Group of boomer men

[PuppyKeep]

I am sitting in Wetherspoons with my husband on a large empty table. There are plenty of empty tables available.

A group of 4 boomer aged men have come and sat on our table and are chatting away. It started with 1 lone boomer man joining our table and sitting in silence with his pint, until his friends joined us and now they’re chatting away with their drinks

There are plenty of empty tables that could easily accommodate them.

Why did they join our table? We are complete strangers.

Why? Do you think all older people are like this? Why would people behave differently because they’re older than you?

Why not just describe them as older men?

What do you expect in Wetherspoons anyway?

Sorry but I thought that all large pub tables were for sharing. If you don’t want to share, sit on a smaller table. YABU for generalising about different groups of people. Is there a collective word for people who frequent Wetherspoons?

Now now, no need to be that mean to the OP.

Maybe they thought bloody millennials taking up our regular table, when there are plenty of smaller tables for them

Maybe it was the table they usually sit at and had told members of their group that they'd find them there?

It doesn’t make a difference no. Mentioning their age in the way you have is an ageist slur.

Thank you. As a woman slightly younger than boomer age I have never actually considered this method before.
Only recently I experienced the table hijack thing and it wasn’t particularly pleasant.
like the op, I was marvelling at all the empty tables around us and wondering why he chose ours.
he wasn’t particularly nice either so it fast became an uncomfortable experience .

in future I will definitely look for the table with exactly the number of seats we need and try to preemptively fend off any unexpected disruption!

What age are older men???

Were you in a flat roof pub? That's what they do there, locals mingle with the visitors.

I'm just wondering what they're having for tea. The pizza is good.

You are digging a deeper hole for yourself now!

Most tables in pubs are tend to seat four people, and I wouldn't hesitate to take one if there are plenty available, just for DH and I.
And if there were other tables still free when the men sat down you could have said something, I would have!
(It seems rude of them, after all they wouldn't know if you were expecting more people to join you.)

People can sit where they want. If it troubled you that’s much you can choose to move

To be fair most of Wetherspoons are full. Cheap coffee refills are quite appealing to be fair!

You’ve definitely sat on ‘their table’. Having worked in pubs and members clubs for years I’ve seen this behaviour over and over. Groups of regulars have territory within the pub. Table politics can be amusing to watch among the regulars, especially when there is a disputed prime position. Throw in outsiders and you get awkward standoffs with neither party wanting to move. It’s not really an age thing but a man thing. I’ve only ever seen men sit down at the table they want despite others already being seated there. Women will generally take a different table and throw dirty looks over.

It’s our regular. We are there 3 x per week, so doubt it’s their table.

Precisely. I wanted to be clear we are discussing 60+

It was the availability of copious empty seats that baffled us.

I’m surprised the stewards didn’t speak to them. It’s the Reform Club, after all.

Oh- no it’s Wetherspoons.

What difference does it make?

'Boomer' is a derogatory term. Did you not know that?

I thought it referred to the post war baby boom? How’s that derogatory?

I agree that boomer is pejorative. You are coming across as ageist and sexist. Think in the spirit of Christmas you're going to have to live with this.

boomer is pejorative

How??

Also, spirit of Christmas?

Husband and myself are introverts; we don’t want to share a table when there are plenty empty ones available. I still don’t understand why a complete stranger would join an occupied table over one of the many empty vacant tables? Beggars belief.

What an odd scenario then. I bet they first guys mates were wondering why they were sat at a table with you.