[lovethesun]

I was at a sporting event today with my friend and my daughter. We were sitting in crowded bleachers. There was just enough room for me, my friend, and my daughter was sitting in the row in front of us at our feet. We had arrived early at this event to get these seats as they were near the front. My daughter got up to go to the bathroom. I put a backpack down at my feet to save her seat. While she was gone, a family with several kids showed up late and proceeded to try to squeeze in all around us and overtake us. one of their small kids sat where my daughter was sitting. I politely said "sorry, but my daughter is sitting there". The father then looked at me and said, "Who's bag is that?". I wanted to tell him none of your $%#@ business. But again I politely responded and said "my daughter's bag. she's in the restroom". Then he looks straight at me and says "you need two spots?" I looked back at him and said "Yes! I do!" in a more aggressive tone. He was being a jerk. He did not like that I was not going to let his kid sit in that spot where my daughter was and tried to bully me. There was only room for one person and he knew it. I stood my ground and he made a "pffft!" sound and waved his hand at me and walked away. It got me thinking...what is wrong with some people? You seriously think you can arrive somewhere late with a large entourage of a family and plop your butt down in someone else's seat??? Then bully someone into moving over for your butt?? Because of my refusal to give in, the jerk had to stand for the rest of the event. And I think it serves him right. Where has civility and manners gone??

[Buffy01]

Originally Posted by lovethesun

I was at a sporting event today with my friend and my daughter. We were sitting in crowded bleachers. There was just enough room for me, my friend, and my daughter was sitting in the row in front of us at our feet. We had arrived early at this event to get these seats as they were near the front. My daughter got up to go to the bathroom. I put a backpack down at my feet to save her seat. While she was gone, a family with several kids showed up late and proceeded to try to squeeze in all around us and overtake us. one of their small kids sat where my daughter was sitting. I politely said "sorry, but my daughter is sitting there". The father then looked at me and said, "Who's bag is that?". I wanted to tell him none of your $%#@ business. But again I politely responded and said "my daughter's bag. she's in the restroom". Then he looks straight at me and says "you need two spots?" I looked back at him and said "Yes! I do!" in a more aggressive tone. He was being a jerk. He did not like that I was not going to let his kid sit in that spot where my daughter was and tried to bully me. There was only room for one person and he knew it. I stood my ground and he made a "pffft!" sound and waved his hand at me and walked away. It got me thinking...what is wrong with some people? You seriously think you can arrive somewhere late with a large entourage of a family and plop your butt down in someone else's seat??? Then bully someone into moving over for your butt?? Because of my refusal to give in, the jerk had to stand for the rest of the event. And I think it serves him right. Where has civility and manners gone??

I'm sorry that you had to experience that!

[bpcyclist]

In my experience, people who behave the way this fella did were probably raised by people or a person who did a lousy job of teaching manners and etiquette. Never developed any advanced social skills, so he goes with what he knows--bullying and intimidating.

Unfortunately, it is my firm belief that we are in for a lot more of this in the future, as people are so focused on their fb/instagram/snap-whatever that interactions with real, actual humans are totally of secondary importance. Social media is harming society's social skills. Instead of practicing those skills with living people, they are staring at their phones. It could get a lot worse.

Sorry you had to deal with this, but it sounds like you handled it like the adult you are.

[lovethesun]

Thank you bpcyclist. You made a great point about social media. I think you are right on with that. Before social media, proper etiquette was taught, it was expected and people put forth quite an effort to have polite interactions with other people. When there were no social media sites, people interacted with real people and honed their social skills. There was also not this self centered mentality that comes from posting mundane things and expecting people to "Oooohh" and "Aaaahhh" over it. Social media really has completely ruined people's social skills. I always feel guilty when I'm in a doctor's office waiting, or at the airport or something and I look around and everyone's head is down staring at a phone. No one is talking. Or when I see people holding up traffic, or stopping on busy sidewalks or places to take stupid selfies. People have even fallen off cliffs and died trying to snag that one awesome photo for social media posting. It's really sad and pathetic.

[sarahsweets]

Sometimes it seems like the world is me-me-me. Who cares about your fellow human as long as someone is happy and selfish... social media is a prime example of the me-me-me culture. you did the right thing.