Ask the Pack: Seat space etiquette

DaRealistDawg

Redshirt
Mar 3, 2008
368
6
12
With the DWS reseating, most of us have gained new neighbors. With that said, shortly after locating our seats for the USM game, it was obvious that the guy next to me, installed Msu chair back, is quite wide and took up half of my seat, non-chair back. Not only that but his legs were kicked out at angle in my space. How the 17 would u handle, keeping in my mind that the guy after talking with him was a good guy and want to stay in good graces. Don't want to have to deal with that again, me or someone in my group.

A. Ask him to keep to his area
B. get there before him next time
C. move his chair down some before next game
D. Pay and get one chair installed just next to his to effectively block him
 

coach66

Junior
Mar 5, 2009
12,692
314
83
Don't know but there has been a couple of commercial jet emergency landings

that are closely related lately. Kneedefenderku
 

Sutterkane

Redshirt
Jan 23, 2007
5,100
0
0
Dress like a queen and invade his personal space; be sure to spread your legs while sitting so knees touch. Make lots of uncomfortable sexual noises too.
 

uptowndawg

Senior
Jul 15, 2010
2,191
902
113
I almost suggested that he give the guy a kiss on the cheek after a TD to make him scoot over. But you never know these days, he could scoot closer.
 

SignalToNoise

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
741
0
0
E. Fart a few times.

I was also going to suggest this. If you can't muster up a good one, take some of those stink bombs from the fireworks store and set them off periodically. You might get lucky and drive off a few of your neighbors by doing that.
 

aTotal360

Heisman
Nov 12, 2009
21,801
14,507
113
"A" for sure, then "D". I was given a MSU seat cushion thing some years ago. It probably came from Walmart or The Lodge. I lugged into the stadium because my wife wanted to use it. It was waaaaaayyyyy bigger than the allotted space. This thing was so 17n big it had hand rails. Luckily the people next to us didn't show up. Those things should be banned from the stadium, period. They give you about 33% more room at the cost of pissing off the people on both sides of you.

For the last 5 years I've paid for the cushion. Not because of my love for vinyl or the back support, but so the ******* behind me can't put his nasty *** feet on my seat. It also provides a well defined area that is "yours".
 

OldFatDog

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
338
1
18
As an old Fat guy, I can tell you what would work if I was the source of your problem. Tell me that you heard that the concession stand was about to run out of nachos. As I hauled my large *** to the stand to load up, take whatever steps are necessary to establish your position.
 

fishwater99

Freshman
Jun 4, 2007
14,073
54
48
Bring a tape measure and some black tape and measure off his seat boundary.

With the DWS reseating, most of us have gained new neighbors. With that said, shortly after locating our seats for the USM game, it was obvious that the guy next to me, installed Msu chair back, is quite wide and took up half of my seat, non-chair back. Not only that but his legs were kicked out at angle in my space. How the 17 would u handle, keeping in my mind that the guy after talking with him was a good guy and want to stay in good graces. Don't want to have to deal with that again, me or someone in my group.

A. Ask him to keep to his area
B. get there before him next time
C. move his chair down some before next game
D. All of the Above

Just man up..

View attachment 1108
 

Wicked Pissah

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
1,437
0
0
E) Buy 8 cokes at the concession stand. Place them under his seat.
Within 5 minutes of sitting, he wont be able to take the smell and will leave.

Above option only works if he is so fat that he cant see the cups under his seat.
 

coach66

Junior
Mar 5, 2009
12,692
314
83
Sell Anthony Alford's mom your seat for a couple of games, problem

solved*.
 

dorndawg

All-American
Sep 10, 2012
8,765
9,442
113
With unfailing politeness, explain the situation to him and throw out an idea or two of how you could resolve it amicably. A lot of people are decent & well-meaning, but just don't have much self-awareness. I'd say 90% chance it works out to suit you.

If possible, try to chat when it's just you and him - don't want to make it look like you're trying to embarrass him.

If not, yeah, fart like a LOT.
 
Last edited:
Feb 19, 2013
1,245
373
83
For the last 5 years I've paid for the cushion. Not because of my love for vinyl or the back support, but so the ******* behind me can't put his nasty *** feet on my seat. It also provides a well defined area that is "yours".

This all day. The first year that I got season tickets, I was next to some ******* that came to every game with this huge Alabama stadium seat (yes, you read that right......he was a Bama fan that pulls for State when they aren't playing each other, but I guess he couldn't afford their season tickets) that took up at least a quarter of my seat. So the next year my wife and I switched locations, but we still ran into issues with people drifting into our seats. So we paid the money for the stadium seats the next year, and we haven't had an issue since. We will never go without them again.....they are worth every penny.
 

Mjoelner

All-Conference
Sep 2, 2006
2,686
1,160
113
Start coughing and in between coughs, tell him how happy you are to be home from that Peace Corp mission in Sierra Leone.
 

Shamoan

Redshirt
Jun 27, 2013
12,466
0
0
i would move his chair down. its HIS chair on YOUR spot. furthermore, you need to get there before him and claim your leg space if he is airing out his boys. i have little patients for people not cognizant of others. just like in the movie theater, if you dont claim an elbow rest early and establish dominance, you can kiss it goodbye.
 

PBRME

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2004
10,924
4,641
113
I tried the stadium seats once and ended up smelling like mildew.
 

SwampDawg

Sophomore
Feb 24, 2008
2,193
122
63
Isn't the method to kick his foot with yours? As in "I have a wide stance?"
 

johnson86-1

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
14,362
4,866
113
With the DWS reseating, most of us have gained new neighbors. With that said, shortly after locating our seats for the USM game, it was obvious that the guy next to me, installed Msu chair back, is quite wide and took up half of my seat, non-chair back. Not only that but his legs were kicked out at angle in my space. How the 17 would u handle, keeping in my mind that the guy after talking with him was a good guy and want to stay in good graces. Don't want to have to deal with that again, me or someone in my group.

A. Ask him to keep to his area
B. get there before him next time
C. move his chair down some before next game
D. Pay and get one chair installed just next to his to effectively block him

Pay for a seat back to be installed. It's worth if for the comfort, but also gives you some defined space. I've shown up before and a fat family had gotten tickets on the same row. All of them basically took up one and a quarter seat, so that they took up a complete extra seat. Had to explain to the guy sitting over my seat, who was the only non-obese one, that they had to figure out a way to fit within their seats. They never really did it, the discomfort was just spread down the row so that everybody was a little cramped.

Guy was nice, his fat wife wasn't, but I think it was because she felt self conscious. Would have gladly paid the extra money to avoid having to point out to the guy that he was married to a fatass and her relatives were fat asses.
 

Felonious Junk

All-Conference
Oct 23, 2008
1,863
1,227
113
Pay for a seat back to be installed. It's worth if for the comfort, but also gives you some defined space. I've shown up before and a fat family had gotten tickets on the same row. All of them basically took up one and a quarter seat, so that they took up a complete extra seat. Had to explain to the guy sitting over my seat, who was the only non-obese one, that they had to figure out a way to fit within their seats. They never really did it, the discomfort was just spread down the row so that everybody was a little cramped.

Guy was nice, his fat wife wasn't, but I think it was because she felt self conscious. Would have gladly paid the extra money to avoid having to point out to the guy that he was married to a fatass and her relatives were fat asses.


Nothing like the fat wife/skinny husband combo. I've always been perplexed by it.
 

WrapItDog

Senior
Aug 23, 2012
4,304
730
113
A. Ask him if he had to buy two tickets like the airlines
B. Eat lots for curry all week and don't shower
 

archdog

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
1,882
0
0
Pay for a seat back to be installed. It's worth if for the comfort, but also gives you some defined space. I've shown up before and a fat family had gotten tickets on the same row. All of them basically took up one and a quarter seat, so that they took up a complete extra seat. Had to explain to the guy sitting over my seat, who was the only non-obese one, that they had to figure out a way to fit within their seats. They never really did it, the discomfort was just spread down the row so that everybody was a little cramped.

Guy was nice, his fat wife wasn't, but I think it was because she felt self conscious. Would have gladly paid the extra money to avoid having to point out to the guy that he was married to a fatass and her relatives were fat asses.

Two years ago, me and my wife ran into this with one of neighbors selling their tickets to someone on Stub Hub. His wife was so overweight that either I or my wife had to stand sideways the entire game. After that game we just sat in the akybox with a friend. I was pissed about standing sideways the entire game as you can imagine. So were the people behind us because they had to stand.

I understand that fat people want to watch the bulldogs, but hell if you are that fat, buy two tickets. You know she knew what was happening.
 

barely

Redshirt
Aug 28, 2012
73
0
0
I dont know, but it was all I could do not to beat the guys *** that got my isle seat. The dude and his dad never stood up, and they were 'hail state' yellers after each first down. Kept thinking, Im four seats over because of this douche?
 

Bulldog Bruce

All-American
Nov 1, 2007
4,757
5,346
113
Why is this even a question? You simply say. "look, I didn't define the seat widths but that seat your using is too large and is taking up half my seat, so you need to move it." If he refuses, you say "I hate to have to go get an officer, but you leave me no choice."
 

thekimmer

All-Conference
Aug 30, 2012
8,149
2,158
113
They should do a seat test like southwest airlines....

Seriously though, I can empathize with wanting to get along with your neighbor but you really have to look at it from this perspective. This gentleman is invading your space whether he realizes it or not. If he is indeed a nice fellow like you say he should have no problem with a polite, well mannered, and sympathetic request from you. It also would help tremendously to get there before him to stake out your territory before he has a chance to spread out.

The issue with morbidly obese people in confined spaces like commercial aircraft, stadiums, theme park rides is a dilemma. Nobody wants to hurt someone's feelings but then again there are the rights of the other persons and they only have themselves to blame for their condition.
 

horshack.sixpack

All-American
Oct 30, 2012
11,378
8,294
113
With the DWS reseating, most of us have gained new neighbors. With that said, shortly after locating our seats for the USM game, it was obvious that the guy next to me, installed Msu chair back, is quite wide and took up half of my seat, non-chair back. Not only that but his legs were kicked out at angle in my space. How the 17 would u handle, keeping in my mind that the guy after talking with him was a good guy and want to stay in good graces. Don't want to have to deal with that again, me or someone in my group.

A. Ask him to keep to his area
B. get there before him next time
C. move his chair down some before next game
D. Pay and get one chair installed just next to his to effectively block him

It raises an interesting issue. No doubt the person knows that they overlap more than one seat. I think that the issue is never hit head on because the seat selling entity is going to be cast in a bad light for being insensitive if they do. Plus, there's a whole mental aspect to being really overweight that is not well defined, but perceived to be negative. Tough issue and not a fun one to deal with. I don't see any way that you can address it directly with him and have it end well. I mean what recourse does he have other than buying two seats (which isn't an option at this point in the season) or just not coming to games. If he decided to get into shape today it would be months before he were small enough to fit in his purchased space. Best thing for you to do it tell me what seats you have so i don't accidentally end up with them next season after you move!

Meanwhile, if I tried to build a house so big that overlaps into my neighbors lot, I would have some legal issues...
 

Shamoan

Redshirt
Jun 27, 2013
12,466
0
0
Yes, and those little patients have little patience for trouble makers.**

My damn nephew...
 
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johnson86-1

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
14,362
4,866
113
Nothing like the fat wife/skinny husband combo. I've always been perplexed by it.

I felt bad for the guy. I know most people don't have the genes or time to look like a supermodel, but I'd be a little pissed if my spouse just gave up. Although I'm guessing from the look of his wife and his family that he was never under any misunderstanding about what he was in for. Just makes me wonder what was going on with that guy that he saw the overweight girl with the bad personality and decided that was something he wanted to sign onto for life.
 

EurekaDog

Redshirt
Nov 10, 2010
598
0
0
For years, I've thought the width of seats in stadia ought to be expanded.

Get there early, place tape on the edges of your assigned spot to mark the edges of your bleacher space and your foot space. If he doesn't take the hint, gently confront him. If that doesn't work, complain to the Ath. Department.

On average, people in our contemporary society are wider than the width of an average bleacher "seat". Airlines are slowly accepting this fact and are slowly making adjustments.

18" is simply not wide enough these days, especially once the weather demands wearing a coat.

It's time to replace some of the bleachers with true stadium seats with some of those being wider for the more portly among us. Charge more for the wider seats, if needed, to make up for the reduced "stadium capacity".

Signed,
"A guy who couldn't move because I was edged between two 225+ lb men for too many games."
 

jacksonreb

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
458
0
0
a few yrs back when TN was expanding and trying to top Michigan in the seating capacity race, they added some seats but also re-numbered a bunch esp inthe upper end zones to make them narrower. customer friendly, not so much.