You are right. It is a power thing, a selfish thing if people KNOW that it mightily offends others. I think a lot of folks think it is "just how it's done" here. If they posted signs then people would KNOW it shouldn't be done. I wonder if it would stop SOME people from hogging seats.

Is it an issue that can't be enforced? I think "The Villages" whoever the committee is, the event staff a or whoever makes those decisions, doesn't want to have to have confrontations with bullies either. I don't think they want to "take it on" and make it really a messy thing to handle. This is supposed to be America's friendliest home town and I think it is up to the individual to KNOW somehow that it is selfish and wrong to save seats.

And so those of us who do not like it will stay away. Winning through intmidation will be the order of the day. I just don't see a fix that is doable. If we have been taught to think of others and run our lives that way...it will still serve us well and we will be winners in the end....somehow. It is just wrong to hog. In MY opinion anyway. It would ruin it for me to make a scene. The enjoyment of the parade would be gone.

So Skip, you were going to sit in those seats all day from five in the morning until time for the parade? Or did I misunderstand?:wave:

I have lived in TV full time since Oct. '09. I haven't gone to any of the special events since the first month I was here, because of the seat-hogging and general confrontational atmosphere. Sometimes I would like to go, but it's not worth it. Even standing is unpleasant, people push in front of you or sort of push you out of their way. I have never seen anything like it, anywhere I've ever been.
Friendly - Schmiendly. NOT friendly.

It's been suggested before but I think we should note it on the survey. I think posted signs would discourage this seat saving habit. We went to the square at 3:30 and watched the parade. Of course we were standing but we had a good time.

Money Talks
 

"If the chair saving continues we may just stop shopping & eating in the square area". The merchants pay for the entertainment. Put that in your survey if you want to get results.

I also dislike the idea of "long term" seat saving and other rude behavior that is apparent in the squares, however, this is not only restricted TV. It happens many places depending on the tradition of the area and the acceptance of the behavior as acceptable. In some other venues different traditions and expectations prevail. In most cases people will respond to what they perceive to be acceptable behavior.

I believe that a process to educate TV residents as to what the accepted behavior should be and some enforcement procedures, could change most of the selfish behavior and return the "squares" to their former friendly reputation.

Newspaper articles, signs and the intervention of a few " marshalls" similar to the process used on golf courses who could remind people of the rules might help with the process.

No
 

Possibly. If it's NOT allowed and event staff persons know it,and your going to enforce it for some people and not all because you don't want a confrontation. Then have signs posted by the poweres to be so everyone knows and it can and should be enforced on everyon at that point.

Chair Hogs
 

If these rude"entitled people" are allowed to continue this practice I fear the provided chairs will go the way of the Buffalo.

Well, I'm gonna go against the grain here and say that it isn't rude to save these seats or chairs. It's the way it's done in TV...for whatever reason, it has been accepted behavior for years. Personally, I don't engage in the practice of saving seats, but I have friends and neighbors who do. However, they stay with their reserved seats/tables all day.

What can the event staff do? Here's a tip...

Yesterday, I was at LSL, where my some of my neighbors had been saving a table and chairs since 5:00am. When I was there, the sun was starting to hit their spot and it was getting very hot. One of them owns a fold-up tent, like they use in the squares for market night. I asked him why he didn't just throw up the tent until parade time to get out of the sun. They told me the "staff" does not allow you to have any umbrella's or tents. They laughed at my suggestion, as if I'd just hopped off the turnip truck.. :1rotfl: So, there is some control exercised by the staff.

OK...here's the best part. I texted my friend about 6:00pm and asked him how the celebration was going at the square. He texted back, "We're at Cane, waiting for a table. If you've seen one parade, you've seen 'em all."

You gotta love it . . .

It is my opinion that it was 'other than Village residents' that had reserved sections for seating.

Maybe the prime seating should be "sold" by the Fire Dept, Boy Scouts etc. A donation for a seat.

I guess I don't understand why all these events are "open to the public". I very seldom go to the squares at night because of the crowding and rudeness of some of the people. Besides, you can't carry on a conversation with all the "hot rodding" going on. Am I in the minority, or should us Villagers take back our Squares?:spoken:

I see it as a 2 sided arguement and both points are valid.

On one hand "I" want to see the parade with my friends. "I" will get there early to get us a table.

On the OTHER hand "I" want to see the parade but when "I" got there there was no tables because "I" was late.

And if you put it in the survey all that you'll accomplish is getting the elimination of the parade and even extras.

Or perhaps seats and tables could be awarded using a lottery system. That way, folks who really want to have a spot at the squares could potentially buy a "place" from someone who won a "place" via the lottery system.

The cost of administering the lottery and policing seat assignments at events would be paid for by the lottery entry fee.

No confrontation, no hard feelings, everybody wins!

I see this thread is very long and "I" haven't read all of the comments though the majority as in league with my thoughts. I totally agree this is horrible!!
When we first came here to live we wanted to experience the squares, the fun etc. The very first Christmas 3 years ago---for the tree lighting was the first and last for me (us). We got there around 5 and of course it was crowded and ALL the "good" chairs were taken. We were 'fortunate' to find a couple behind the gazebo but of course couldn't see alot of the activity. My memory is that it wasn't all that enjoyable with shoulder to shoulder folks---then there was the traffic jam of getting there (parking) and home again. We tend to avoid the squares now for most any reason much less the special events.

We happened to be traveling from the area of 441 (cartride/errands) down to the area near Colony late in the afternoon yesterday and my word the crowds just vying to park by Sweet Bay etc was incredible. I wonder if anyone who wanted to shop there could find a spot at that time???

I do think that something needs to be done about the "saving spots"!! What happened to the let's be fair mentality??

I like the ideas of some previous posters who suggested that the tables and a number of chairs per table be acquired with a donation to a non-profit charity as a fund raiser for them. That way, the fights and arguments over the tables would be diminished.

I don't understand why TV needs to put out these tables in the first place. The additional costs by staff to set up the tables and chairs, then collect all of them scattered all over town square must cost some money.

If you want to come down to the town square and celebrate, why not bring your own tail-gating tables, chairs, etc. and stake out your area.

Better yet, have everyone interested in staking out a place meet one block away with all their equipment and a TV Official blow a whistle at a predetermined time and watch everyone sprint down the street like an 1800's land rush to grab their piece of heaven!! :icon_wink:

The thought of seniors racing for their spots was too much. Coffee off keyboard cleaning to commence.

Oh I like that..:thumbup:..there are many charities that could benifit from this.....I can just hear the screams of protest to this already......

Suzanne

Nope I don't think so.....not from what I saw anyway. They were mainly neighborhood groups or club members that banded together.

Suzanne

:1rotfl: then again maybe :crap2: Which ever CERT couldn't be in parade they would be needed to pick up all the pieces........

Suzanne

I think if you want to claim/save a chair, then your butt needs to be in it. If you want to claim/save 6 chairs, then you need all six butts sitting in them. Let your whole party sit there all day long if the location is that important to you. But roping off a whole row of chairs or staking claim to an entire table, and then posting a “guard” is ridiculous. Anyone who thinks this is acceptable behavior is completely self-centered. It should be first butt-in-the-chair gets the chair.

Maybe whomever has the authority could set a fair policy:

"The Village's Entertainment group wants all residents to have the same opportunity to enjoy great seats for our events. Therefore we have established a policy that there will be 'no saving of seats' for our events in any of the squares. There will be no reserving, taping, or roping off of sections or rows or individual seats prior to any event. This policy will apply to all residents, business owners, performers, our media partners, our staff, and our volunteers. No one will have early access privileges. All seating will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis. The only exception to this policy will be for those passengers who are confined to a wheel chair."

The issues related to chair saving need to be included in the 2012 Survey! If TV receives enough comments from residents, then an official police will be enacted and signs at the squares should be installed.

There is more ways to skin a cat - if someone in front of me kept standing up when he or she has a seat - there would be a puddle of beer on their seat when the did sit down - sorry i spilled my beer did notice it fell on you seat.

:rant-rave: At LSL yesterday, 4 seats directly in front of the stage had chair covers on them, no butts, shortly after 6 a gal walked over and removed them. Other seats scattered among the crowd were also SAVED but no butts were in them. :(

Nitehawk you rascal!! I love how you think!! :ho:Let me know where you will be sitting next time and I will sit next to you. I can also accidentally spill my beer on the seat of the person standing next to the one in front of you!! :1rotfl:

I think I've been on cruises with these people. They're the ones who take about 3 or 4 towels for each chaise that they are "saving" and come back after the rest of their pack has gotton out of bed and have gone to breakfast. So for several hours chairs are there but not for you. I don't think posted signs would have any effect on their ignorant behavior because signs are posted everywhere on a ship that chair saving is not permitted. You are forgetting that rules don't apply to these special folks.

Since it seems that there are more of us than them, why not form a posse armed with scissors to cut the ribbons and sit in the chairs. The "chair hogger" would not be able to rouse a half dozen of us from the chairs and their ribbon would be useless when we got up to free the next group of saved chairs. It would send a loud and clear message that we all have the right to participate and we're not going to take it anymore.

I'm not even there yet and I find it so annoying that even in T.V., the nice people who respect everyone and know how to behave finish last.

You might be a redneck if..............

seat saving
 

Seat saving is obviosly a sore subject. I see this behavior a lot other areas: driving, even shopping and restaurants. My Mom had a saying about these behaviors--AFTER ME YOU COME FIRST!!! Annelle

Oh -sounds like a "chairity"

...and the posters here who say they would superglue thumbtacks on chairs (that would ruin chairs for future use and we pay for them with amenity fees), spill beer on chairs, cut ribbons, and other acts of childish vandalism are worse than those who got down to the entertainment area early in the morning and took positive action to assure they would have a seat.

There are no "bullies" that would physically do anything to you if you moved into one of their areas. They may grump at you but so what?

Next time, I suggest instead of sleeping until 11 am that you get yourself down to the entertainment area and set up your own chairs for you and a few friends.

perhaps event tables should be stenciled with: 'warning: unoccupied tables/chairs cannot be reserved without the presence of some member[s] attending the event. reserved tables/chairs not so occupied will be dismantled.'

What is the big deal. If I see the seats are not being used,I just move the stuff. I have been doing this for years. I just make sure it is not somebody walking over and talking to someone and have just left their chairs. If anyone questions me,I say no saving seats this is not the 4th grade.We do not need signs.

Maybe so. But I don't spend a lot of time in Spanish hotels. I live here and I pay for the amenities.

Brilliant, just brilliant. Love a good pun:mademyday:

Great catch. Went way over my green beer addled head. Lol

Yep, people say "I would do this or I would do that" and they wouldn't do squat! (Pun intended) Cut the ropes and take a seat. No one will beat you up!

Hahahah! Good one! :1rotfl:

Not unique to TV
 

This type of behavior is not unique to TV. For the reasons of..... way too many people in one spot, saving of chairs and tables, trying to get home in a timely manner, pushy people and the me, myself and I mentality, my husband and I don't attend many festivities. We grew tired of this early on as it happens all the time where I live. in TV you are mostly dealing with seniors which may or may not be easier. Where I currently live we are dealing with people of all ages which I actually think is worse. The "kids" would rather tell you "where to go" than to let you have a spot to see a parade. I think if people attend these large events they need to be mentally prepared. They are a lot of fun, but also a lot of aggravation. We tend to go to the beat of our own drum.

Just what I was thinking,Make it 5.00,sell tags there are many worthwhile charities,at least that would put a stop to those who like to SAVE 2&3 seats in different areas.....