Have you ever done this on a bus?

[MrsHoodwink]

Not really an AIBU but I really need to know. If the bus is empty except for a couple of people, have you ever sat down directly next to someone? And if so why

I mean a stranger obviously, and if this has happened to you what (if anything) did you say to that person?

I can’t comprehend the logic in it at all So far I’ve just sat silently wondering why me but in the future think I might say something!

This doesn’t include people with disabilities that have no social boundaries or would like to be close to someone (maybe due to fear or anxiety), I can totally respect that.

The other person also wants a good view of the screen. Hence they selected, pre booked online perhaps that seat. Get over it

Buster why are you so angry about this?

Since you asked - firstly we didn't have particularly great seats as one of my DC doesn't like the steps in the dark so we were right down the front in the 'crane your neck' seats and weren't particularly central. Secondly it was a cinema that doesn't allow pre-booking of seats.

And please don't worry about me - I did 'get over it'. Anything else?

Pickleypickles

Pleaaassssse tell me that you moved.

Wow. I am astonished at how oblivious as well as ignorant some people are.

Apples are just one of noisiest foods ever.

That would have driven me insane.

This also drives me mad in communal changing rooms in the gym. The place could be three quarters empty and you can guarantee someone will decide to get changed right next to you.

TheQueef Mon 24-Sep-18 14:20:30

Absolutely Juells but the other post quoting mine wasn't necessary really.

Ah, sorry. Had only seen the first post.

Badtaste, we also live near a small cinema which is usually completely empty when we go and see something - the number of times the only other people come in and sit IN FRONT of us, making our view rubbish, you wouldn’t believe.

Urgh yes Puppy that too! Maybe people feel a bit lonely in a big room?

I never do this and I hate it when other people do this. From my past experience, the people who do this are either:

1. Creepy men
2. Elderly people who are lonely and want to chat.

I don't really mind #2 unless I'm desperately tired and just want to close my eyes and relax.

I had this once. I got on a double decker and sat downstairs. I was the only passenger. A quite big, intimidating guy got on and sat next to me. Every other seat was empty and he could have even went upstairs. I was about 17 at the time and was so uncomfortable.

No. It's weird. I would sit as far away from the other person as possible, certainly not next to them. And if someone did that to me I would find it potentially quite intimidating and very odd.

Was at the cinema in Ireland when the first Mamma Mia Film came out. Went to watch it with my mother - we were the only two people in the screen, until a lady came in and sat next to us. Right next to us. It was the most awkward and bizarre thing.

Perceptions of personal space definitely differ around the world. When a colleague of mine was going from Hong Kong to Canada for a work trip she asked us to explain to her what was considered normal in terms of personal space. One we pointed out to her was staying back at cash points, by which we meant it's not usual in other parts of the world to actually be touching the person in front of you who is getting money out.

Although I did once have a man in HK come and sit next to me on an empty bus and start talking to me. I did think it strange but he explained that he was lonely as most people in HK totally ignore him (he was black and there is still some way to go in HK when it comes to racism sadly).

But I'm always attracting the weirdos on public transport here in the UK. Last week a guy sat opposite me in an empty carriage and started singing hymns.

My mother always used to park next to another car in a car park. Her reasoning was that she could then park the correct distance from the other car and was it was therefore less likely to get damaged. She assumed that other cars who would arrive after she had parked and would clearly park badly would be more likely to scratch her car!

Oh and I had a group of people at a cinema in France once - empty cinema and not only did they sit in the same row as us,but they also asked me and my friends to move across! Les cheeky fuckers.

I'm the same about car parks. Sometimes I like to just like to sit in my car for 5/10 minutes to wind down (especially after the school run!). Someone then parks right next to me. If they get out straight away fair enough but God forbid they decide to stay in their car too!! I end up getting out and carrying on (feeling slightly disgruntled )

This happened to me in church once. I was on my own in a church that seats around 3000, a guy came and sat a few feet away from me. Why? Why would you do that?!

Fink He was probably sitting where he usually sits. Think yourself lucky that you didn't take his seat. He would have sat very close to you and stared malevolently every opportunity he got. He may even have said "Excuse me - I usually sit there" For some reason, this happens in both churches and pubs - anywhere there are regulars, I suppose.

It it very irritating.

it's worse when they come and sit next to you then start a bloody conversation!!!!

Oh, bollox.

Yes. If I’ve got a baby in a buggy and a toddler, I would sometimes sit in the seat next to the buggy area with the toddler on my lap. Obviously need to be very close to the buggy. That does sometimes mean sitting next to someone else. In those circumstances people can see clearly why I’m sitting next to them and aren’t freaked out. Often on an empty bus people will kindly move before I even attempt to sit down so both seats are free.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I have a theory as to why people do it!
After 13 years in south London (bus central), I think it's because they don't want to be trapped in a window seat when they get to their stop, so they opt for an aisle seat with the window taken (so they don't have to stand up if someone wants the window seat, either!)
I was once on a bus in Clapham with a lady who was shouting random stuff, a lad got on and sat next to me and she announced loudly to the bus that she knew he was going to sit next to the blonde girl maybe he changed his seating decision making after that!

I've never done it but I have also had it done to me. Is very odd.

I was on the bus with about 5 other people, sat half way up and was eating a steak bake.

I agree the woman was unreasonable sitting next to you if she didn't like to watch you eat, and there were plenty of other seats, but eating a steak bake (or anything but a sweet or a bag of crisps) on a bus is disgusting.

I hate the public consumption of food. (I will allow fish and chips at the beach.) It is vile.

LaPufalina Good theory, makes sense.

I know! It’s so weird. A few years ago I was literally the only person on the bus. I had a bag of shopping at my feet which was crossing maybe a third of the floor space of the seat next to me. A woman gets on, sits right next to me and asks me to move my shopping bag as it’s in her floor space. I was too to say anything and just moved it and spent the rest of the journey wondering why the hell she had chosen to sit next to me

Same in restaurants though. Why sit right next to us when there are lots of empty tables. Servers trying to seat us next to people too...why?

But @coffeefountain, surely the car next to yours both gives a potential attacker a place to hide out of your sight and provides a reasonable excuse to tail you to your car? If your car is parked on its own at least you know anyone loitering or following is suspect and can act accordingly.

I had this in Nandos, two women (mother and daughter I think) ask to sit next to me and DH in our table for four. I laughed and said yes, but there are plenty of free tables. They then scurried away to a table where the man who had entered the restaurant with them was sitting. I tend to laugh it off, DH gets annoyed.