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Old Aug 4th, 2001, 10:13 PM
  #21  
top
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topper
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 04:51 AM
  #22  
xxx
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Do people "save" seats in Europe?
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 07:34 AM
  #23  
JustSo
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First, I do think the cruise ship co. is at fault if there is no explicit policy and no enforcement. The larger the ship, the bigger the problem. There ought to be "sweeps" at various intervals when unoccupied chairs are freed up. <BR> <BR>Second, I don't think anyone should be able to reserve more than a couple of chairs at a time, maybe up to 4 for two couples. More people than that aren't really a social group, anyway, since talking "across" more than one or two chairs is impossible. <BR> <BR>Third, Sandi, as usual you have a point worth making, but your demeanor is a bit unpleasant. The "I don't see anyone sitting there" comment is itself impudent. I think you are entitled to challenge a claim to a chair that isn't immediately next to one that is occupied by moving an "abandoned" towel; but far better would be "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought they'd just left something behind. Let me know when they come back." If a whole row is empty, Sandi, you are safe in staying put even if someone "comes back" because there will be plenty of other chairs. <BR> <BR>It's really a matter of dueling squatter's rights: a visible, in-the-flesh squatter paries an invisible squatter if there are plenty of empty chairs. But dueling rudeness always louses things up.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 10:22 AM
  #24  
sandi
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It's a good thing some of you guys are not taking a test that matters, cause you simply can't read with much understanding....I did not say you should purloin ANY chair that is unoccupied, only that one has a right to a seat, and coming early and spreading an entire row or two with towels and such, then going away, or leaving one 'sitter' is inappropriate and I don't allow myself to be pushed aside that way. It is selfish and unfair. On a boat, when I see a book, a pair of glasses, or in my case I leave my purse (where I can see it if I am in the pool or getting a drink poolside) says to anyone looking, "I am using this chair and am temporarily elsewhere". Most fair people agree that requisitioning large amounts of space, depriving other paying customers of a right to sit down should NOT be tolerated~!!!!!
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 12:05 PM
  #25  
Marlin Perkins
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Sandi, I just don't get you. <BR> <BR>Yes, if seats are limited and the place is filling up, you can be a bit more assertive about investigating whether a seat will really be used if you think someone is saving more seats than they need. But if a live person assures you it is taken, you are way out of line to plunk down in it anyway. In the US, there are so many crazies that you'll get your face pounded in if you keep that up. <BR> <BR>But the reason the current informal system exists is because other approaches get unworkable in a hurry. When I go to the movies with my extended family, we are 15 people. How many seats can we save? Can they be all in one row? Are we required to choose lousy seats because we need so many, even if good seats are available? How many seat savers must we designate for 15 seats? Or are you saying we can't save any seats, and we must mill about the lobby until a critical mass has arrived? And how many is that critical mass? Do the people count as "arrived" if they plan to vacate their seat before the show to buy popcorn? Should we separate into five groups of three, so as to be less of a bother to you? If I change the facts to make it two adults and 13 kids, do your answers change? (I'm not going to even quiz Surlock about how many of us can go to the bathroom at once.) <BR> <BR>I just don't get what you're really angry about. It sounds like you get upset if you think there aren't enough seats (take it up with management), you think people are purposely saving seats for phantoms, (unlikely, but take it up with management) or you're just mad that you can't have the best quality seats (get there earlier). So what is the problem again?
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 02:51 PM
  #26  
sandi
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To previous poster...yes, if you want the seats that you want, then get there in time, same as everyone else has to do. After you have registered it as 'taken' by sitting in it, or at least showing up and demonstrating that you intend to use it, you may be excused to buy your popcorn, or whatever. But to come early and claim a bunch of seats for folks who are too lazy to get there on time is distinctly rude. Or at least, it used to be. But I see you are inventing new rules to suit yourself, and to hell with everyone else.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 02:56 PM
  #27  
Jan
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I can only say that I have arrived in person with my whole family 1 and 1/2 hours early to see my daughters plays each year. Each year I am heart broken because all the decent seats are covered with books and and other "seat holders". We are dressed and willing to wait until the play has began in order to get a decent seat. I would never think of getting there in the morning and placing a seat holder down. It is selfish and rude. I was there ready, dressed, showered, prepared. Only a thoughtless person could think that this behavior is civilized and kind to others. Once we were in Disney Land. Sat next to the cement curb two hours early for the Parade, no books, towels and so forth.Real people being responsible. Boyfriend gets up to get us sodas and a wheelchair slides into his place. What can I say?? The guy's in a wheel chair!! During the parade he exits the wheelchair to dance with the kids on his back. I bet he got to the front of the line at each ride. I bet lots of you posters also have a wheelchair in your closet. Sandi, your right.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 03:00 PM
  #28  
Felicia
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Speaking from someone who has had to hold a seat for a person while s/he went to use the bathroom, get snacks, etc., it's awkward. At least for me it is. I hate to have to say "Sorry, this seat is taken" and get THAT LOOK. I feel embarrassed, as if I must justify that there really is a person coming back, I'm not just saying that to have extra room. If, on the other hand, I ask someone "Is that seat taken?" and they reply with a 'yes' I understand and don't have a problem w/ it. I DO have a problem w/ people taking up more than 2-3 seats at a time. There's no reason why that many people have to get up at once, thus teasing those who think they have a shot at a decent seat, only to find that they didn't. <BR>
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 03:13 PM
  #29  
getthere
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Sandi, <BR>You should read your original poster. You said that if you find a chair with a towel on it, you would just sit down, without asking anybody if it is indeed occupied. And if a "sitter" says the sit is taken, you would unpolitely reply, "don't see anyone sitting here, do you?" <BR> <BR>This is your original poster: <BR>"Then when you approach, they say that seat is 'taken'. I just usually sit down, and if they say <BR>it is taken, I reply, "don't see <BR>anyone sitting here, do you?" <BR> <BR>Where I come from that is extremely rude. It denotes a lack of manners by my standards. It denotes selfishness, and lack opf respect for others. <BR> <BR>I agree with you, it is selfish and rude to take all the chairs, by getting there early and putting towels and other objects until your friends get there. <BR> <BR>Nevertheless, there are moe polite ways to go about it. You can ask the person, is this seat taken? Are the people you are holding the seat for coming back soon? You can say I stood here, and have not seen anybody using the chair. <BR>Just taking somebody's chair without an attempt to talk to the person is just vulgar. <BR> <BR>You can try at least to talk to the person, not assume that the "sitter' is a liar and just take the seat without ensuring that the seat is indeed not taken.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 03:15 PM
  #30  
s.fowler
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Oh c*** guys -- haven't you figured out yet that Sandi is trolling. And displaying for all to see what a twisted perspective she has? Give it a rest already.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 04:00 PM
  #31  
sandi
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Some of you people are just nuts, thats it.! For the last time, this is an issue when in public, and I would like some sincere thoughts. It is incredible how you folks who come and hog an entire row or two, thus driving others who also came (a few minutes later)to go without. A gian case of rationalization. It always amazes me how people can rationalize almost anything that is in their interests; never mind the other guy. If you want to see the show (fireworks, parade, theater group, band concert, etc.) you Must get there, sit down, and, (except for your husband, child, friend, etc., who needs the toilet) stay put. It's incredible to me that anyone thinks otherwise. And yes, I should have said that I usually inquire politely that I would like a seat if it is not being used. When someone replies "I am saving all these, and all those,{" then I feel justified in just sitting down. What else is someone to do?
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 04:53 PM
  #32  
xxxx
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Sandi starts more argumentive trolls than anyone else on this forum, that's bad enough then she tries to justify herself, she has probably never been to Mombassa or on a cruise. . probably never been anywhere.Hope she stays at home she could damage foreign relations even more than the GWB. she just stays home and tries to intimidate fat people,(see another of her posts). Too bad some take her seriously, all we do is enable her. <BR>She is a mean, small, self centered little person! And look up the meaning of etiquette or manners or politeness, you are none of the above, Sandi!
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 04:55 PM
  #33  
StCirq
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This is an amusing post. I've only been on one cruise in my life, though, and noticed that sme people do have this insidious mindset when faced with any event that might fill up quickly teling them "Get there early, put towels/newspapers/programs/hats/umbrellas/whatever" and they HOG whole rows of seats, without the people who are going to be occupying them actually making any kind of effort to get to the event early. This, frankly, chaps my *--ss* On the other hand, I've been to enough school events that my husband might or might not make it to, depending on his schedule, that I've saved many a chair for him over the past 10 years. <BR>Is it a question of numbers? If you're talking about staking out 20 chairs, yes, I have a problem. If it's about staking out 3, well, I really don't because I understand how hard it is to get the whole family up and showered and dressed and to the same place at the same time. <BR>I guess sometimes I'm the perpetrator and sometimes I'm the angered person left with the bad seats. It's not something that preoccupies my time, though.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 04:57 PM
  #34  
larry
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Honestly what is trolling? i am not familiar with the term
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 05:15 PM
  #35  
Regular Gal
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Let's recap: <BR> <BR>1. Inanimate objects can't save seats for people who haven't arrived. <BR> <BR>2. Live people can save seats for people who have arrived, or people who have not. <BR> <BR>3. People shouldn't abuse the rules and save too many seats. <BR> <BR>4. People should get there early if they want a good seat. <BR> <BR>5. Sandi is rude, rude, rude.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 05:27 PM
  #36  
Anon
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This isn't a troll. A troll is someone who makes up a wild story to get everyone agitated. I have no doubt that Sandi is telling the truth, and she is exactly as rude as she claims to be. <BR> <BR>That said, I question the idea that the only way to lay claim to something that is normally first-come-first-serve is to be physically present. <BR> <BR>In the US, if a parking lot is full, you can circle around waiting for a space. Or you can sit in your car by the entrance, waiting for a pedestrian to walk in on the way to their car. Where I live, if someone drives slowly next to a pedestrian, it is "understood" that they get that pedestrian's spot, even if another driver manages to zip over and be physically present at the spot first. <BR> <BR>BTW, far more annoying than seat savers are the people in back of you in line at the grocery store who sprint to the newly opened line ahead of you. Or those people who, when the cashier asks "Who was next?" claim they were there first when they know they weren't.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 05:43 PM
  #37  
you are all
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She had a ligitimate question and its OK to disagree, but some of you people sound like you would punch her if you saw her. The thing I see people getting worked up about blows my mind.
 
Old Aug 5th, 2001, 05:56 PM
  #38  
Sue
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I think it's time for some humour, and I'm here to politely inform you all that I've staked out all the remaining posts on this thread for the comments of my friends and relatives. Thank you, now remember, the rest of this thread is taken.... : - )
 
Old Aug 6th, 2001, 07:30 AM
  #39  
Lizzie
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My boyfriend and I went to a wonderful resort in St. Lucia for ten days in February. Chairs under thatched roofs on the beach were at a premium, as we soon discovered. People woke up early so they could get down to the beach, reserve a chair with towel/book/bag/hat, then wander off. My boyfriend and I realized this when we got to the beach at 10 after a leisurely breakfast and there were no more thatched-roof shelters. The next morning, and each following morning, we woke up early, staked out our beach spot, and went to breakfast - then came back after we'd eaten. Everyone did this. However, one day we toured the waterfalls and knew we wouldn't get to the beach until early afternoon - so we didn't reserve seats. We did note that plenty of other people would do this - leave towels and other belongings, then not show up until 1 or 2!! One particularly nasty woman left stuff on a chair at 8:30 in the morning (I was there at the same time) and didn't come back until 3. Someone had moved her stuff. She was irate, and sent the poor beach staff up and down the beach from person to person to find what had been "stolen." It was a book. Turns out she'd forgotten where she'd left it - it had been marking her spot, and some other person had been without a hut because of her selfishness. This, I think, is inconscionable.
 
Old Aug 6th, 2001, 11:25 AM
  #40  
me me me
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Well, from the posts on this thread so far, it appears that the majority wouldn't think twice about having any consideration for anyone besides their selves. That's pathetic and I'm truly saddened by the attitude of people here. I thoroughly agree with Sandi (except one of her solutions: "I just usually sit down, and if they say it is taken, I reply, "don't see anyone sitting here, do you?"). <BR> <BR>I've seen the scenario noted by Lizzie many times but apparently it's OK with most the people here. Looks like the courteous & polite people are obviously outnumbered and we have to continue to put up with overwhelming number of rude, selfish people. <BR> <BR>
 


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