Cinema is empty. What sit next to me!

[Whathappendexactly]

Killing time between hospital visiting times so have come to cinema. It's empty. I mean 5 people in a massive screen. 2 of them have just seated themselves right next to me.

I bet when I get back to the almost empty car park fekker will have parked right next to me. .

Aibu to ask WHY????????

[Doobigetta]

Enforced proximity to strangers is why I hate going to the cinema. The big screen does not compensate for the space invasion.

[myfavouritecolourispurple]

I can understand people taking reserved seats even if the place is empty, sods law says if you sit in a different seat the "owner" of that seat will turn up and want it.

But otherwise it is weird. And even if you want a particular space in the cinema you don't invade someone else's space to get it. Sit one seat away at least! They were there before you were, so do them the courtesy of leaving them alone. It's the same mentality as "I want that spot on the station platform because it's where the door opens, so I'll cuddle right up to you and you'll move because you don't like it - haha I've got the space by the door now!"

I do sometimes park next to other cars in fairly empty car parks because I find it easier to reverse in next to someone than between the white lines only. But not if someone is sat in the car, as they will give me the evils, both because I've gone in next to them and because I am clearly going to hit their car.

[alwaysprepare]

I should add, I always eat with my mouth closed. Always!

[alwaysprepare]

Haha,
This happens to me all the time , OP.
I think mostly movies used to sell tickets placing everyone together .

I usually go midweek daytime when the kids are at school and the cinema is empty. I remember one man barking at a couple trying to move him to 'sit anywhere!' . I have been moved self by sticklers, when there is only five people in a big cinema.
I don't mind much where I sit and will usually choose the front rows for the reasons you mentioned.
One day a long time ago, I was sprawled out in a front row with just 3 of us, when this woman came and sat behind me. I was probably eating Doritos, because she tapped me on the shoulder 5 minutes later and told me I was eating my crisps too load!

[lucylockett27]

Not read all the replies but experienced this so often. We're in Cuba on a completely deserted beach. A group of 3 women come on the beach and put their towels a foot away from ours. There was a least half a mile of exactly the same beach to choose from!! Also 9pm in the gym changing room, its big changing room. Its completely empty. A Women comes in, strips naked right next to me. There was at least 6 other benches she could have chose. They are just 2 of many examples. It must just be something in some humans to be near others.

[Katy07]

I'd move. And huff loudly.

[70sDinnerPartyClassic]

BigSandyBalls it's really interesting that you have access to a person who does this sort of thing! Did he say why he thought it was normal?

I'm with you I'd be wtaf do you think you're doing?

[JellyBelli]

They want a 3some.

[AndersArms]

This gives me The Rage. Maybe I am an antisocial fucker but I would never do that!

[Meadows76]

I was on the train the other week and there were 4 other people in the carriage. Woman got on a couple of stations down the line and looked for her reserved seat, which was next to one of the taken seats. She only went and sat in it!! Seriously the guys face was a picture. I could not belive anyone would not just take a seat alone when there were about 70 of the fuckers

[KayTee87]

Urgh I hate this, I can be very antisocial at times though

[KC225]

When at univeristy I worked in the box office weekends at one of the big cinemas I'm Leicester Square (London) and we had to choose seats to book any seat. One first slot of a really quiet film a manager came in and asked what was going on. The boy booking the seats had put everyone in a row behind each other only about 12 people but there was vertical row down the middle of the cinema. The usher was new and told everyone to sit where it said on the ticket.

[Shitonyoursofa]

On similar lines....people who get in 'your' section in a revolving door, what is that all about?? You then both have to do a weird sort of shuffle close together until you can get out. No need!

Always happens in the gym too on the very rare occasions I go. 20 or so cross trainers in the place, all empty, but yet someone always hops on the one directly next to me. Weirdos.

[AlexaTwoAtT]

I would have moved, OP. The parking thing is bad enough but that is plain creepy.

[thekaratekid]

I think I read something a while ago about the way people enter a lift. You automatically choose the spot furthest from the current occupiers. So if one person is in the lift, the next person to enter stands diagonally across from them. The next person enters and the 3 people stand in a triangle, the next person enters and everyone then occupies a corner. Finally, the 5th person enters and would occupy the middle. Something about subconsciously trying to maintain personnel space. So if someone breaks the unspoken rules it is a bit unsettling.

I just get up and move if someone sits next to me in an otherwise empty train carriage. I also switch carriages if someone is talkng loudly on a phone or being disruptive. Life's too short to sit silently fuming.

[BigSandyBalls2015]

I walked into a cinema with DH a few years back, whole place empty except for one couple sitting in the middle of a middle row. DH walks along their row, so they have to stand up to let him pass, giving each other WTF looks, and he sits at the end of their row! I walked along the row in front apologising. I still don't get it at all, but he thinks that was completely normal behaviour.

[ginghamstarfish]

Yes, it's very odd. Used to live in another country where cinema seats were allocated. Of course they were all together in a clump (to save cleaning?), so I'd get up and move away. Someone would then come in with THAT seat number ticket demanding that I move ... with a dozen others in the whole place.

[ratspeaker]

I was thinking about this yesterday.
Took my son to dental clinic. I was the only one waiting. 2 people came and sat right next to me in spite of there being 3 other unoccupied seating areas

[MissVictoria]

I do always show up before the previous film on that screen finishes though, so i'm the first in queue at the door to go in (ashamed to admit i practically run in so nobody passes me) once the cleaner has had a quick go around and opens it to let the next showing in. That way i'm pretty much guaranteed the seat i want and no disappointment if it's already taken or awkward sitting right next to strangers in an empty screen. Yes, i really am THAT particular where i sit in a cinema.

[VladimirsPooTin]

This really winds me up too. Just fuck off!!

[MissVictoria]

Maybe they are just very particular about seating in cinemas?
I have to sit dead on in the middle of the row so im looking at the screen centrally. I cannot stand sitting to one side with a weird view. Also, because of my eyesight, i can't sit near the front as i can't see and get a headache (How do children run for the closest seat to the screen?!) or sit too far back (long sighted one eye, short sighted in the other) so about middle is the best. A couple of rows can make a big difference, i wouldn't have sat in front of you and risk seat kicking (though i hope an adult wouldn't) or sat behind you incase of obstructed view as i'm only short. Throw in my OCD that means i won't sit on a visibly stained seat, you might be lucky i'm not sat on your lap :P
As soon as i walk in a cinema (which hasn't been since i went to see Skyfall) i know where i want to sit exactly, and if it meant sitting next to someone to get the most comfortable and suitable view, so be it, even if they're the only other person there!

[Pipistrelle40]

My parents were on a deserted beach in the Greek islands many years ago. Another couple came and sat right next to them. There was only one tree on the beach for shade and they thought they could intimidate DM and DD into moving. Didn't work!

[hazell42]

Maybe their seat number was next to yours. I go to the pictures three times a week and know that there are people who will sit in their designated seat come hell or high water. They do not think, hey the cinema is empty I'll move to the next row. It says H9 on the the ticket and that is where they are damn well going to sit.
Just be thankful you weren't in their seat. Horrible rows, I've witnessed. Blood on the carpet. More entertaining than the films, sometimes.

[RhodaBorrocks]

I once complained about this to a MH support worker friend (man sat beside me on an almost empty bus) and she said they encourage their clients with social anxiety issues to do just that! Which makes sense I suppose

See I have social anxiety too. Not bad enough for support, but if someone I didn't know plonked themselves down next to me I'd freak out and move. How would that help the socially anxious person if I did that? Surely they'd feel even worse?

At uni a group in my class ran an experiment where they got on at the second or third stop on the tube line and sat next to people in otherwise empty carriages. They wanted to look at how many people moved and if they did, how long it took them. I can't remember their hypothesis, but they were a bunch of wind up merchants the whole course.