Very large lady next to me at theatre

[redbedheadd]

Went to theatre today and the lady next to me was so large I was left with no space at all. My legs were aching by the end as they were pushed together and I couldn't move at all. She kept repeatedly elbowing and jostling me without an apology.

AIBU to be irritated?

No but they are spoiling my comfort and enjoyment which is what the OP is moaning about...

OP, yanbu, you were very British about it, it’s not exactly that you were shouting and ranting and being cruel or made shoddy comments about her weight.

I don’t know what the solution is, however yanbu to want to be comfortable in a theatre that you paid good money to see enjoy.

In all honesty, if they can't fit in a single seat, then I don't feel that they have a 'right' to be there and take up someone else's. They've paid for one seat and if they can't fit within that seat then they need to pay for another one. Not just take it away from another person who's paid the same price.

Do you know what - if I was so large I was squashing people next to me I wouldn’t go to the theatre. Or else I would pay for two seats.

I think the onus is on the overweight person to realise they are larger than average and book an aisle seat.

However, West End theatre seats are tiny and cramped for most people nowadays.

YANBU to be annoyed/disappointed but there was nothing to be done, I suppose. If she was being inconsiderate on top of being larger than average you WNBU to point out politely how cramped you were.

*exactly like you were

Well, yes, because what is she supposed to do? Not go out in case it inconveniences someone else?
She should book two seats as she is making use of two seats.

I used to be very fat. I would never have squeezed myself into one seat, it's not fair and I would have been mortified that I was ruining someone else's (very expensive) enjoyment.

Yanbu, as much as they cant help it it's not your problem either. What they can do is pay for an extra seat as its them causing an inconvenience to someone else.

That's precisely why I always book an aisle seat on an aeroplane - if the middle seat is occupied by a larger person who overspills into your seat, at least you can shift over towards the aisle and stick you feet out when the cabin crew are not walking up and down!

This is why I haven't booked the theatre for my birthday this year. I know people feel this way about me. OP I'm really sorry that happened to you I know it must have taken the shine off. I don't imagine she wanted to take up your space, I generally avoid small spaces and sit against the wall with my much thinner DH sitting next to people if I've braved it.

@redbedheadd

Not sure what you want us to say or do. I mean of course YANBU to have been a bit annoyed that a fat person was squashing you a bit. However, it's a bit late to moan now.

I suspect the women did not even realise how fat she was tbh.

I went to see a show last year, paid £70, and the 2 women next to me kept fucking yabbering and jabbering on, saying the dialogue 2-3 seconds before the actor on stage, and saying 'I love this bit, I like this bit, this bit is good, this bit is weird, ha ha ha.'

I wanted to fucking kill them. 25-30 minutes in, I turned around and said with a pleading tone ... 'Will you PLEASE be quiet. You are spoiling the show for me and my friend.' They ignored me, but stopped immediately. However, about 10 minutes later they started yapping again.

I would rather have been sitting next to a very large person who was fucking quiet to be honest. Even if I WAS a bit 'squashed!'

Oooh that sounded a bit rude, 'she did not know how fat she is!'

Didn't mean to sound rude I am so sorry!

I mean, maybe she is larger than she realises.

Sorry to anyone I offended. Badly worded!!

You have my sympathy op, the very same thing happened to me at a Tom Jones concert. The tickets weren’t cheap but I really couldn’t enjoy it as the very large lady next to me was invading my personal space for the whole time, I spend over 2 hours being elbowed, it was NOT a pleasant experience.

It is annoying theatre seats are tiny though unless its a new building-i try not to move about too much so i wont impact on anyone else

So what did you want her to do?

YANBU this happened to me once and in the interval she ate 4 of those little tubs of ice cream and it did wind me up!

That sounds awful @crazyasafox. I'd have had to speak to a member of staff.

i suspect the women did not even realise how fat she is
I suspect she knows exactly how fat she is and was mortified. Every fat person I know , including myself, know exactly how fat they are. They don’t wake up in the morning thinking they are slim. I know I am dying inside with shame

YANBU to be annoyed. People should be ready to either buy two seats where possible or at least buy an aisle so they can "overspill" into there rather than onto neighbour's space.

Nasty and unnecessary goady thread. Hope you’re proud of yourself.

smartcarnotsmartdriver you’d be welcome to sit next to me, I don’t mind sharing. I’d rather sit next to you than loads of posters on this thread 🌷

One wonders why she even wanted to go, she must have known how uncomfortable it would be for herself!

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable

Nice fat shaming, OP. Aren't you the compassionate one.

@crazyasafox I did exactly the same to a girl who was howling along at a gig last year.

After over an hour of her talking and shrieking behind me I turned round and told her I'd paid to hear the singer, not her and could she kindly give it a rest. She did but I felt her eyes boring into me

Why do some people think it's okay for a large person to take up part of someone else's seat? It doesn't matter why they're fat, buy another seat if you can't fit in one.