AIBU to think if you are in a theater you stand up when someone wants to get past you to there seat?

[RoseRedder]

Am I?

We were at the theater tonight (Lion King)

Or seats where in the middle of the row

I use walking sticks so not really steady on my feet and find it hard to manouver past peoples sitting down, plus there bags etc.

Out of 12 people to get past only 4 stood up to make it easier for me to get past

woowoo

Yes even moving knees to one side would have helped

I thought it was just common curtosy?

Of course it's common courtesy.

Something that seems to be getting lost these days, as is evidenced by some of the posts on here lately.

And I do wish people, who can't be arsed to RTFT, would at least read the OP's posts!

(a pet peeve of mine).

I'm actually more annoyed about this today than I was last night having read some of the comments here

Why should I have to arrive early because I have a disability? I paid for my ticket the same as everyone else

Why should I have to book an aisle seat if, say I want to be in the middle to get the view?

Because I have walking sticks I should according to some here make sure I arrive early so as to not bother other people by asking them politely to move to make space for me getting past!

In the interval I queued at the disabled toilet ..there were 5 people in front of me when I arrived.

Time is limited obviously in the breaks and someone further back in the queue with a daughter in wheelchair asked the people in front of me if they had a need to use this particular toilet.

They all answered no, one girl actually said the queue at the others is too long

They didn't move or let this lady and her daughter use the toilet

I'm new to going out and about with my disability, this was the first time I have been out (and I mean out of house apart from the the Gp's and hospital) in 2 years

And I felt inadequate, not a full person and whist I thought it would be common courtesy for people to move for anyone ...it's a bit rank for someone to see another person with a disability and sit there like ladymuck and not even try to make things easier for people

It's a hard adjustment Rose
If you are broadly a nice person you assume that others will be lovely when you need extra help/support.
Lots of people are gorgeous but the public couldn't give a shit.
Sad but true

OP, please don't let some stupid, ignorant people on MN put you off enjoying another trip to the theatre - you are not inadequate, they are inadequate and extremely rude!

Total hijack here but did you enjoy Lion King? My DH bought me tickets for Christmas and we are going next week! I'm pretty excited - it's been ages since we went out that didn't include a cafe

It's great Alpaca
I took DS1 and it's lovely.( except ds1 has SN and finds it hilarious when mufasa dies)
Have a lovely time

Having seen the look of horror that flashes across peoples faces when I stand, I tend to go for the "embarrassed curl in my seat" manoeuvre. This is because I am 6ft tall in heels, very fat and have giant norks. So they are suddenly faced with this giantess looming into the space that they thought they could use for squeezing past.

Yes, I stand up because the space is normally tight.

It gets annoying if people were late, but that's not you, OP

As an aside, people who don't say thankyou when you let them get past get on my nerves.

I wen to Wimbledon once and it seemed to be populated by an unusual number of ungracious people

I didn't say you had to have an aisle seat, just suggested it in case it might be easier. You don't have to be so bloody narky!

Mrbobcat
Why are you assuming she was responding to you?

She is entitled to be narky. She went to the theatre, peoplecwouldn't assist by making her route to her seat a bit easier and when she posts on here other posters lecture her about her set home and tell he not to have a drink so she doesn't need to pee.
I'd be bloody narky.

I always stand - would seem incredibly rude not to!

PAGWATCH:

"I'm actually more annoyed about this today than I was last night having read some of the comments here

Why should I have to book an aisle seat if, say I want to be in the middle to get the view?"

I was the one who suggested an aisle seat and she particularly commented on that. I was only trying to be helpful as I find the theatre a bit of a stress.

Mrbobcat no it wasn't to you

I posted a reply to you asking about info for disabled theatre goers

Sorry if you thought it was, it wasn't

Oh sorry, didn't mean to jump to conclusions. I'm being a right old grump tonight.

I'm so sorry!

I should have read the thread.

When you book tickets, you phone the theatre or ticket master or see tickets or whoever you book from and ask for disability/access people. You can't book reduced price tickets online, for some reason. You usually get half price for you and half price for one carer. Makes a huge difference! Plus, if you need extra arrangements such as; a lift, they sort it on the phone. Some theatres have lifts right round the back and it's a long walk, so it's best to know before you walk right to the front.

P.S. people are often so wrapped up in their own world, they don't seem to notice a wobbly person on the train/at the theatre/wherever with sticks and no seat. I find that the best way is to think 'fuck em' and say in your most assertive yet charming voice; "EXCUSE ME PLEASE" and then 10 people will jump up and offer you a seat.

Yes, people should stand at a theatre or a concert, if someone needs to get by, but what makes me really mad are the people who can't sit still and are back and forth getting drinks,getting something to eat then needing the loo...and missing what they came to see, and inconveniencing everyone that they keep walking in front of!!! That is when it is worse to be on aisle seats, because EVERYONE needs to get by you!!!

thank you Mrbobthecat sorry for the misunderstanding

I just swing my legs to one side as I am tiny. Plus I usually have a large bag tucked underneath my seat so if I stand there is less room than if I swing my legs over

the lion king was amazing Alpaca

Production wise one of the best I've seen

I would stand - most people do, or they at least make some effort to make room, in my experience. I think/hope you were unlucky.

However, I always try and make sure I go straight in if I'm in the centre seats as I think it is bad manners to leave it until last minute. I know this wasn't what happened with you OP.

As for disabled toilets - they are designed for access reasons, not so people with disabilities can avoid a queue.

It seems bizarre to me when I see people in a long queue for a standard toilet and the disabled one is sat empty.

If there was no queue for the standard toilets, then it makes sense to ask people to go to them, but not if there is a big queue for them.

Thank you for the reviews! I cannot wait now :)

I have a wonky knee which means I take a little while to stand up. While I was trying to explain this to a woman who wanted to get past me to her seat, she just gave me an exasperated look, barged past as I was in mid-crouch, knocked my knee and brought tears to my eyes. As I gasped in pain her companion pushed past me too!

I usually just pull my knees to the side, and move my handbag out of the way. However that is for an able bodied person. If I saw somebody had mobility issues, I would certainly stand and free up as much space as possible.

Sorry you had this experience, and I hope you enjoyed the show regardless.