Hi Springfield,
Thank you for posting this, as it gives others a chance to be forewarned/forearmed for a similar experience.

When I'm faced with the need for a quick response, my first thoughts are "do the right thing" and "first, do no harm". A funny or clever response might be ideal, but isn't necessary if one sticks to these two principles.

Yielding the spot fails on both counts. It is harmful to the community to enable a bully. In my mind-- unless you are in danger-- it is always wrong to enable a bully. Not letting the bully prevail is "the right thing to do" because you help enforce fair-play not just for yourself but for others. Another way to look at this is, "what if everybody responded as I did?" If everybody enabled the bully, (s)he will continue to run roughshod over people, to the detriment of not just you but everyone else. If everyone failed to yield the spot to the bully, the entire community would win! Therefore, it's the right answer.

Base your action on these principles and not yielding the spot to the bully becomes a no brainer. Now, coming up with a funny comeback or one that diffuses the situation would be nice too, but is not necessary. You've done no harm and done the right thing, one that would work great if everyone responded the same way.

That said, I probably would have laughed and said, "Cool! May I kindly borrow your 'Rules Don't Apply to Me' license. I actually had to get here early for this spot!... By the way, my name is ..., Nice to meet you."

If the person response with his/her name, change the subject to a pleasant chat.

Yup, WHY do people do stuff like that.....is the biggest question :ohdear:

They do it because they are pushy and they like feeling "important" by pushing other people around.

Has anyone ever told the instructor of this problem, so that the instructor makes an announcement saying "the rule is first come, first served......nobody gets priority seating"?

It sounds like more classes should be using a "take a number" and wait in line at the door, in that order, system.

In a "Walk off the pounds" class...no instructor, just a tape...but I suppose you could ask the person who starts the tape to make that announcement.

Everyone should read PTurner's post above. I know that I will now see that giving in just makes it harder for other people. I will just stand my ground in a polite sort of way while my blood pressure goes up.

bump

Take a number? Tell the front desk? Come on this is not third grade. Handle this yourself. Just say No. Its not that hard. I always feel the least said is the best way in these situations. Just say No

As a future Villager, this whole thread bothers me. It seems like there is a real attitude toward those who are snowflakes, snow birds, renters, new Villagers. Have people forgotten that at one point they were the new kid on the blocK? Or that at one point, they rented?

Let me live here but you stay out, stay home, don't move to MY neighborhood, etc. I mean really, "It is THEIR pool????" Are you :censored: kidding me? Unless the pool is in your backyard, it isn't yours. Get over it or I might just pee in "YOUR" pool for spite.

Maybe I need to look for another place to live where I would be welcomed? I realize that not everyone is like that. I can get a pretty good sense of who I would like to meet and who I would avoid just by reading comments. I also realize that people are people no matter where you live.

I'm just saying.....

Oh, dear Gracie, NEVER let other people dictate how your day will be! You are too sweet to have that happen. When other people begin their first conversation with you by being rude, THEY have set the standard for the conversation. You don't have to be rude back at them, but you must be firm and convincing that they do not have control over you or your day! It's a shame that you had to leave an art class because of others' rudeness. I have not seen your art, but know others who have seen and enjoyed it. Just continue to be your "Gracie" self.

My husband is a paying member of "Gold's Gym", he enjoys the "Spinning Classes", well his first or second time in class he got there early and choice a cycle and had it all adjusted to his liking, when another participate came up to him and said "I'm sorry sir but I had that cycle/bike reserved", well unbeknownst to him there is a clipboard at the front desk where a person(s) can reserve a bike/cycle, I'm sure this is all legal and proper, however it's just another way of encouraging the "entitlement" attitude of this world we live in, whatever happen to "first come, first served". He came home and told me about it and was kind of joking about it, but I could tell he felt like he had done something wrong and committed a crime against this person, like he trespassed on "their property", oh well, "just another country heard from".

American Sign Language helps!
 

My hearing impaired friend taught me to sign:

What are you trying to tell me?
Works for me every time.

Now we're talkin'...
............I mean signin'

Love this answer! :)

Was it actually a "reserved" list or just a sign in sheet for the next available when all were busy? That's done here during peak times and the people just use something else until that particular piece of equipment is available.

A reserve list.

I've lived here for over three years and still feel that TV is friendly.
I thank God every morning for the privilege of living here. In the past
we've lived in resort areas and learned to time our outings so that we
avoid crowds during prime time. Everything I want or need is only a cart ride away and that includes international art instructors. When I read the negative comments I wonder if we live in the same community;:ohdear: as a senior I've learned that life is what you make it. Because we feel so blessed we want to convey to wannabes that there are people here who love their life here but aren't as vocal as the nay sayers. :a040: