Would you do this? (Movies question)

[Jrsy Boy]

So we went to see "Night at the Museum" yesterday at the local IMAX theater. We got there nice and early and were the second group to enter the theater and select our seats. The IMAX is a nice big theater and the movie was nowhere near full. There was plenty of space for everyone. So why did a mom and her young son feel compelled to sit directly in front of us?

Let me just say that they didn't block our view, they weren't noisy, there was no real issue with them being in front of us. I am just wondering if anyone can explain why, in a large theater with plenty of seating, someone would choose to sit so close to someone else?

Is it something like when you park in the outer reaches of a parking lot and come back to your car to find that someone has elected to park right next to you, as if your vehicle is some kind of magnet?

Sociology majors...any insight?

BTW, great movie...highly recommended!

 

[cleo]

Because you took the best seats in the theater so they settled for second-best, one row down?

 

[Maleficent13]

Well, I know where I like to sit in a theater, and if those seats are available, I sit there. I guess I don't really pay attention to who else is sitting in any other seat, except to make sure I am not blocking the view of a small child.

 

[INDISMOM]

I have no idea -- I hate that too.

My coworker once went to a movie and 3 ladies came in and sat directly in front of them -- the theater was empty except for these 3 ladies and my coworker and her friend. So, my coworker and her friend decided to move over and up a bit. These 3 ladies then got up and moved too - right in front of them again! My coworker and her friend move again as they are leaving, my coworker leans forward and tells the ladies, "We're going to move down a few rows -- DON'T FOLLOW US!"

 

[CathrynRose]

I have no idea -- I hate that too.

My coworker once went to a movie and 3 ladies came in and sat directly in front of them -- the theater was empty except for these 3 ladies and my coworker and her friend. So, my coworker and her friend decided to move over and up a bit. These 3 ladies then got up and moved too - right in front of them again! My coworker and her friend move again as they are leaving, my coworker leans forward and tells the ladies, "We're going to move down a few rows -- DON'T FOLLOW US!"

Add me to the list of patrons that will move if someone pulls this in a nearly empty theater.

They also get an evil eye once I settle in to my new seats.

Ive been half tempted SO many times to move directly in front of THEM - but I havent had the do-dads to do it yet.

 

[babytrees]

Well, I know where I like to sit in a theater, and if those seats are available, I sit there. I guess I don't really pay attention to who else is sitting in any other seat, except to make sure I am not blocking the view of a small child.

I am the same way....I have specific seats I like and unless they are taken I sit there...not really paying attention to who else is there.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

That happens to me a lot...I have to have the top row, smack-in-the-middle seats, so I get there nice and early to get them. Now, with my luck, it's always a young couple that comes in next, comes all the way up to the back row, sighs and glares at me, goes down one row, sits directly in front of me, then proceeds to snog and suck face during the entire movie (with sound effects for good measure).

ETA: Does your imax have assigned seating? Ours does...you pick your seats from the chart when you buy the ticket, and an usher takes you to them at the theatre.

 

[M 'n C]

I remember we sorta studied this in a sociology class. People tend to cluster around each other. So yes even if every other seat is available or every other parking space is available people tend to want to be around someone else so they will sit/stand/park near someone else.

 

[azgal81]

At least they didn't sit right next to you! But yeah even if someone is sitting directly in the middle I always move over one sit so I'm not in front of any of them!

 

[ohiominnie]

Ive been half tempted SO many times to move directly in front of THEM - but I havent had the do-dads to do it yet.

Yeah, and then they kick your seat the entire time.

This issue is probably one of the reasons dh is a theater snob. He refuses to go to a movie unless the theater has stadium seating. At least that helps a lot.


My pet peeve is that no one can sit NEXT to someone else. Everyone has to leave one seat between them and the STRANGER. So if we get to the theater and it's already somewhat full, we have a lot of trouble finding 4 seats together. Grrrrr.

 

[Aristocath]

This drives me crazy! I am allergic to many scented products on the market today: hairsprays, hair gel, scented soaps and lotions, heavily scented detergents, perfumes, and of course cigarette smoke makes me cough.
I try to sit where I am not next to someone in a movie theater. This is not always possible in movies and is impossible when I go to the theater for musicals, plays or the symphony. Church can be a nightmare! It is quite embarrassing to move seats in church and then have to move a second time if someone else who happens to be overly perfumed comes and sits next to us in the new seats.

Cathy

 

[NMAmy]

I found it strange when my mom and I went to see a movie in a mostly empty theatre and two women came and sat directly beside me. I told my mom they were after our popcorn.

 

[KristinBelle]

I've always thought that was weird too, I always move when people do that. We rarely go to the movies anymore and if we do it's during the middle of the day.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Okay, guys, here's what you do when someone sits too close...this also works well in elevators...

Start up a conversation about the mysterious rash you recently discovered. That the doctor isn't sure exactly what is or how you got it...ask your friend if he/she wants to see it. Make sure they're in on the joke so they say yes. Then say stuff like, "See how it's oozing? I think it might be toxic if you inhale it..."

I have to admit to doing this and watching the fun as the people squirm and mutter things about how their seats aren't comfortable, then they move...FAR away!

 

[shortbun]

Best seats in an Imax are above a certain level and center. Chances are, you were there and they wanted to be there too. My husband is tall and has loads of curly thick hair; his legs are really long too so we try to get an aisle seat for him and sit behind rather than in front of people. Invaribly, someone decides their small child should sit right behind him and the poor kid can't see so WE trade seats. Now THAT drives me crazy, lol!

 

[Disney Ella]

If there's a choice, I prefer finding seats away from people already seated. A few months ago, we went to a movie that wasn't very crowded (maybe 4 or 5 other people there when we arrived) and a group of elderly people came in and sat right in front of us. I did think it was a little strange, since there were a lot of other seats, but we were sitting in the middle section, so I certainly understood that they wanted the middle section too. After a minute or two, an unmistakable odor started drifting my way. One of them must have been wearing an adult diaper that needed to be changed. I couldn't take the smell and we changed seats.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

That really bugs me too. I don't sit near anyone else if possible either. I would move if someone sat that close in an empty theatre.

 

[LBelle]

That happens to me a lot...I have to have the top row, smack-in-the-middle seats, so I get there nice and early to get them. Now, with my luck, it's always a young couple that comes in next, comes all the way up to the back row, sighs and glares at me, goes down one row, sits directly in front of me, then proceeds to snog and suck face during the entire movie (with sound effects for good measure).

.

Too funny!!!!
I'm beginning to believe you now when you say your life sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sandy V.]

I really don't notice this as much, but what bugs me is coming into a theater and finding people sitting in the center of a row with THEIR FEET resting on the back of the seats in front of them. It's as though they're daring anyone to take them.

 

[JunieJay]

Because you took the best seats in the theater so they settled for second-best, one row down?

I agree.

The way I see it is you pay for your seats only -- you can't dictate who sits where unless you pay for every seat in the house!