[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Did you find your cushions in the bushes? I find it hard to imagine that anyone working as an event planner would do that. I know that I have felt like it at times. Perhaps some villager did it.

I guess we bring with us to this big melting pot the traditions and attitudes and accepted practices that we are used to.

No one that I can remember got in front of me in line in Ohio or went early to save a chair at unpaid events.

There have been many discussions here on this forum about this issue and a few have suggested that signs about no seat saving would work, but many others were sceptical.

I hope you know Gingersnap that there are many, kind and caring people here in this very large and diverse place, and there are those who don't care about anyone but themselves. Moving here isn't going to change them and I think that the policy setters were patient for too long this time in their efforts to see if we would all behave like adults.

I am very glad that they are doing something about it, which I hope ISN'T pillow-tossing-into-the bushes.

I have seen with my own eyes, groups of chairs at LSL with a chain and a padlock. It made me want to bite.

I wouldn't want to be an event planner trying to calmly explain this new practice to people who think they deserve to run things the way they want.

OUCH!!!

You couldn't have said it any nicier Gracie!!!!! Chain and Locks????? Wow!!!! hehehehe

[ronat1]

Originally Posted by fred boswell

As bizarre as this might sound, I was considering not moving to the villages because I read previous threads about this practice. Seat Savers should be publicly flogged. It is rude and ignorant to go and place objects to save seats hours before a public event in the squares. I have a condo at the Jersey shore and people go over early in the am and place towels and other personal items on chairs by the pool. jack asses, each and every one.

I for one am so glad that this issue is being addressed.

Did I read correctly, you actually considered not moving to The Villages because you read on TOTV about "seat saving" at the squares?????

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by fred boswell

I have a condo at the Jersey shore and people go over early in the am and place towels and other personal items on chairs by the pool. jack asses, each and every one.

This is a problem that is universal. You cannot go on a cruise any more without people getting up at sunrise and putting "their" towels on chairs around the pool, and that towel stays there all day. I lived on a golf course with a pool area and if you left a towel on a chair you'd come back and find it in the water and someone in your chair!

Surely, it is up to us to stop it. If there is a group of chairs roped together with no one on them, pull the chairs out of the way and way to the back - pull the end one the rest will follow making a hell of a noise and causing WW3, but you've made your point. If someone is dancing I think they have the right to expect to come back to a chair, but if you go off to eat you're done, and if you leave something on the chair it should be removed carefully and placed on the wall out of harms way. BUT, IT TAKES GUTS TO DO THIS.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

This is a problem that is universal. You cannot go on a cruise any more without people getting up at sunrise and putting "their" towels on chairs around the pool, and that towel stays there all day. I lived on a golf course with a pool area and if you left a towel on a chair you'd come back and find it in the water and someone in your chair!

Surely, it is up to us to stop it. If there is a group of chairs roped together with no one on them, pull the chairs out of the way and way to the back - pull the end one the rest will follow making a hell of a noise and causing WW3, but you've made your point. If someone is dancing I think they have the right to expect to come back to a chair, but if you go off to eat you're done, and if you leave something on the chair it should be removed carefully and placed on the wall out of harms way. BUT, IT TAKES GUTS TO DO THIS.

Lot of people packing heat on them squares.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Lot of people packing heat on them squares.

Oooops - never thought of that. I'm used to living in a civilized world! Thanks for the heads up.

[Kateb1]

Unfortuately, nothing in life is fair or equal, and that's just the way it is. It's a new time, a new day, a new mindset. Even in The Villages there are things that aren't so perfect.

Originally Posted by katsudden

I have mobility issues and therefore prefer to save seats at the square so I am assured of being able to sit. My husband and I saved two seats about 3:30pm at Mardi Gras at Lake Sumpter. We went to get a bite to eat and returned to find our "seat savers" under the bushes and two other people in our seats. We were told that a Village Personnel man took our "seat-savers" off of the chairs. We spoke to the supervisor about it. He admitted to doing it. Basically it came down to "what right do we have to save "village-owned seats."

So...what do you all think about this? Our thoughts are......

We couldn't "save" seats, but....

1. Others seem to have the right to be able to bring their own chairs and save an optimal space on the "village-owned property" that others could put "village owned" chairs upon. They have that right according to the supervisor.
2. Others have the right to come early and just sit and wait in "village-owned" chairs. Why does my physical rear-end have to be in the chair vs. my "seat saver" other than to protect our chairs from the supervisor?
3. What if we want to save our seats and get up to shop the vendors around the square? One would have to be sitting there to save the other seat according to the supervisor as he was still going around checking seats as entertainment was going on.
4. What if we want to save our seats and get up to dance? One would have to be sitting there to save the other seat to be safe from the supervisor.

What right do we have to "save our seats?" We have the same right that anyone else has to come down early and save seats. First come first serve. That is our "right." We are not taking away anyone else's right to do this.

What "right" does anyone have to disrespect our "right" to be there first?

(Sarcastically) Why don't they just gate everything off with policemen and make everyone go in at the same time? Oops! People would be upset because somehow someone got closer to the gate then they did. Or....let's just make the rule that no one can leave their house until 30 minutes before an event. Oops! Some people live closer and that's just not fair! Perhaps the villages should just eliminate all "reservations" at restaurants or buying tickets in advance.

Do you think that this is micro-managing just a bit too much? After all…we are adults. There are always going to be "childish" adults who cause problems. Let the villages focus on them and leave the rest of us alone.

What do YOU think?

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by quirky3

lol!

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by Mr. Grampi II

I mean no disrespect to the OP but I think if you absolutely must have a seat you should consider bringing your own chair.

I have a Mom who also as mobility problems, when we take her to square on a night when there is an event or it real busy we take her wheel chair or a folding chair of our own. This ensure she has a seat and we look for one for ourselves when available.

[ilovetv]

".....3. What if we want to save our seats and get up to shop the vendors around the square? One would have to be sitting there to save the other seat according to the supervisor as he was still going around checking seats as entertainment was going on.
4. What if we want to save our seats and get up to dance? One would have to be sitting there to save the other seat to be safe from the supervisor...."

Bring two chairs of your own. We wished we had brought ours last night. Past threads here have gone on and on and on about people at these festivals who save seats all day and night and never use them. Now that that rudeness is being curbed there are other problems.

We all have to figure out how to best deal with our limitations.......along with our WANTS.

Can't have your cake and eat it too.

[buzzy]

I think there must be places in this country that exist in an alternative universe. It's hard for me to imagine that so many people can arrive at The Villages without ever encountering rude people before.

[buggyone]

I understand this Wednesday had a standing room only crowd of around 4,000 people around Spanish Springs to hear Rocky & The Rollers and for Market Night. Rocky gave that estimate, by the way.

Naturally, with all those people, saved seats are not going to be allowed. Removing saving material when it has been vacant for some time is reasonable and should be done. No one is going to swoop in and toss out a saving seat pillow or hat when the people are dancing.

The crowds will thin out beginning in April and be back to normal in May. This is a good time for that 21 day cruise.

[sralph99]

I arrived at Spanish Springs Wednesday at 4:15 - glad we brought our chairs. Every chair in the square was already taken, many were roped off or tied together.

[sueandskip]

People get carried away with the word right ! What right was violated? Constitutional ? The Bill of Rights ? Which was it ? How about a legal right...
I agree with the rules that be....Set there to save it or bring your own....

[Roaddog53]

I too obviously agree with no saving seats...period. The sign idea would at least "warn" people if they try to save seats. We go dancing at the squares and many times our seats are still there. Usually due to some one replying to a person who asks if the seats are saved and they say the people are up dancing so they leave them alone.
Now, the caveat to "bringing your own chair". I can now see everyone going out and buying their own chairs and taking them to the squares early to save a spot in front. Next thing we know there will BE NO SPOTS AVAILABLE! Than all will complain about spots. Than they will reserve spots for personal seats in an area. Than no room room for that area. And on and on..
Probably just opened up a new can. Maybe should be of whoop a**.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by buzzy

I think there must be places in this country that exist in an alternative universe. It's hard for me to imagine that so many people can arrive at The Villages without ever encountering rude people before.

You are correct. BUT some folks seem to have lived in surroundings that encouraged LESS restraint on their speech and actions.

Not everyone in Ohio is polite. We have had a lot of people move there from OTHER areas.

I am JUST kidding, Well sorta.

I stopped in Toojays to pick up some cookies at the Deli part yesterday.

The ticket taker thingy that allows you to take numbers wasn't working and there was a little crowd there. I laughingly said, "It's o.k. I'm from Ohio, I'll go to the back of the line" which made several people laugh and say that they too were from Ohio and they understood.

Being polite is acting kind even if you're not.