# Your fat is spilling into my seat **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 23, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470 "2003-04-23T01:00:54Z")\ **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:** [April 23, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/1 "2003-04-23T01:00:54Z")
On the plane I sat next to some fat broad who was pouring over into my seat. I suppose she couldn’t fit into her own seat comfortably, so she lifted up the arm rest to allow for more room. Great, so I got to have her fat spread all over me. Yuck. This bothered me to no end, so I pulled down the arm rest, as I was _deeply_ disturbed by her weight rubbing up against me. This did little. Her fat was still spilling over and under the armrest and was in my seat. I’d have switched seats, but it was a full flight. I was stuck next to _her_. Now wait, before anyone even thinks of starting all that MeanOldBroad is anti-fat people, bla bla bla crap, stop right there. I couldn’t care less about anyone’s body mass. Someone could be 100 lbs overweight (which she was _at least_) and it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. What _does_ bother me is when someone’s morbid obesity oppresses me, and I’m forced to be smashed by her belly throughout the entire flight. I can’t begin to tell you how much I detested having her love handles in my lap for three and a half hours straight. Grrr. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/2 "2003-04-23T01:13:46Z")
Damn straight, you paid for the same ticket she did, why should she get more room than you? Wasn’t there talk about making obese people buy two seats? And I may incur the wrath of the pit for this, but I just don’t understand why morbidly obese people can’t lose at least some weight. I’m predisposed to be overweight. My father is overweight, my aunt is overweight, and my grandmother has been downright obese most of her adult life. But, I’m not, and do you know why? Because I watch what I eat and get up off the couch every now and again… it’s that fucking simple. Eat less, run more and there is simply no physical way to not lose weight. If you’re not ingesting calories your body will burn fat stores. Some people are genetically predisposed to fat deposits that just won’t go away, but you will lose other fat, at least enough that you can fit into a damn chair. ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/3 "2003-04-23T01:14:33Z")
She was coming on to you, it’s clear.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/4 "2003-04-23T01:19:26Z")
payton, you just gave me a really bad image of morbidly obese lesbians. DAMN YOU TO HELL. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/5 "2003-04-23T01:21:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Morbidly Obese Lesbians Band name! Seriously: Fat people need to fly aswell, you know. I can’t see how she can help it if her seat isn’t big enough. Shouldn’t the airline provide bigger seats? ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/6 "2003-04-23T01:24:33Z")
MeanOldLady, welcome to our club, here’s your membership badge. There is nothing more frustrating than having the small amount of space you are given usurped by a neighbor who simply has no choice. I’ve been so crowded, I _ached_ when I finally stood up, and that is not to mention the unspeakable grossness of being in physical contact with some stranger for a prolonged period of time. I’m not inclined to judge people based on their size, but it is unreasonable to require me to make a mandatory donation of part of the seat I paid for. [and just for the record, while I don’t have a personal problem with the adjective ‘fat’, you must admit that ‘large’ is more accurate and is less likely to offend. The encroacher could be 350lbs of muscle, and it’s just as uncomfortable.] ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/7 "2003-04-23T01:25:34Z")
If I recall correctly there was a famous lawsuit where a plaintiff claimed to have been squashed by an obese woman on an airplane (sounds familiar?) - won a nice fat round sum of money from the airline company too! ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/8 "2003-04-23T01:27:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samarm \* > \*\*Shouldn’t the airline provide bigger seats? \*\* They already do. They’re in business class. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/9 "2003-04-23T01:27:46Z")
Oh, **Pedro** , bad pun! You should be ashamed! Even if it did make all 140 lbs. of me laugh. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/10 "2003-04-23T01:35:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Wasn’t there talk about making obese people buy two seats? Yeah, some lady filed a suit against some airlines b/c they required her to buy 2 seats. I don’t remember what happened with that case. > [@](#): > > She was coming on to you, it’s clear. ((shudders)) > [@](#): > > Seriously: Fat people need to fly aswell, you know. I can’t see how she can help it if her seat isn’t big enough. Yeah, what **Kam** said. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/11 "2003-04-23T01:58:36Z")
At the risk of offending: I fully agree with the OP. Oh, we can debate untill the cows come home how the airlines need to supply bigger seats (and indeed, there are bigger seats in Business and First), how the current configurations are not comfortable for an unacceptably large (ha!) part of the world’s populace. We can do that all night and day. But it doesn’t change the fact that I, 6 foot 2 and 100 kilograms (not skinny by any definition), am being squashed in my seat by the 200 kilogram behemoth sitting next to me. I have nothing against the guy, he could be the nicest man in the world, I don’t know why he’s so big, and I certainly won’t judge him for being big unless I have documented proof that he eats 12 cheese burgers for breakfast. _But he’s in my fucking seat, for which I paid an ungodly amount of my hard-earned Euros._ It’s that bloody simple. I’m all for the airlines providing bigger economy class seats, and I’m willing to pay a premium if they do: with my height and size, I’m not comfortable in most economy class seats either (barring British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and some Delta and Alitalia configurations), so go ahead and gimme more room! But until you do: make people who don’t fit in an economy class chair buy TWO of those chairs, or make them buy a business class seat, whichever is cheaper. I feel for them, honestly I do, but on a 11 hour flight to LA, I care about my own room more than I do about their health problems. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/12 "2003-04-23T02:17:28Z")
So what should people do if they are just big people and not obese? Why should I pay more for my seat just because I’m genetically disposed to be bigger than you? I suffer the same discomfort of not having enough leg room and being squished on both sides by average sized people. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/13 "2003-04-23T02:19:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pedro \* > \*\*If I recall correctly there was a famous lawsuit where a plaintiff claimed to have been squashed by an obese woman on an airplane (sounds familiar?) - won a nice fat round sum of money from the airline company too! \*\* Not only was she squashed, but she developed a blood clot in her arm, and it made her sciatica even worse, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![sezyou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@sezyou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sezyou)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/14 "2003-04-23T02:20:56Z")
So in other words “Your right to be fat ends at the edge of my seat!” ---
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/15 "2003-04-23T02:27:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MelCthefirst \* > I suffer the same discomfort of not having enough leg room and being squished on both sides by average sized people. Wrong. In this situation, the average sized people are within the confines of their own seats. They aren’t squishing you; it is you who are squishing them. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/16 "2003-04-23T02:29:46Z")
I had this happen to me not too long ago, but there was an open seat I was able to move to. I felt conflicted, hating the likelihood that I was giving offense or making her feel bad, but also knowing that I couldn’t make the trip otherwise. I am in agreement that it would be best for the airlines to provide a row of wider seats, and fare for them to charge a bit more. I also acknowledge that it is hard for me to muster up a great deal of sympathy in such circumstances. Try this one on: If you have ever been to Fenway Park, you know how narrow the seats are. I sat through a whole game next to a guy with some disability that forced his left arm to be bent at the elbow and raised straight out to his side, basically in my chest. I sat through the game, and enjoyed the game, and got used to the situation, and kept myself mindful that my 3 hours of feeling odd because a strangers’ arm was jutting into my chest was nothing in comparison to his lifetime of dealing with it. However, I did have to wonder whether he might not have been able to ask for a seat on the right hand side of an aisle somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/17 "2003-04-23T03:02:37Z")
Waverly - an average sized person’s arms spill-over the armrests that are only built for one arm anyway and an average sized person’s legs when open (as men like to sit), fall into the space of the next seat. Unless you are petite, you encroach on your neighbour and again I say, why should I have to pay more, just because you are average sized and I’m not. This also goes for people with disabilities, why should they pay more for seats just because they can’t fit-into them. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/18 "2003-04-23T03:04:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MelCthefirst \* > \*\* > Why should I pay more for my seat just because I’m genetically disposed to be bigger than you? > \*\* Because the airline is selling a limited commidity - space on a flight. There’s not really any “should be” when it comes to things like this. If you require a larger portion of a commodity, then you either pay for it, or everyone else pays for it (through bigger/less seats, for example). ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/19 "2003-04-23T03:10:32Z")
I should mention that I’m both tall and fat, so I understand what a bitch airline seats can be. I’m just saying that I have no illusions that I’m entitled to a certain amount of space, and I’m not entitled to having everyone else subsidize it. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470/20 "2003-04-23T03:15:23Z")
Here are 2 previous threads on the subject: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=161636](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=161636) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=121485](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=121485) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-fat-is-spilling-into-my-seat/170470.md?page=2)