To think they could have sat somewhere else

[doris9034]

So I've had some shit work related news this morning, and have taken myself to the pub for lunch for a bit of headspace. Pub is fairly empty - most eating tables are free, so I've sat in a quiet corner to have my sandwich and chill. Now a couple have come in and sat right next to me - literally the man's chair is about 20cm from mine
There are at least 15 other tables - why the fuck do you have to sit on top of me arrrrrgggghhhhh!

Sadly so few people have the concept of personal space.

Yep, taking the next loo cubicle, parking right next to you when the car park is half empty, sitting next to you on a bus/train when there are loads of empty double/table seats elsewhere, next seat at the cinema, next table in a cafe, stood a cm away in a queue in a shop, next sunbed by the pool/on the beach. Just why do these pillocks have to do it??

@tuco I'm not so weird that I would take my own food to pubs! I bought the sandwich there - and a glass of wine as it happens waits for all the shocked faces about actually drinking alcohol at lunchtime

@gth I have no idea where they parked - I walked!

Lemmings.

There is nothing wrong with smiling or talking.

There is if you don't want to smile/talk to someone you've never seen before nor will see again. Some people just don't "get it" that others actually quite like personal space and peace/quiet.

dotty

Do you always have a vacant seat next to you on the bus? Asking for a friend.

Probably best people dont speak to you, you dont sound like much fun or very interesting.

Why should I provide fun and interest to random strangers??

Thanks for all the kind messages about my work situation - I know loads of people have been / are in the same boat so your supportive comments mean a lot

fgs why not smile or talk to them.

It's actually a good idea. I bet they'd move pretty fast if you started grinning at them and interrupting their conversation with your own thoughts on life.

It’s not being unfriendly not wanting to talk or smile to a complete stranger when you’re having a quiet drink in the pub who sits virtually on your knee!

I hate this too. To avoid I always sit facing out into the vacant tables and put my jacket etc over the vacant chair - most couples / groups don't like the feeling of being overlooked.

On the bus I always sit on the aisle unless making way due to lack of spare seats. I park at the back of car parks also, although I did once have someone follow me round and past all the vacant places next to the shops so they could park neatly next to me - some people are very very weird and have issues with being alone.

I have to admit it irritates me when they have those huge three seater sofas facing each other in pubs and a couple sit there. I wouldn't invade their space and sit on the other sofa but I also wouldn't take up a huge space when there are only two of us.

OP YANBU if you were only sat alone at a small table, I like my own company too, and sorry for your bad news.

Heres a diagram - i've heard they help lol!

Properly weird. Why do people do it?

If someone on here is one of them, please tell us why!

sorry to hear you news doris, its a scary time, prepare yourself for lots of helpful clichés from friends and family about all the opportunities, time off (paid for by obviously huge redundancy package) and wonderful new jobs you'll get. Why not take the opportunity for some time off for yourself, maybe have a holiday of a lifetime is another good one (who is going to pay the fucking mortgage/rent!!)..... while you are just worried about all the uncertainty ahead.

Sorry for your bad news and that you didn’t get your lunch in peace, that would seriously grate my nerves in your situation!
Why should the OP be looking to make friends with strangers when she’s just been made redundant?! Also, the OP feeling irritated that people sat by her doesn’t mean she has been ‘horrible’ to them!

Oh YANBU.
I hate it when this happens - and it seems to happen a lot. Bars, cafes, restaurants, busses, tubes, beaches. Even when they’re empty and you deliberately find somewhere within the emptiness that will not appeal to anyone, the next person is attracted to your spot like a predator to its prey.
Fair enough if somewhere is busy, but otherwise why people do it I’ll never understand. They often turn out to be the noisiest and disrespectful kind of people as well. Is peace, quiet and relaxing solitude even possible anymore?

Also I meant to say sorry to hear about your bad news too. Hopefully it’ll all work out for you ❣

Sorry about your news. That's more than enough reason to sit alone a mull about.

I find it odd that there's a thought that someone's need to be friendly and sociable trump's another person's need for space and quiet. My MIL is a chatter to random people but if they seem disinclined to chat back, she backs off. I was sat in a cafe yesterday and had a bloke come talk to me about Isis and the evil in the world. I was not happy as I was enjoy the peace. I expect he thought I was rude and he was just being friendly, i however thought he was the rude one.

Well Dotty is definitely invading my space because she is RIGHT ON my tits.

PyongyangKipperbang you must be sitting too close to me because she's right on my tits too!

We were walking in the Austrian alps. Up a mountain, middle of nowhere, not a soul around. We wandered off the path a little way and found a nice spot to have or picnic. Halfway through lunch a couple happened along, walked over to us, sat down and opened their sandwiches. DH and I were . They must have been glancing round as they walked, spotted us and decided that this was the only possible spot in the entire empty alp where they could sit and eat. It was utterly bizarre. We packed up and moved.

I find it odd that there's a thought that someone's need to be friendly and sociable trump's another person's need for space and quiet.

This!! I hate that it’s considered rude to not want strangers encroaching on your time and space.

Its not that its all the people who are so rude and hostile and would rather glare than smile, swear about people.

And where has anyone posted that they are rude to people's faces? Posters are highlighting their feelings, that's all.

Wanting some space, and not wanting some randoms talking to you or sitting right next to you doesn't make anyone a bad person. Sometimes we need time to process some bad news, or just to recharge, without feeling obliged to make small talk.

I'm a friendly person, can be chatty, etc. But this comes at a cost to me, I need time on my own to recharge, ready to be friendly again.

@cyber exactly!! I wasn't horrible or rude - I didn't say anything or glare because i didnt have the balls to so ranted on here instead so I'm sure they were blisfully unaware of their lack of spatial awareness!