Was I the jerk here?

[BamaGuy44]

Ok I'm one that believes deeply in common courtesy. The world is just a better place to be when we treat each other nicely. Having said that...

At the movies the other day to see the new Top Gun (loved it, the original is one of my all time favorites). We are "get to the theater early so we can sit where we want" people. Hate sitting toward the front or way off to the side. So we did, got the seats we wanted about halfway up in the center of the screen. There were 3 of us. Theater was only about 3/4 full so there happened to be 3 empty seats on each side of us.

So a group of 6 comes in pretty last minute, toward the end of the trailers. They ask us to scoot down 3 seats so they can have 6 together. I say "no, these are the seats we like, we're going to stay here". The guy stands there looking at us for an awkward amount of time as if to say "Seriously?". Finally he rolls his eyes and says "whatever, let's go" in a very annoyed tone.

I felt like I was justified in not moving out of the seats we had been in for the last 20 minutes. "First come, first serve " is one of the bedrocks our society is built on, IYAM. So what say you, DISboard? Was I a jerk in this instance?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You could add a poll.

I don’t think you were a jerk.

 

[PalmettoPath]

I don't think so.

 

[sam_gordon]

Ok I'm one that believes deeply in common courtesy. The world is just a better place to be when we treat each other nicely. Having said that...

At the movies the other day to see the new Top Gun (loved it, the original is one of my all time favorites). We are "get to the theater early so we can sit where we want" people. Hate sitting toward the front or way off to the side. So we did, got the seats we wanted about halfway up in the center of the screen. There were 3 of us. Theater was only about 3/4 full so there happened to be 3 empty seats on each side of us.

So a group of 6 comes in pretty last minute, toward the end of the trailers. They ask us to scoot down 3 seats so they can have 6 together. I say "no, these are the seats we like, we're going to stay here". The guy stands there looking at us for an awkward amount of time as if to say "Seriously?". Finally he rolls his eyes and says "whatever, let's go" in a very annoyed tone.

I felt like I was justified in not moving out of the seats we had been in for the last 20 minutes. "First come, first serve " is one of the bedrocks our society is built on, IYAM. So what say you, DISboard? Was I a jerk in this instance?

I think you were justified in staying where you were. HOWEVER, would moving three seats over really affect your viewing? I mean if you were in the center to start with, and move 3 seats (so what? 6 feet) one way or the other, does it change the view of the screen enough to make a difference?

I don't know that I'd go so far as to call you a "jerk", but it seems like a strange hill to die on.

 

[Allison]

Nope and I'm not giving up my airline seat either. LOL.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I don't think you were the jerk here. I'm assuming that seats were not assigned when you purchased your ticket as you did not mention it in your post, so yeah if you get there earlier you have first pick of your seat. If I was arriving late, I wouldn't expect anyone to move for me when I was the one that was late. Every theater near me has assigned seats when you buy your ticket so I've never had to deal with this.

It's the same with seats on an airplane. If it's not assigned seating like Southwest, the people that get priority boarding get first pick and those with a C group should not demand others to move. Even with assigned seats I wouldn't move. I paid for an aisle seat and I want an aisle seat. Simple as that.

 

[GoingSince1990]

So there were plenty of other places in the theater for the 6 of them to sit together, given that it was only 3/4 full?

 

[BamaGuy44]

I think you were justified in staying where you were. HOWEVER, would moving three seats over really affect your viewing? I mean if you were in the center to start with, and move 3 seats (so what? 6 feet) one way or the other, does it change the view of the screen enough to make a difference?

I don't know that I'd go so far as to call you a "jerk", but it seems like a strange hill to die on.

I fully admit it was a matter of principle as much as a practical matter. That's why 10% of me believes MAYBE I was a bit of a jerk. To be fair It won't hurt them to sit somewhere else either, and to stroll in last minute and expect people to accommodate you is bit rude, IMO. But I certainly wasn't about to get into an argument over it or anything.

 

[BamaGuy44]

I don't think you were the jerk here. I'm assuming that seats were not assigned when you purchased your ticket as you did not mention it in your post, so yeah if you get there earlier you have first pick of your seat. If I was arriving late, I wouldn't expect anyone to move for me when I was the one that was late. Every theater near me has assigned seats when you buy your ticket so I've never had to deal with this.

It's the same with seats on an airplane. If it's not assigned seating like Southwest, the people that get priority boarding get first pick and those with a C group should not demand others to move. Even with assigned seats I wouldn't move. I paid for an aisle seat and I want an aisle seat. Simple as that.

Correct, there are few theaters around here that have assigned sets, but most don't.

 

[Moliphino]

I don't think you were the jerk. For one, if they wanted to all sit together they should've gotten there earlier. And two, it's a movie not a social event. It won't kill them to split into two groups.

 

[BamaGuy44]

So there were plenty of other places in the theater for the 6 of them to sit together, given that it was only 3/4 full?

Correct. I'm not sure if there were 6 together somewhere else, but that's why you get there early. And who needs 6 in a row anyway? It's not like you can talk to the guy 6 seats down, or even see them.

 

[TeresaBelle]

Nope. I would never ask someone to move. Other guy was the jerk!

 

[Sinder]

No

 

[sam_gordon]

I fully admit it was a matter of principle as much as a practical matter. That's why 10% of me believes MAYBE I was a bit of a jerk. To be fair It won't hurt them to sit somewhere else either, and to stroll in last minute and expect people to accommodate you is bit rude, IMO. But I certainly wasn't about to get into an argument over it or anything.

I get it, and don't think you were wrong for taking the stance you did. I just think this is one of those "karma" type of things. There's not really much of a downside for you (IMO, you may disagree of course) by moving, and the upside is you help out your fellow man (ever so slightly).

I do NOT think airplane seating is the same situation as the theater. IMO, there are definite benefits to certain seats. Sitting in a window or aisle is definitely more beneficial (IMO) than a middle seat. Sitting in the front of the plane is more beneficial than sitting in the back of the plane.

 

[Kennywood]

Absolutely not. You got there early, to get the seats you wanted.

 

[BamaGuy44]

I get it, and don't think you were wrong for taking the stance you did. I just think this is one of those "karma" type of things. There's not really much of a downside for you (IMO, you may disagree of course) by moving, and the upside is you help out your fellow man (ever so slightly).

.

Agreed, like I said I believe in common courtesy and karma (the secular version of it anyway). Also common courtesy to not expect others to accommodate you, tbf. So I was a bit torn afterwards. On a different day, for a different movie I'd probably move.

 

[The Mayor]

I ma y not be qualified to answer this because I get called a jerk a lot. But no I don’t think you were wrong here.

On another note I’m surprised your theater still has open seating. At our local theater all seats are assigned and a majority of them are purchased and assigned online.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I do NOT think airplane seating is the same situation as the theater. IMO, there are definite benefits to certain seats. Sitting in a window or aisle is definitely more beneficial (IMO) than a middle seat. Sitting in the front of the plane is more beneficial than sitting in the back of the plane.

I only mentioned the airplane example as in people asking you to move. If I paid for a specific seat, I'm not going to swap for a worse seat (the middle and/or the back of the plane right by the bathrooms). I do agree they're different but people do ask others to switch seats to benefit them in a similar way.

 

[DLgal]

You were kind of a jerk, but the good kind, the kind I would have been too.

It's a movie. 6 people sitting "together" end to end isn't a necessity. It's not like they were planning to have a long conversation during the movie. Splitting up is not a big deal in a theater. I honestly can't believe they didn't just go ahead and split up as soon as they entered the theater to find the best combination of seats with decent views.

I won't even go to a theater that doesn't allow me to pick my specific seats anymore. I hate watching previews and want to roll up 20 minutes after showtime and sit right down in my mid theater center seat.

 

[GAN]

Ok I'm one that believes deeply in common courtesy. The world is just a better place to be when we treat each other nicely. Having said that...

At the movies the other day to see the new Top Gun (loved it, the original is one of my all time favorites). We are "get to the theater early so we can sit where we want" people. Hate sitting toward the front or way off to the side. So we did, got the seats we wanted about halfway up in the center of the screen. There were 3 of us. Theater was only about 3/4 full so there happened to be 3 empty seats on each side of us.

So a group of 6 comes in pretty last minute, toward the end of the trailers. They ask us to scoot down 3 seats so they can have 6 together. I say "no, these are the seats we like, we're going to stay here". The guy stands there looking at us for an awkward amount of time as if to say "Seriously?". Finally he rolls his eyes and says "whatever, let's go" in a very annoyed tone.

I felt like I was justified in not moving out of the seats we had been in for the last 20 minutes. "First come, first serve " is one of the bedrocks our society is built on, IYAM. So what say you, DISboard? Was I a jerk in this instance?

Roll Tide Roll!

I don't feel like you were a jerk. Although, like Sam said, would moving three seats down actually impact the film much? Probably not. Were there other areas with 6 open seats that weren't horrible? I probably wouldn't have given them up either if that was the case -let them sit in the 6 seats over "there".