked up a pack of Avery labels and was greatly amused to find the address printed on the sample label on the package was “Tyler Durden.” Og bless the Avery label packaging designer who did that. Made me lol. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/18 "2011-08-18T14:10:00Z")
People get the ass, of course. It’s easier both to balance and to dodge knees if _your_ knees bend away from the person you are attempting to pass. Any other way is madness. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-way-do-you-face-when-exiting-from-the-center-of-a-long-row-of-stadium-arena-seats/592931/19 "2011-08-18T18:50:16Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Apparently, [Barry Marder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_L._Nancy). Aha, so Now It Can Be Told!