Moral Conundrum: Giving up your seat

[MacVittie]

Here's my moral conundrum. I am a big baseball fan and attend a lot of minor league games. Whenever possible, I always ask to be seated on the aisle so I can stretch a leg out and am not inconveniencing too many people if I need to get up to get a hot dog/beer/etc. The other night when I arrived at the game, an older woman was sitting in my seat with her husband next to her. I informed her that she was in my seat, to which she replied that she uses a cane and has trouble moving and prefers the aisle, and asked if she could stay in my seat. Since their seats were probably close by, I decided to sit elsewhere to avoid an uncomfortable situation if I had gotten an usher to make this couple move. Should I have taken the seat that I paid for and requested, or let those who needed it more have it? They will give you an aisle seat most of the time if you ask for it and there is ample handicapped seating that I'm sure these two would have no problem getting (this is single-A ball). I also didn't want to look like a jerkoff when an usher comes to my and tells me I'm in someone else's seat, but luckily that wasn't the case. What should I have done?

[sailor]

it would take a very low person to kick an elderly lady out of a seat.

[JimmieHats]

If it's Fenway, tell the old bag to hit the bricks. Since you go to these games all the time, and I'm sure there's an aisle seat somewhere else, do your good deed for the year. :D

[MacVittie]

it would take a very low person to kick an elderly lady out of a seat.

Right, but what's going through my head is that she has a seat, and she chose to sit in mine. Again, the stadium is happy to accomodate those who ask for special seating.

[sailor]

Right, but what's going through my head is that she has a seat, and she chose to sit in mine. Again, the stadium is happy to accomodate those who ask for special seating.

irrelevant and not worth getting worked up over.

[Jujubees2]

You did the right thing. There's no sense in raising a ruckus over a seat at a minor league game.

[donnie_darko]

helping a lady with a cane or making it more comfortable for you to get boozed up at a minor league baseball game.....

hmmmmm.

[FUNKMAN]

should have paid the announcer to say she had an emergency phonecall. then when she got up to get it you could have jumped in the seat... :tongue:

i don't think you would have been wrong to have them moved. they would have learned from the experience. they more than likely can get a good seat in the handicap area. maybe she's self-concsious about that but that's not your problem...

[joethebartender]

I have a slight case of claustrophobia and I always get an aisle seat for ball games, races, air travel etc. (I can sit in the middle of a row too but it wigs me out a little bit.)

At most events I hand the tickets over to the usher before even looking at the seats. Let them sort it out.

You had to do what you did in this situation. You can't kick an elderly person out but I would have "reminded" her of the seats in the handicapped section and about how much easier it would be for her to enjoy the game from there.

[MacVittie]

helping a lady with a cane or making it more comfortable for you to get boozed up at a minor league baseball game.....

hmmmmm.

It's not so much about getting boozed up, I'll have one beer if that since I drive to games. But I am a little on the taller side and the game is more comfortable if I can stretch a leg out a little. Also, the stadium will bend over backwards to accomodate all the needs of its guests if they ask for it.

In the end, the situation wasn't a problem for me at all, but it got me thinking. If it were a group of teenagers sitting in my seat, I would have clearly asked them to move. At what point do you let it go and find a different seat and when do you make the people move?

[ChrisTheCop]

As long as there was another seat for me somewhere that didnt suck, I would probably let her have the seat. The question is, say it's for a more expensive seat, like at a theatre on broadway, or a flight. You just like the aisle, so thats what you reserved and paid for. Elderly couple with canes are sitting in your seats, explaining they need to 'visit the facilities' often during a show, flight. I'm sorry, but thats when I call the usher/attendant to see if theres some other seats for them. They knew they needed an aisle, but booked elsewhere? B.S. If the usher said absolutely no way to accommodate them, then I guess i'd let them have the seats, but at least theyd know the trouble they caused.

[bigredd]

While you were well within your right to boot her an ol man straight to the seats that someone else fuckin paid for. It would have been a dck move I guess...unless she was copped an atitude like she deserved to sit in the seat you paid cause of her busted up ol ass. Then I'd say fuck er.

[Chigworthy]

Why would you post this in "That's Life"? I almost got in trouble.

Clue:See Post Purgatory.

[epo]

I think you were right either way as long as you didn't raise a gigantic stink.

Sure they are old people, but it's the stadiums problem to create easier seating for disabled patrons. You've paid for a seat and deserve to sit in said seat. Although at a minor league stadium you can normally find an alternate seat that is nearly the same in quality.

I pray that when I get the Miller Park tonight that there is an older couple in my seats. They'll get the boot! You'll see!

[cougarjake13]

Here's my moral conundrum. I am a big baseball fan and attend a lot of minor league games. Whenever possible, I always ask to be seated on the aisle so I can stretch a leg out and am not inconveniencing too many people if I need to get up to get a hot dog/beer/etc. The other night when I arrived at the game, an older woman was sitting in my seat with her husband next to her. I informed her that she was in my seat, to which she replied that she uses a cane and has trouble moving and prefers the aisle, and asked if she could stay in my seat. Since their seats were probably close by, I decided to sit elsewhere to avoid an uncomfortable situation if I had gotten an usher to make this couple move. Should I have taken the seat that I paid for and requested, or let those who needed it more have it? They will give you an aisle seat most of the time if you ask for it and there is ample handicapped seating that I'm sure these two would have no problem getting (this is single-A ball). I also didn't want to look like a jerkoff when an usher comes to my and tells me I'm in someone else's seat, but luckily that wasn't the case. What should I have done?


i think what you did was the better way to go and since you didnt get razzed by the usher in the new seats that werent yours it all worked out

worst case scenario the usher would have come by and said where are your seats and he would look like the douche towards the old lady

[CousinDave]

I would have had them moved, you took specific steps to have a specific seat, she could have done the very same thing.

I'm about 6'6" have to always get aisle seats, fly first class, etc...

[ralphbxny]

did they get you a beer or something for your trouble?

[ChrisTheCop]

did they get you a beer or something for your trouble?

Theyre on a fixed income!

[ralphbxny]

Theyre on a fixed income!

Fuck them then. Make that cripple bitch move!

I would have pissed on the seat and shit in her hat.

[Gmann]

I think you did the right thing but nowadays you have to watch out. There are those crafty old people out there who use the age thing and disabled thing to get away with shit. I was at the CVS by my house couple months ago, waiting waiting waiting to pay for my items, Im next in line. Theres an old lady kind of half slow walking/half hobbling making like she's looking at the candy or whatever crap thats infront of one of the unused registers. All of a sudden the cashier goes NEXT and that old hobbling lady propped right up and DASHED to the next register totally cutting the me. WTF was I supposed to do ?
This is why I have no sympathy for old people.

[ralphbxny]

I think you did the right thing but nowadays you have to watch out. There are those crafty old people out there who use the age thing and disabled thing to get away with shit. I was at the CVS by my house couple months ago, waiting waiting waiting to pay for my items, Im next in line. Theres an old lady kind of half slow walking/half hobbling making like she's looking at the candy or whatever crap thats infront of one of the unused registers. All of a sudden the cashier goes NEXT and that old hobbling lady propped right up and DASHED to the next register totally cutting the me. WTF was I supposed to do ?
This is why I have no sympathy for old people.

See post above

[ChrisTheCop]

See post above

The fixed income one?

[CousinDave]

Theyre on a fixed income!


If they are on a fixed income should they really be at a baseball game

[ChrisTheCop]

If they are on a fixed income should they really be at a baseball game

Yes, as long as they can tell the security guard that they just need to get in to use the bathroom, then end up stealing some morally well intentioned shlub's seats.

[PapaBear]

If they are on a fixed income should they really be at a baseball game
You can't really expect people on a fixed income to have absolutely no recreational activities. Being able to afford a Minor League baseball game doesn't mean they can afford to be buying beers for people.

And, yes. I believe he did the right thing. But if she tried it a second time, it would be rude on her part, and he should deny her the seat.