not to share my table at outdoor cafe

[ShirleyEyeRosebud]

Went to my favourite cafe with my lovely dog for a relaxing Sunday morning brunch fry up.
All the tables were occupied, so we stood feeling a bit self-conscious waiting for about 20 minutes for a table to become free. In the meantime, a kind couple did ask if I wanted to share their table, but I didn’t want to disturb their relaxing morning so I said thanks for the offer but it’s ok.
So, eventually a table became free so I left my bag there to reserve it and went inside the cafe with the hound to order. When I was queuing up to order a woman asked if I had finished with my table so I said no I have just arrived. She then said are there many of you (obviously not) or can we share your table?
I said Sorry I have been waiting for a table and I would rather have it to myself.

AIBU?

I would of shared

Not unreasonable for not sharing. But in such a scenario you don't dawdle on after you finish your food and drink.

Well done, of course you don’t have to share your table, I wouldn’t want to.

I was thinking you meant a smallish 'table' that might seat 4 but a 6 SEATER 'picnic bench' is another matter altogether, it's not even a table!! How can seriously expect to have that all to yourself, the cafe is a business and needs customers but you think it's OK to potentially deprive other people of a seat so you can do a Greta Garbo?! How entitled are you?! Are you being unreasonable? That's an understatement and you need to wise up!! 🤔🙄

Yanbu. You waited in turn for 20 mins and booked a table per the restaurant system. I can't believe the gall of people on here than think they are entitled to your booked space so they wouldn't have to wait. People are free to ask if you want to share and you are quite within your rights to say no. Its doesn't make you selfish. I completely understand the pov of not wanting to sit on your own with another couple at your table. I'd find that off-putting and wouldn't enjoy that neither.

Or there’s just a vocal minority?

I think cafes are still struggling you could have shared - they lost business.

Or there’s just a vocal minority?

Possibly! But it's not just a small group of posters, there's lots of different people posting a similar opinion.

But agreed, hard to know.

Those disagreeing with you clearly do not understand social anxiety.

My son has selective mutism and is very socially anxious, if we were occupying a picnic bench that could allow more people and someone unknown joined us, he would not be able to talk and he would not eat his food.

It annoys me when people just assume you are being rude and don't look at the bigger picture. Many times, people have commented on his behaviour because he hasn't responded to their kid asking him something.

Good on you OP, if I was with my child in that situation, I too would have had to decline for them to sit with us.

How very ableist of you. Yes disabled people, neurodivergent and single people should all just stay at home. 🧐

Or maybe the cafe needs more smaller tables? I mean these can be pushed together when needed so it’s more flexible. Or maybe greedy pigs need a bit more patience

Yeah. I do get what you’re saying about not being able to vote on the app. But that will be true for people with both opinions. So the percentage is likely to be true.

Reposting the 'standard picnic bench' that sits 6.
Sits 6 when you are personally familiar with your seat mates thighs, arse and shoulders.

A standard picnic table is 6ft long. The one in the picture quite obviously is smaller than that.

@Nicecow Sure staying at home will help my child with his social anxiety issues 🙄

Rest assured we have never been in a position of turning anyone away, so doing pretty much okay for now but thank you for being so understanding!!!!

But that will be true for people with both opinions. So the percentage is likely to be true
But the comments are definitely more YABU than YANBU. Maybe those disagreeing post more than those who agree?

However, based on the comments, the majority do not agree with OP's decision, even if they understand why she might feel that way.

I said you weren’t, but now I know it’s a table for 6, it would only be reasonable if there was more than 2 of them - you could fit nicely each edge of the bench. I wouldn’t want to be swamped with 5 against my 1!

If you click on the link where you got that picture from, you'll see it is listed as a 4 seater picnic table (and it's much shorter than a normal one - it's not even 1.5m long).
So it's irrelevant. It is not a 6 seater picnic table.

Reposting the standard six-seater picnic bench for the hateful space invaders desperate to eat their sandwich while sitting in OP’s lap, no wonder this country is going to hell.

No wonder this country is going to hell 😂

Said only by Daily Mail readers……

And tongue-in-cheek workytickets, please.

Looks like you also don't get percentages either, Earrings.

It's irrelevant that people can't vote on the app, because most likely if there was app voting, it would be split the same.

Or are you saying those with the app would vote YABU and those on the desktop version would vote YANBU? That's hilariously batshit 😂

🤣