Random stranger sat on my table at a dinner and tribute act show

I don't think anyone is suggesting that being imposed on by a boring bloke your dad's age is a drama. It happens with far too tedious a regularity to warrant that. OP is saying it was irritating and we're having a chat about it. Perfectly calmly. It's you who seems to be getting a little over excited if all your exclamation marks are any guide.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Unfortunately clearly many women, judging by some of the responses on here, think it's fine for him to make that assumption.

Sorry you had your night spoiled a bit, but I wouldn't let this put you off. Just next time be prepared to give someone the brush off more quickly and firmly. Either say something like "Hold on! You can take the chair, but not sit there!" or "Please leave me alone and go back to your table" or just ask the venue to deal with it.

I went to a bar on my own recently because I wanted to experience it (on a work trip so in a different city) - posh, amazing decor, great drinks etc... had the same experience as you as some guy thought he would come and talk to me. I don't mind a few words but I didn't want to chat with him! When he said "So what are you doing here all by yourself?" I said "Enjoying being alone!" with a pointed look. He was a bit taken a back but left.

I don't blame you for being put off by this man. I often go to gigs on my own, and it's usually fine and no one bothers me. But there was one occasion when I was sitting waiting, minding my own business when a random man came over to me and said there was a spare seat next to him, a few rows further forward, would I like to sit next to him. I politely declined his offer and he seemed pretty annoyed about it.

Surely if you are in the habit of befriending strangers it's on you to be able to read signals very quickly?

If so you will establish if your advances are welcome pretty quickly and it's all good

What an appropriate user name. Very embarrassed for you, dear.

@Prontehpronto I run and perform in an ABBA tribute band.

This sounds like the same boring bloke who always starts talking to me while we’re packing down, asks where we’re travelling to and is then shocked by how far the poor likkle woman has to drive, so late at night. If I wasn’t a professional, I’d happily tell him that his drunken wittering is delaying my packdown and will now make my night even later.

Not kidding, this happens on almost EVERY gig!

Why do people assume a woman on their own anywhere has been stood up?! Fucking infuriating.
A bloke on his own in the pub is considered normal. A woman, poor thing, has probably been stood up.
Or having dinner... etc.

Or maybe he could just not make such a massive assumption

Those harping on above hate aimed at the poor blokey ...

Many, many of us posting here have had a lifetime of fucking micro misogyny (and probably lots of much bigger events) from men like this.

Enough.

I am also sick of having to "accept" this shit dressed up as chivalry/being nice/it's a compliment. I'm angry my wonderful DD may have years of this to navigate but you can be sure I will not be encouraging her to have to suck it up.

So it's unfortunate some posters have a problem with the language we use when faced with this. And to be fair the language men use to our faces when we attempt to shut this shit down is often way more viscous

💯

Well exactly!

Let's remember it's an Abba tribute band not Taylor Swift at Wembley Arena.

And let's also assume that OP has the wit to differentiate between a seat grab and an unwanted chat up. Oh the temerity of OP to assume this random older man was even interested in her !

That Nando’s story is horrible. Yes - bet he looked for you afterwards to have it out and potentially have the last word (that and to call you frigid or something equally vile).

That bus driver story is creepy too. Bet he thought he was being cool and very sensible to keep walking past your house. Having said that many years ago the same drivers tended to work the same routes and our bus stop was literally outside our front door.

This is what men do, isn't it? You only need to be on your own while your mate goes to the toilet for some chancer to try his luck. I'm glad you told him straight OP. They are so deluded they mistake manners for interest and leave you no choice.

No it isn't FFS. Maybe the men YOU know are like this. But men I know of this age wouldn't dream of doing shit like this.

So fuck off with your ageist bullshit please and start moving in nicer circles.

Exactly.

😕
What's precious about wanting to enjoy a show by yourself?

Oh, for goodness sake!!! Calm yourselves down you precious ladies.
Unnecessary drama 🙄

Woah ! Unacceptable behaviour by the driver , he doesn’t have the right to question the eligibility of your pass .
My daughter is fully entitled to a disabled bus pass but has good mobility and if any bus driver questioned this there would be an enquiry by the relevant transport firm and driver training .

Nothing "odd" about doing something alone.

OP, I think you did really great.
You were caught off guard as we all can be.
Next time it happens🙄you will be firmer from the off.
Take it as a practice run, and you won.
Do NOT let a twat put you off.

Some men think the nearest vagina is their therapist when it suits them.
They think themselves and their shite to be of endless interest to other women.

They are wrong!

👏

There's so many posts on MN about women who never meet anyone in real life. I accept you didn't want him there, but I don't think there was anything wrong in him trying to engage in conversation with you and he did ask if he could take the seat....when you made it clear that he should leave to join his friends he should have done so.

I’m guessing he was more interested in the seat than you. Probably only chatted to distract you from the fact you’d probably paid more to sit there than he had.

I wonder why he didn't sit at the next table with the man on his own.

He must really, really love the tribute act if he chose not to be with his own friends. He would rather sit away from the people he is actually friends with and instead sit with a woman who happens to be young enough to be his daughter. Such dedication.

I wonder why he talked through the act (that he must absolutely adore) to the OP about his divorce and stuff if he just wanted to be polite. He could have talked about the act he lives so very much or a myriad of other topics.

That's immediately what I thought of too 😁
Bloody Jeanette and Dougie 😡😂
Loved how she palmed off her so called "mate" on them when she eventually showed her face lol