A Seat Saving Situation I Saw Today

[Jingle]

A sports bar watching a game. People sitting at the bar who went outside to smoke. Left a jacket or something at their spot. People came in and sat at their seats. People smoking were gone 15 minutes or less.

It wasn't me who lost a seat but I was on the side of the smokers getting their seats back. What do you think?

 

[npmommie]

I think the smokers should have gotten their seat back.
what did the people do with the jackets left on the seats?

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I think there are different kinds of seat situations that should be acceptable and others that shouldn't. This is one that should be. If they had left the bar, ran to the grocery store and come back, then no. But gone for just a smoke break?... they should still have their seats upon returning.

However, was it clear that the people who 'took' the seats knew it was saved. Often it's dark in sports bars so it may have been hard to tell there was a coat on the seat.

 

[MushyMushy]

Yep, smokers should have gotten their seats back. Doesn't matter if they were off smoking, out on a dance floor, in the bathroom, or at a pool table.

 

[Mermaid02]

Smokers should have gotten their seats back.

 

[Jingle]

I think the smokers should have gotten their seat back.
what did the people do with the jackets left on the seats?

They sat with the jackets on the back of the chairs.

 

[Scurvy]

I think the smokers should have gotten their seats back, as well. I'd feel that way if they were dancing, in the restroom, smoking, walking over to speak to somone at another table or even running outside briefly to grab something they forgot in the car. I wouldn't feel that way if they had left the venue entirely, though. If they had left without leaving something on their seats then I would feel the newcomers were entitled to keep the seats.

 

[Jingle]

I think there are different kinds of seat situations that should be acceptable and others that shouldn't. This is one that should be. If they had left the bar, ran to the grocery store and come back, then no. But gone for just a smoke break?... they should still have their seats upon returning.

However, was it clear that the people who 'took' the seats knew it was saved. Often it's dark in sports bars so it may have been hard to tell there was a coat on the seat.

It was clear in the sense that they had something in "their" spot and said something when they came back. I think I would have asked if someone was sitting there.

 

[npmommie]

what happened when the smokers came back?

 

[Jingle]

what happened when the smokers came back?

They tried to say that they were their seats, jackets and some glasses were there, but the people sitting there said they would not move. The "smokers" took their stuff (four people) and left.

 

[handinpocket]

They tried to say that they were their seats, jackets and some glasses were there, but the people sitting there said they would not move. The "smokers" took their stuff (four people) and left.

The seat takers were classless trash.

 

[krcit]

I may have sat in their seats while they were gone but would've given them their seats back when they came back.

 

[kathie859]

I can't believe someone wouldn't give back a seat when the person explained they were sitting there (hence the jacket hanging on the chair) It just seems rude to me. (and I can't believe i am saying this since I rarely agree with a smoker)

 

[handinpocket]

I can't believe someone wouldn't give back a seat when the person explained they were sitting there (hence the jacket hanging on the chair) It just seems rude to me. (and I can't believe i am saying this since I rarely agree with a smoker)

Please don't take this the wrong way, and I am not a smoker... but addiction to nicotine is no different than any other addiction. It doesn't make the person less of a human being. Yes, they are harming their health, as is the person who is eating double helpings of fried food and decadent sweets.

Tolerance goes a long way. I feel it is going by the wayside.....

 

[Jingle]

I felt uncomfortable in that situation because I was sitting right there. I said something to the seat takers and they, lets just say, were less than receptive. What would you do? Yes I got the what would you do line from the tv show.

 

[Happy Mom2]

To me, if you are in a bar type place and you get up, you lose your seat. That being said, if I saw a jacket on a seat, I wouldn't move it to sit there

 

[southern_redhead]

Please don't take this the wrong way, and I am not a smoker... but addiction to nicotine is no different than any other addiction. It doesn't make the person less of a human being. Yes, they are harming their health, as is the person who is eating double helpings of fried food and decadent sweets.

Tolerance goes a long way. I feel it is going by the wayside.....

Perhaps it is addicting to some. I've smoked, off and on, for over 12 years. I go long periods of time w/out it and then I'll get a pack and smoke it. I never "crave" them, I just enjoy it from time to time. After a health scare I quit for good. I have an utterly non-addictive personality, though. My aunt on the other hand gets addicted to everything she tries. Have yet to meet something I couldn't put down and walk away from... I'm just pointing out not all smokers are "victims" of their disease.

That said, if anyone (for ANY reason) gets up from a table or chair with the intent to return shortly...especially if they mark this area by leaving a possession...they should expect to return to find their area vacant. I probably would have folded the jacket and set it in the seat so they'd have to move it to sit down LOL The people who took the seats should have apologized, felt ashamed if they did it knowing the seat was taken, and left.

 

[handinpocket]

Perhaps it is addicting to some. I've smoked, off and on, for over 12 years. I go long periods of time w/out it and then I'll get a pack and smoke it. I never "crave" them, I just enjoy it from time to time. After a health scare I quit for good. I have an utterly non-addictive personality, though. My aunt on the other hand gets addicted to everything she tries. Have yet to meet something I couldn't put down and walk away from... I'm just pointing out not all smokers are "victims" of their disease.

That said, if anyone (for ANY reason) gets up from a table or chair with the intent to return shortly...especially if they mark this area by leaving a possession...they should expect to return to find their area vacant. I probably would have folded the jacket and set it in the seat so they'd have to move it to sit down LOL The people who took the seats should have apologized, felt ashamed if they did it knowing the seat was taken, and left.

You are 100% correct and that is the main point of the thread, doesn't matter if they are smokers, dancers or tiny bladder people.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, I agree with the above two posts.
10 minutes for a restroom or smoke break (a very few more moments, tops) and it was STILL their seat.

Just because it was at the bar, does not change that.

Did there seem to be any decent management around?
It is not okay to let people walk up and take other patron's seats, where drinks, jackets, etc... are still there.

I do feel that after 10 minutes, it does start to border on the chair-hog type thing... But, in this case, if it were less than 15 minutes...

PS: We NEVER completely vacate our space as a party.... Not in this type of situation... People shift out so that somebody is always there.

While the rude and entitled people should not have insisted that they have these seats.... maybe this was a bit of a lesson learned by the folks that got pushed out.

 

[Pluto 2]

so they had jackets but they went outside to have a smoke and didnt take their jackets. so why did they have jackets for just so they could have something on the seat when they went to have a smoke?