[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by skyking

There are several forms of seat saving, but having some at each each square making a sweep at 4pm to remove ropes, tapes, etc. would quickly stop the seat saving at 11am. They would stop wasting their time and get a life.

I agree.

Why have 'rules' if you're not going to bother to try and enforce them?

Either enforce the rule (preferable) or just eliminate it and make it a 'suggestion.'

At least it would eliminate exhibiting such obvious impotence.

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Is that two or three challenges per Square? I'm not sure mace would be effective against CCW. I don't think most Residents want ugliness, violence and confrontation at the Squares over a few nights where seats are saved.
I agree. It's annoying, but I think it's primarily limited to popular groups like Rocky.

I was being a little cheeky regarding the mace. I seriously doubt a seat saver is going to pull a gun on a TV staffer that is enforcing the rules. Does anyone think that the recreation dept staff would allow an habitual line breaker to continue to bully their way to the front of the water volleyball line or the pickleball line? Of course not. If the person refused to straighten up, the person would be trespassed. End of problem.

[outlaw]

[QUOTE=Bonny;1256262]

Originally Posted by outlaw

Attacked in a parking lot is just slightly different than someone saving a seat for a friend.

We're not talking about saving a seat for A friend. We're talking about hogging a whole string of saved chairs for groups. I don't think anyone would begrudge someone saving a seat for one friend.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by outlaw

I was being a little cheeky regarding the mace. I seriously doubt a seat saver is going to pull a gun on a TV staffer that is enforcing the rules. Does anyone think that the recreation dept staff would allow an habitual line breaker to continue to bully their way to the front of the water volleyball line or the pickleball line? Of course not. If the person refused to straighten up, the person would be trespassed. End of problem.

The funds supporting the Villages Pools are different than the funds supporting the entertainment at the squares. Amenity fees support the pools. The merchants at the squares pay for entertainment. The entertainment department is no longer owned by the developer. The recreation department (pools) is run by the CDD. With CDD monies.

Follow the money. Economics is fascinating.

OR in the event that is too complicated, do as many do on this forum, blame it on the greed of certain entities. I always wonder if those folks tell their kids, grow up but for heavens sake don't leave our home and become a financial success by going into business. Don't come runnin' to me if you become a CEO of something and make a lot of money. Do something simple. Be a drug dealer or work for the government but don't make a lot of money. People will call you greedy. You will bring shame to our family.

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by biker1

There is no upside, and lots of downside, to asking the shirted Villages folks to confront people saving seats. I have seen them enforce safety issues such as having people move seats to keep aisles open. Bring your own chairs -end of story. Although I guess we could get to the point where people will whine about people saving "ground" ;-)

The upside is the policy would be adhered to. The downside risk is minimal in my opinion. Do you see water volleyball participants cut the line to get in, or pickleball players cutting the line. No. Why not? They know they couldn't get away with it. If the staff can enforce safety issues without violence, why assume they can't enforce other developer policies without violence? It's illogical.

[biker1]

Confronting people who may have been drinking only has downside. Creating a ruckus that might encourage bystanders to go elsewhere to spend money only has downside. Seat saving is only an issue with a few popular groups. Regardless of what you think, there is little chance of any change as the "shirted" people are not going to confront people over seat saving. People aren't going to argue when approached about safety issues - whole different issue - and there are cops around if people refuse to comply with safety issues.

Originally Posted by outlaw

The upside is the policy would be adhered to. The downside risk is minimal in my opinion. Do you see water volleyball participants cut the line to get in, or pickleball players cutting the line. No. Why not? They know they couldn't get away with it. If the staff can enforce safety issues without violence, why assume they can't enforce other developer policies without violence? It's illogical.

[Bonny]

[QUOTE=outlaw;1256805]

Originally Posted by Bonny

We're not talking about saving a seat for A friend. We're talking about hogging a whole string of saved chairs for groups. I don't think anyone would begrudge someone saving a seat for one friend.

Okay, so being attacked in a parking lot is slightly different than someone saving a row of seats.
The quote is a little mixed up. This was not my post even though it has my name on it. LOL

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by MikeyBoo54

Not to open the old wound, but why not just stop providing chairs? Lots of people go to the squares and take their own.

visitors have no chairs to bring. the squares are a sales tool

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The funds supporting the Villages Pools are different than the funds supporting the entertainment at the squares. Amenity fees support the pools. The merchants at the squares pay for entertainment. The entertainment department is no longer owned by the developer.

Originally Posted by biker1

Confronting people who may have been drinking only has downside. Creating a ruckus that might encourage bystanders to go elsewhere to spend money only has downside. Seat saving is only an issue with a few popular groups.

I totally agree with Biker's post; and Graciegirl has also made some valid comments.
Since The Developer no longer owns The Entertainment Department, demands that The Developer should fix this problem are similar to barking up the wrong tree - the squirrel has moved on.

[bbbbbb]

There is new trend in place today, all over, not just in the villages.

People go to work to get a paycheck.
People go to work to visit with friends.
People go to work to exchange ideas on ball games and TV shows.
People do not necessarily go to work in order to work.

[Walt.]

Once again people are pretending that you have to hire someone to remove ropes and tape. How much effort and time would it take to remove rope and tape at 4:30? There is staff there.

As for confronting a drunk who saved the seats? If somebody is drunk and starting a problem... don't they get removed already? The point of removing the ropes and tapes is that someone tied the seats off.. AND LEFT. There's actually nobody there to confront anybody.

This thread is getting old. We need to punch it up a bit...

Hmmm.... we haven't discussed coyotes lately...

Here goes... I saw three drunken coyotes roping off about a dozen seats at the last Rocky & The Rollers show. I asked them not to do that but they just howled.

[outlaw]

[QUOTE=Bonny;1256823]

Originally Posted by outlaw

Okay, so being attacked in a parking lot is slightly different than someone saving a row of seats.
The quote is a little mixed up. This was not my post even though it has my name on it. LOL

This looks like post saving to me! Now it's getting out of hand.

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

The funds supporting the Villages Pools are different than the funds supporting the entertainment at the squares. Amenity fees support the pools. The merchants at the squares pay for entertainment. The entertainment department is no longer owned by the developer. The recreation department (pools) is run by the CDD. With CDD monies.

Follow the money. Economics is fascinating.

OR in the event that is too complicated, do as many do on this forum, blame it on the greed of certain entities. I always wonder if those folks tell their kids, grow up but for heavens sake don't leave our home and become a financial success by going into business. Don't come runnin' to me if you become a CEO of something and make a lot of money. Do something simple. Be a drug dealer or work for the government but don't make a lot of money. People will call you greedy. You will bring shame to our family.

I was using the rec dept as an example of an entity enforcing rules/policy. The entertainment dept could do the same thing. At any rate, I think the developer does own the square property, which is where the issue occurs. I think the billionaire can do/enforce what ever he/she wants in the square. Follow the money.

[NoMoSno]

Doesn't Brownwood put out the chairs, just before the show?
Why not do the same in SS?
It's ridiculous we have these issues in a "55"plus community...

[Carl in Tampa]

I don't have much of a dog in this fight since I bring my own (wheel) chair and it's no hardship to also bring a folding chair for Barbara on the golf cart.

Having said that, here is a thought. Legitimize saving seats...... but only beginning an hour before the entertainment starts.

WHY? Because allowing saving seats rewards people who show up early, just as people who are early to the movie theater are first in line. But there is no reason that a person who shows up early and obtains a seat should be obligated to be confined to that seat until the entertainment starts. Allow the person who obtained the seat to save the seat while going to purchase something to drink or an ice cream cone just as the person who gets a choice seat in the movie theater can get up and go get popcorn without losing the seat.

HOW? Simply keep the chairs locked up until an hour before the entertainment starts. Don't task employees with setting up the chairs. People get them, first come, first served when they are unlocked. Employees are only tasked with keeping exit paths clear.

Paint exit path outlines on the concrete. Employees would only be tasked with pointing out to the public that they must keep the paths clear.

RESULT? If you show up "fashionably late" you risk not getting a seat, unless an early comer has decided to leave or there are still chairs available in the unlocked supply.

Face it. The population of The Villages has grown to the point that the town squares are often unable to accommodate the number of people who would like to attend a free entertainment event. We no longer live in The Villages of the past.