# would you have moved, who was rude **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 6, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577 "2014-10-06T19:24:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/21 "2014-10-06T21:36:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > It wasn’t rude for the kid to ask; it wasn’t rude for you to refuse. It was rude of the mother to stare at you for refusing. > > Maybe the kid has emotional or psychological issues. The request sounds a little socially clueless for a 10 year old. > > Regards, > Shodan This. Or maybe he was just a little boy who valued a tradition with his mom. Kids aren’t flexible about random stuff, that’s why we call obstinate adults “childish.” I’d have moved. The table obviously meant something to the kid, otherwise I can’t imagine him approaching a couple of strangers with a request. And the table was evidently not as important to you as continuing the elegant meal you had started. If the person I was sitting with had refused the request I’d have presented my “grow up” look and packed up to move. It’s a crummy table at a crummy fast food restaurant–who cares? Apart from some kid. If mom really was looking daggers at you (and not just your guilty conscience messing with you), I imagine it was more from a place of, “really? it’s that big a deal?” ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/22 "2014-10-06T21:39:40Z")
Plot twist: it was the only handicapped table and the kid was in a wheelchair. So very rude. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/23 "2014-10-06T21:53:47Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > I’d have moved. Bad idea. First you give in and move, then the kid’s hovering over your table saying “you gonna eat that?” and jamming his finger into your Quarter Pounder. Before you know it, you’re being shaken down for hot apple pie money and getting wedgies in the PlayPlace. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/24 "2014-10-06T21:57:46Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Before you know it, you’re being shaken down for hot apple pie money and getting wedgies in the PlayPlace. Is there any other place to get wedgies? ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/25 "2014-10-06T22:00:02Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > This. Or maybe he was just a little boy who valued a tradition with his mom. Kids aren’t flexible about random stuff, that’s why we call obstinate adults “childish.” > > I’d have moved. The table obviously meant something to the kid, otherwise I can’t imagine him approaching a couple of strangers with a request. And the table was evidently not as important to you as continuing the elegant meal you had started. If the person I was sitting with had refused the request I’d have presented my “grow up” look and packed up to move. It’s a crummy table at a crummy fast food restaurant–who cares? Apart from some kid. If mom really was looking daggers at you (and not just your guilty conscience messing with you), I imagine it was more from a place of, “really? it’s that big a deal?” I’d agree with you, except that the OP was already in the process of eating his meal. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to want to avoid packing up your items and moving, mid-bite. (Granted, this is McDonald’s, so it’s far from a Herculean task, but still…) I agree with everyone who said that it wasn’t rude of the kid to ask, but it wasn’t rude to stay put. If anything, yeah, the mom seems to come off as the worst in this situation. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/26 "2014-10-06T22:00:44Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > No it was not rude of you. For such an odd request the burden is on them. What is so special about the seat? “We always sat there with my father and now he’s dead.” OK give them the seat. “Its the only seat and Mom has MS.” Ok give them the seat. “I called dibs when we pulled into the parking lot.” So sorry try again. I think that’s the approach I’d have gone for. Nothing wrong with requesting elaboration from someone who is asking you for a favour. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/27 "2014-10-06T22:06:30Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Bad idea. Yeah. I’ve got a feeling I wouldn’t be my own man for very long in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/28 "2014-10-06T22:12:49Z")
I would have moved…it wouldn’t have mattered to me, but obviously mattered to the kid. As for the wearisome burden of having to pack up, really? More than two seconds? ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/29 "2014-10-06T22:54:20Z")
Why are we assuming it is the kid who has issues about getting that particular table? Maybe the mom is a little OCD and he was just trying to prevent her getting irrationally upset. He may already have a long history of running interference for her to keep her calm… my daughter had a friend in junior high who’s OCD mom had her well-trained in that respect. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/30 "2014-10-06T23:16:10Z")
The boy seemed normal, just disappointed that I said No. If he had asked before we started eating it would have been no problem. It may have only taken a few seconds for us to pack up and move, then again it’s fast food. They could have waited another 5-10 minutes and we would have been gone. No guilty conscience here, the mother really was staring daggers at me. Every time I looked up there she was, staring right into my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/31 "2014-10-06T23:17:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Assuming there were other tables available, I’d have moved. Obviously sitting at that particular table has some special meaning to the kid. Two thumbs up. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/32 "2014-10-06T23:17:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Assuming there were other tables available, I’d have moved. Obviously sitting at that particular table has some special meaning to the kid. Ditto. It’s easy to do small kindnesses that don’t hurt me in anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/33 "2014-10-06T23:33:18Z")
I don’t think either the kid or you were rude. Sounds like the mom was a bitch though. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/34 "2014-10-06T23:40:23Z")
I would have bought all of the apple pies so there none left for the kid. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/35 "2014-10-06T23:58:11Z")
Ok, I would move but I would also tell the kid that it is very inappropriate to ask people to move and he shouldn’t ever do it again. Personally, I think it was the mom who had the issues and uses her innocent sweet little boy to get her way. I’m seeing a team of con artists in the making. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/36 "2014-10-07T01:06:23Z")
“Fuck off and die, punk. And take your whore Mom with you.” Kid needs to learn up front that Life doesn’t go your way very often. If I’m in the booth, it’s mine. Not really. But I wouldn’t have moved either. And if Mom was giving me the stink-eye all meal, I would throw my trash at her. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/37 "2014-10-07T01:34:11Z")
what would be rude is while the kid was asking that you smashed a ketchup packet on the edge of the table to squirt the kid. it wasn’t rude to ask. it wasn’t rude to decline to move. it is good to learn how to exist with the public. you don’t always get what you want and it is not your home. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/38 "2014-10-07T01:50:20Z")
I disagree with those who think the kid wasn’t rude for asking. You don’t interrupt strangers while they’re eating, even at McDonald’s. You especially don’t interrupt strangers while they’re eating to ask them to find another place to sit because you prefer to sit at the table they’re already eating at. If there were extenuating circumstances, the request should have been preceded by an apology for interrupting and accompanied by an explanation of the circumstances, even from a 10 year old kid. And fuck the mom for giving you the hairy eyeball. I think you did very well to not reciprocate the rudeness, especially from the mother. I don’t know whether I would have shown the same restraint. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/39 "2014-10-07T02:08:27Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Is there any other place to get wedgies? Well played. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577/40 "2014-10-07T02:10:05Z")
Neither you nor the kid were rude – (the kid does sound a little pushy, however, and that kind of request, depending on where he makes it could be rude). Mom, however, needs to fucking chill and get over it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-moved-who-was-rude/700577.md?page=3)