Midpack
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
We were at a local outdoor concert, probably 800-1000 attendees in a park with folding chairs or blankets. Before the concert most were standing talking/socializing or just milling around/networking, as expected. When the band started, everyone sat down EXCEPT about 15 people (couples & singles) a few rows in front of us just off center, about 2/3rds of our section of the crowd was behind them. DW got irritated, but I told her 'be patient, they'll remember their manners or get tired and sit.' After more than 20 minutes she said 'I'm going to go say something to them.'
She did, and 2-3 guys felt bad but didn't want to sit, so they moved to the side edge of the crowd and stayed there - great! But there were still about a dozen standing. She came back and said 'they said they'd talk it over,' and also 'they're already wasted.'
They didn't sit, and most of them were socializing with each other, most not even facing the stage, some with their backs to the stage! After more than an hour standing, when intermission came DW said 'let's just go home.'
Before I became a curmudgeon I would have confronted them myself. These days it seems pointless, life's too short.
What would you have done? Maybe I am a wuss, and a curmudgeon.
[/rant]
She did, and 2-3 guys felt bad but didn't want to sit, so they moved to the side edge of the crowd and stayed there - great! But there were still about a dozen standing. She came back and said 'they said they'd talk it over,' and also 'they're already wasted.'
They didn't sit, and most of them were socializing with each other, most not even facing the stage, some with their backs to the stage! After more than an hour standing, when intermission came DW said 'let's just go home.'
Before I became a curmudgeon I would have confronted them myself. These days it seems pointless, life's too short.
- No one else who's view was blocked said anything, even the row right behind them!
- It was music, we could hear, though it would have been nice to see the band too.
- We could stand too, making us just as inconsiderate to those behind us.
- We could move, but there was a capacity crowd by the time the music started. Like others we go early to get decent seats. Moving puts us all the way at the back if there's even space there.
- If the 'socialites' didn't have the (common) courtesy (?) to sit, I have no illusion they'll learn courtesy at an apparent age of 40-50. [Also the reason I didn't say something sarcastic/polite when we were leaving, I would have 20 years ago.]
- Confronting near drunks is probably less safe than it once was.
What would you have done? Maybe I am a wuss, and a curmudgeon.
[/rant]
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