AIBU to feel furious at the behaviour of people at the Wells Cathedral carol services

[Ubergeekian]

For the last couple of years we have been to Wells Cathedral carol services (in-laws nearby). The services have been great but ... some of the people there drive me to insensate fury.

Here's why. The services are very popular, so there are huge queues. Quite a few people go early, queue and then use coats, scarves and for all I know their knickers to 'reserve' huge numbers of seats for their friends to stroll into later.

I saw several single people who had bagged two whole rows (twenty seats!) this way. Am I wrong to get really, really cross about this? And am I breaching Christmas spirit to plan to use some of these seats if necessary this year? I'll hand the scarves back, neatly folded...

I'm all for keeping one or two seats while your carolling partner parks the car or arrives late, but this sounds like the 'done thing' - send one person to queue then take up all the seats once in.

I personally don't think yabu. I'd be too

I think its unreasonable of them to save seats for that many people tbh. Saving 1 or 2 seats is fine but a whole row I hope they are grateful for the neatness of your folding

Ubergeekian, are there no sidesmen or stewards on duty at these services?
You should point this unfairness out to them.
If these people are (eg) choristers' families, then the cathedral should use reserved seat signs for their allocation and the general public should not be allowed to hog entire pews, IMO

you are quite reasonable to be annoyed , but you're annoyed with the wrong people. Blame the spineless organisers for allowing it.

You are all sounding very reasonable and calming. I have sent a nice friendly email to the cathedral to ask if they can do something about this this year.

Doesn't sound very "Christian" behaviour to me...

YANBU - that is very annoying - and do we think these people set foot in church at any other time of the year?

I do this. Yes just hand them back, expect some dirty looks, but there is no law saying that this is the way it should be done. Its first come first serve and evrybody knows it.

People who do this sort of thing in restraunts tick me off as well. Where one person sits to hold a table. I always ask them to move.

Move the scarves/coats/knickers. And complain loudly to the stewards/officials whoever. Make the seat hoggers feel bloody embarrassed - that's what they deserve.
This sort of behaviour stinks. It's about certain people somehow thinking that they're more important than everybody else. Totally illogical, but sadly not uncommon.
I think writing to complain is also a good idea - the cathedral bigwigs will at least have to read your letter and respond to it.

Just move them.

And oh how lovely! I love Wells. Not just the Cathedral, also that fab french patissierie and the cook shop

Good God, I would toss them aside without a second thought.
I once lived in a street where peoplee thought they could reserve parking with traffic cones. i soon put them right.

Where were you in dorset lapin?

hav'nt got time to read the whole thread just want to say that if someone's bums not on the seat then I would remove their belongings, nicely not in a horrible way and sit there. I have done this before and people think its hugely cheeky but frankly why should someone stroll in 5 mins before it begins and get a seat when someone has qued in the cold for 30 mins and not got one. How fair is that.

If when you go to sit someone says "I was saving that seat" just say "oh did'nt you know, your not allowed to save seats.

Write to the organisers. The meek may inherit the earth, but there's no need for them to have to queue longer than others while they wait to come into their inheritance.

Sherborne, dustystar

LOL Lapin - I thought that might have been the case. I'm near Poole and was just being nosy

Nose away

I think saving 2 or 3 seats is OK, but TWENTY! Thats outrageous!

I always go to our church one