[katsudden]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

You were thinking to bring a chair and leave it unattended?

What did you think I meant?

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by katsudden

GracieGirl...I don't think it annoys as many people as you think it does. But those who are annoyed are going to ruin it for people who are "organizers" and think ahead so they will not be in the same boat as you who feel "entitled" to sit in the saved seats because you weren't smart enough to think of it first. Obviously you are among those who get annoyed at the "littlest" things. So bring YOUR OWN chair and quite complaining about not having a "village" chair to sit on. By the way....our seat savers were "cut" off and thrown into the bushes by a guy in blue who admitted to doing it. Very friendly!

You are obviously wrong and there are a great many people that are very annoyed by the saving of seats. Read this string of annoyed people. If it was allowed or considered OK by the majority, there would not be a chair not roped off by 9 AM on any event day. What a darn mess that would be. So if you are considerate of others, make it a first come and do not try to save a seat.

[katsudden]

Originally Posted by 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**.

That is my point about what is the difference between "saving" a village seat and bringing my own chair. I'm still "saving" a spot using my own chair. When will this complaining end? If people want to get there early and "save", let them. I see no difference between a "village" chair and my own chair.

[katsudden]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

You are obviously wrong and there are a great many people that are very annoyed by the saving of seats. Read this string of annoyed people. If it was allowed or considered OK by the majority, there would not be a chair not roped off by 9 AM on any event day. What a darn mess that would be. So if you are considerate of others, make it a first come and do not try to save a seat.

The complainers are always more vocal than the non-complainers. You just think you are in the majority.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by katsudden

That is my point about what is the difference between "saving" a village seat and bringing my own chair. I'm still "saving" a spot using my own chair. When will this complaining end? If people want to get there early and "save", let them. I see no difference between a "village" chair and my own chair.

The difference is that the village chair belongs to everyone. Your chair belongs to only you. I don't understand the logic that people have the "right" to take ownership of a community chair from early in the day until they decide it can be returned to general use. If that is allowed, it won't be long before chairs and locations are reserved permanently and no one but the "privileged" will be allowed to the use of community property.

[katsudden]

Originally Posted by rustyp

So far about 30 replies - not one in favor of saving seats. I also do not like this practice. However I do not go for the idea that an event person can selectively single out someone doing this. Something does not add up on the original story. Did the event person clear out all saved seats? Did the event person throw the cushions in the bushes (hard to believe)? I would hope that if this practice is a new standard that we would at least be informed of the new situation - like the "no coolers, etc speach before each set starts). FYI - If I go to the square and there are no seats and some are being saved with no one in attendance I sit in it until the party comes back and politely give it back - why should it go unused.

Well it's common that those that are heard from are going to be the "complainers."

Yes, the event person admitted to going around and getting rid of all the "saved" items, cutting the ropes, untying the bags, etc. And yes, he did throw things in the bushes. Ours included. The event person who did this was the supervisor, the guy in blue with the yellow hat. And, yes, he was still doing so when we spoke to him after the event had started. He phrased it to those sitting next to us "Are you with the people saving the chairs?" They answered "no" and he got rid of the "chair savers."

If you want to sit in my chair until I get there, you are welcome to do so. If you want to bring your own chair, you are welcome to do so. If you want to go early and put a "saver" on a chair for later, you are welcome to do so. No one is hurting anyone here. If you come late and there aren't any chairs, you learn to bring a chair the next time. So big deal. We learned by coming late to events to get there early and save a chair. Did we complain? No. Did we throw the "savers" in the bushes? No. Did we start a fight? No.

[graciegirl]

...JUST KIDDING NOW......

[paulandjean]

Fight! Fight! Fight!

[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by katsudden

Why do you think it is "selfish" and "entitled" to save seats? You can bring your own chairs or go early and save chairs also. Just because you don't think ahead to do so, you look down on those who do? So who is feeling "entitled" here? Seems that you are because you are feeling "entitled" to the seats that someone else has saved!

Basically, it is like this: Community chairs are first come, first served. They are not meant to be 'reserved' for future use when it is convenient to finally sit in them, but to be occupied when you take them.

Most reasonable situations, like using the bathroom or getting up to dance are perfectly acceptable times to place a sweater or such on a chair. People around are observant.... if they see you get up to dance, they will casually sort of guard that chair for you if someone new comes along.

Most people aren't sitting alone, and usually one stays with the chairs, while the other gets a beverage or uses the bathroom. If one IS alone, they can tell the person in the chair next to them that they are going to the bathroom and will be right back.

MOST people will ask if vacant chairs are being used, as often when people leave to go home, the chairs stay where they have been placed.

But when people stand through a performance, because all the chairs are spoken for..... and they see 'reserved chairs' that sit there without an occupant long after the music starts.... they get ANNOYED. It's considered HOGGING and that is distasteful to encounter FROM OTHER ADULTS when you are anticipating a pleasant evening.

Many people will ask someone standing if they would like their chairs when they are ready to leave, or let someone nearby know the chairs are available.
It's just common courtesy.

That's why bringing your own chairs makes so much sense for those who believe as you do.
It not only eliminates the problem of HOGGING, you can mark it with your stuff and nobody will bother it..... unless you place it in the line of the dancers. If it is empty and a hazard to the dancers, it will be moved, but certainly not tossed into the bushes.

HOGGING goes further sometimes, and only adds to the ire. For example, we have seen multiple parking spaces 'reserved' WAY ahead of time using ridiculous ribbons, rope, etc. when there is a popular event going on. Of course, those who are regular folk again get ANNOYED, driving around and around looking for someplace to park, to discover much later that the 'reservists' haven't yet graced us with their presence.... but expect those spaces be available to them anyway, even hours later.
Parking spaces are not reservable either.
This hogging behavior tends to creatively morph into every activity available, unless people get called on it.

I do believe that people who operate in this way count on everyone else to be 'politically correct', non confrontational, and let them have their way. If we don't, they get HIGHLY offended. If we DO give in, their low opinion of others is validated, and their behavior gets worse.
Doesn't make for happy campers when you must co-exist with (fill in the blank) when you just want to enjoy.
See?

[bargee]

I do not get upset when I see seats being saved per se.Its when I am at an affair that has been in progress for an hour and the people who cordoned off a group of chairs are still not there and I observe some of our older neighbors having to stand that upsets me.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by katsudden

Well it's common that those that are heard from are going to be the "complainers."

Yes, the event person admitted to going around and getting rid of all the "saved" items, cutting the ropes, untying the bags, etc. And yes, he did throw things in the bushes. Ours included. The event person who did this was the supervisor, the guy in blue with the yellow hat. And, yes, he was still doing so when we spoke to him after the event had started. He phrased it to those sitting next to us "Are you with the people saving the chairs?" They answered "no" and he got rid of the "chair savers."

If you want to sit in my chair until I get there, you are welcome to do so. If you want to bring your own chair, you are welcome to do so. If you want to go early and put a "saver" on a chair for later, you are welcome to do so. No one is hurting anyone here. If you come late and there aren't any chairs, you learn to bring a chair the next time. So big deal. We learned by coming late to events to get there early and save a chair. Did we complain? No. Did we throw the "savers" in the bushes? No. Did we start a fight? No.

I would estimate at least 50% of the people at the town square have phones with cameras. Did anyone capture a picture of all this stuff thrown in the bushes. If so I would think the entertainment departmant would be interested in a copy. This could be a good way to call to their attention that a policy (wherther it be save or not save chairs) may be worth a review before the fisticuffs start to fly. This time their employee is involved not just villager vs villager. This subject has been beat to death here and nothing happens until the admin cuts it off when it gets nasty - that's not solving the problem.

[mulligan]

Hopefully, they will start treating LSL and SS just like brownwood. Anyone who wants a chair is handed one as he arrives....problem solved.

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by katsudden

GracieGirl...I don't think it annoys as many people as you think it does. But those who are annoyed are going to ruin it for people who are "organizers" and think ahead so they will not be in the same boat as you who feel "entitled" to sit in the saved seats because you weren't smart enough to think of it first. Obviously you are among those who get annoyed at the "littlest" things. So bring YOUR OWN chair and quite complaining about not having a "village" chair to sit on. By the way....our seat savers were "cut" off and thrown into the bushes by a guy in blue who admitted to doing it. Very friendly!

What type of seat savers did you have on your chair that were cut off? Was it a plastic bag or a nylon rope or what?

As far as the person that suggested (with a smiley face) that lots of people are "packing heat" so we should be careful about saved seats. IF anyone shows their concealed pistol in an aggressive or intimidating manner, they will be arrested for Assault With A Deadly Weapon and face some serious jail time. That has happened at least twice I know of in The Villages and dealt both times with parking spaces. Just call 911 if it happens to you - I know I will!!

[sandybill2]

We always bring our own chairs to the Square when there is a popular band and especially this time of year. We also have gotten up to dance and came back to find people sitting in our folding "bag" chairs. Now that was a surprise!

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by Uptown Girl

Basically, it is like this: Community chairs are first come, first served. They are not meant to be 'reserved' for future use when it is convenient to finally sit in them, but to be occupied when you take them.

Most reasonable situations, like using the bathroom or getting up to dance are perfectly acceptable times to place a sweater or such on a chair. People around are observant.... if they see you get up to dance, they will casually sort of guard that chair for you if someone new comes along.

Most people aren't sitting alone, and usually one stays with the chairs, while the other gets a beverage or uses the bathroom. If one IS alone, they can tell the person in the chair next to them that they are going to the bathroom and will be right back.

MOST people will ask if vacant chairs are being used, as often when people leave to go home, the chairs stay where they have been placed.

But when people stand through a performance, because all the chairs are spoken for..... and they see 'reserved chairs' that sit there without an occupant long after the music starts.... they get ANNOYED. It's considered HOGGING and that is distasteful to encounter FROM OTHER ADULTS when you are anticipating a pleasant evening.

Many people will ask someone standing if they would like their chairs when they are ready to leave, or let someone nearby know the chairs are available.
It's just common courtesy.

That's why bringing your own chairs makes so much sense for those who believe as you do.
It not only eliminates the problem of HOGGING, you can mark it with your stuff and nobody will bother it..... unless you place it in the line of the dancers. If it is empty and a hazard to the dancers, it will be moved, but certainly not tossed into the bushes.

HOGGING goes further sometimes, and only adds to the ire. For example, we have seen multiple parking spaces 'reserved' WAY ahead of time using ridiculous ribbons, rope, etc. when there is a popular event going on. Of course, those who are regular folk again get ANNOYED, driving around and around looking for someplace to park, to discover much later that the 'reservists' haven't yet graced us with their presence.... but expect those spaces be available to them anyway, even hours later.
Parking spaces are not reservable either.
This hogging behavior tends to creatively morph into every activity available, unless people get called on it.

I do believe that people who operate in this way count on everyone else to be 'politically correct', non confrontational, and let them have their way. If we don't, they get HIGHLY offended. If we DO give in, their low opinion of others is validated, and their behavior gets worse.
Doesn't make for happy campers when you must co-exist with (fill in the blank) when you just want to enjoy.
See?

Very well stated and right on the mark...