Geeze!
Dear Prudence,
I have a question concerning the etiquette of saving seats for people at
events with open seating. I grew up in England where we were taught
that such practice was rude and just made it more difficult for
everyone. Maybe in America the homesteading tradition means it’s OK to
stake your claim. I’m a father with a child in high school, and recently
I went to see a musical performance of my child’s at school. I arrived
in good time but the bleachers were packed. Finally, in the last row, I
tried to sit down, but the woman on the aisle said the entire bench was
saved. There was nowhere else for me to go, so I sat down anyway. Then
she and several friends of hers started lecturing me and saying I had to
move. It got heated and someone said he hoped he didn’t have to call
the police! Eventually a couple in the row in front graciously offered
to make room for me. Shouldn’t there be a moral obligation to make the
best of the situation and accommodate everyone, even if that means
moving around or sitting apart?