More entitlement attitude at the movies! Yay!

[FireDancer]

If someone asks me politely if they could have the seats for a medical reason and there are seats I could move to that aren't too close I would probably move. If they asked me rudely like in the OPs scenario I would have done the exact same thing, told her too bad so sad, you should have gotten here earlier.

Some politeness goes a long way. We have a saying around the office, a lack of planning on your part doesn't necessitate an emergency on mine.

 

[Heidict]

OP, glad you didn't let her run all over you and you stayed in your seat. I wouldn't have moved either and would have laughed about it the whole time. I love how they were staring you down, trying to intimidate you.

The line was long and I remember the person at our ticket window was really slow. There were still plenty of seats, just not 4 together. I am shocked that someone would actually say no if someone asked if they could move down one seat. I wouldn't hesitate to do so. If I was in church and everyone were asked to move to the center, I'd do so, so I'd expect me to do the same thing outside of church.

I find it sad that people would not be willing to move over one seat. What is this world coming to? I'm not saying the lady in the OP's story was entitled to those seats, so don't get me wrong. But to ask someone politely if they wouldn't mind moving over one more seat to me is not a big deal.

Why would you expect them to do that? Sure, it was rude of them to not move down, but i'm sure they had their reasons. It is not their responsibility to make sure that you all have seats together. I just can't understand why you would expect people to do as you asked in order to accommodate your lateness? That sounds like entitlement.

 

[momrek06]

OP, I am glad you stood firm and did not give in to them. Probably some big scam to get those seats....."let's fake that jr. has trouble with his eyesight" nonsense.

And very glad as well that the movie theater manager explained to the screaming mimi that they do not reserve seats.

You know screaming mimi did more than embarassed herself. OP, did you see her in the theater after that at all? Just was wondering if she stayed and did see the movie.

What MOVIE was it?

 

[asta]

This is why we put a home theater in last year. It seems like anytime we actually go out to see a movie that there are late arrivers who come in and ask people to move to accommodate them. I think that it is incredibly rude to ask this of anyone plus they often come in after the lights our lowered and disrupt what you are watching. Everyone knows that seats fill up in popular movies these days. If it is important for you to sit with someone else or as a group, then you need to arrive early enough to get the seats that you want. If we do go out to see a movie, I make sure that we get there early enough to sit where we want to sit. I sit on the aisle and won't move so don't bother asking (and I have been asked to move by someone who also just wanted to sit on the aisle).

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

If someone asks me politely if they could have the seats for a medical reason and there are seats I could move to that aren't too close I would probably move. If they asked me rudely like in the OPs scenario I would have done the exact same thing, told her too bad so sad, you should have gotten here earlier.

Some politeness goes a long way. We have a saying around the office, a lack of planning on your part doesn't necessitate an emergency on mine.

same here!

on a similar note: a co-worker of my DH teaches adult courses for college credits. This all took place before he arrived. One guy arrived early and took a seat, set up his laptop, etc. In walks the lady who had sat there in the past. Got all huffy and demanded "HER" seat - there are no assigned seats. It progressed from there because he didn't see the need to move all his stuff. She got in his face, moved his laptop folio and other belongings to a new seat, threw his dinner against the wall, and finally threatened him that he should watch his back in the parking lot at night after class "I can kick your butt". Theses are adults! Unbelievable!

 

[DWGal210]

If someone asks me politely if they could have the seats for a medical reason and there are seats I could move to that aren't too close I would probably move. If they asked me rudely like in the OPs scenario I would have done the exact same thing, told her too bad so sad, you should have gotten here earlier.

Some politeness goes a long way. We have a saying around the office, a lack of planning on your part doesn't necessitate an emergency on mine.

I like that saying, FireDancer...I should make a sign and post it at my desk.

 

[denisenh]

Here's the only problem I have with that. It rewards the obnoxious behavior! Maybe the reason she persisted so long and so vehemently is that this method usually works. In the past, she had probably 'learned' that she could eventually wear people down or get them to the point where it wasn't worth the fight or the aggravation and people gave in to her. She was probably certain that if she kept it up long enough and loudly enough she would get what she wanted! I'm actually glad to hear that in this case, it just didn't work!

if it was her reward or punishment, its not my issue to worry about. i wouldn't feel the need to be in that position and she wouldn't have to wear me down.
i'd just want to get away from wacky woman. i have put more thought and effort into my post on this thread than the wacky woman would have ever gotten from me in real life.
anyway, sometimes lack of attention is enough "punishment"

 

[Micca]

Hope you enjoyed the movie anyway Skywalker. My wiseacre answer to the person demanding the seats: "I'm sorry, my vision isn't good either. Why from here I can hardly see how full of baloney you are!"

 

[Skywalker]

Oh my, how terrible, did it ruin your movie or did you find the whole thing amusing? To be honest I probably would have told the manager that when I bought my ticket I wasn't expecting a pre-show show then I would point out that my seats could be her seats in about 2 hours then sat down and started eating my popcorn with a giggle.... but I'm a wise acre like that in person. To quote Will Smith in "Men in Black", "Don't start nothin, won't be nothin'".

I really like the Will Smith quote and your line about the seats being hers in two hours, lol.

It did not ruin the movie...but I did feel kind of icky for a while for a couple of reasons, I hate being the centre of attention and of course the whole theatre was staring and also I wondered for a while if I did the right thing. I shook it off though.

 

[Skywalker]

OP, I am glad you stood firm and did not give in to them. Probably some big scam to get those seats....."let's fake that jr. has trouble with his eyesight" nonsense.

And very glad as well that the movie theater manager explained to the screaming mimi that they do not reserve seats.

You know screaming mimi did more than embarassed herself. OP, did you see her in the theater after that at all? Just was wondering if she stayed and did see the movie.

What MOVIE was it?

It was Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

No, I never did see her around after. (half-expected to see her around the exit waiting to beat me up, lol),

 

[Scurvy]

Why would you expect them to do that? Sure, it was rude of them to not move down, but i'm sure they had their reasons. It is not their responsibility to make sure that you all have seats together. I just can't understand why you would expect people to do as you asked in order to accommodate your lateness? That sounds like entitlement.

I agree with this. Well, actually I disagree that it was rude of them not to move. I think it would have been nice if they'd been willing to, but I don't think they were rude to refuse.

If someone asked politely and there was no specific reason I didn't want to, I would move down. But if it would put us sitting behind particularly tall people who would block our view (or in front of someone who was already kicking the seat in front of them, or something like that) then I wouldn't be moving. Sorry. I got there early specifically so I could choose the seats I wanted. You could have done that too. The way I see it, everyone knows what time the movie is supposed to start. If you care where you sit or if you really want to sit together, you need to get their early enough to secure the seats you want. If you don't do that, and I do, I am not obligated to give up my seat for you. You aren't entitled to that. You are entitled to a seat, but not a particular seat, and you aren't entitled to sit with your group unless you manage to find enough seats together.

It's a pet peeve of mine when people show up right before the movie starts and they get annoyed because the best seats are already taken, or because there are only single seats left. It's no one else's fault that you got there late. They don't have to move to accomodate you. If that's a problem, get there earlier next time.

OP, I'm glad you didn't move! I hate it when people let the rude folks get away with that sort of behavior - it just encourages them to keep doing it.

 

[Scurvy]

But to ask someone politely if they wouldn't mind moving over one more seat to me is not a big deal.

I do agree with this. Asking isn't a big deal - I see nothing wrong with politely asking someone if they'd be willing to move over. But if you're going to ask, you need to be willing to accept "No" for an answer, because they have every right to say no if there's some reason they don't want to move. Maybe the seat you want them to move to is less desireable for some reason, and they aren't obligated to take it just because you were late getting to the theater.

 

[OceanAnnie]

My response would have been..."Yeah, I know what you mean. I have that same issue with my eyes....that's why I love these seats. Means I have to get here a lot earlier but at least I know I can get seats where I can see with my nasty old eyes!! Sorry, but I can't move, but you'll understand since you deal with the same issue." Period.

I like that. It would take the wind out of a person's sails real quick.