This is a bizarre conversation for me because I, and many of my family members (there are 6 of us), share seats for others when we are attanding an event (etc.) that we know will be packed. And yet I've never been called rude -- or even felt rude! When you have 6 people in your family, it is virtually impossible to get everyone together and staying together for periods of time -- especially when nothing is going on. When we go to outdoor concerts, the first one there will spread out the family blanket and wait for the others to arrive. When we are meeting at a movie, the first one to arrive will save seats for the others. <BR> <BR>To be sure, at no time do we save seats for people who aren't coming, but we do save seats for those who we know will be late. Or later than we were. <BR> <BR>As with all systems worked out in society, the seat saving system can be easily abused (as can be seen from some of the extreme examples given here). But that doesn't mean that everyone who's saving a seat is abusing it... <BR> <BR>This is NOT a jibe, but just a curious question -- are the people who are vehemently anti-seat holding from small families? And vice versa for those of us pro-holding?

No, the anti-seat saving folks are just Type A. They probably fume if someone has too many items in the express lane, if someone cuts them off, if someone gets to a parking spot before them. Nothing will make them happy -- except having whatever someone else has.

To clarify, I don't have a problem with people saving seats for family/friends that they planned on being with for an event. Just people who pull the stunts that Lizzie mentioned. <BR>

Seems like everytime I turn around, I'm defending Sandi (this is only the 2nd time tonite) but I really don't get the problem. I re-read her post and she says "ROWS" of chairs. I can't say I blame her for being perturbed. I'm just such an humble traveler that I will choose a less than desirable place to sit rather than cause a fuss, but I don't care for someone hogging rows of chairs. (note: Rows!) I think Sandi raises some good questions & yall are just singling her out. If I were her, I'd change my screen name & try to start over.