My close seat choice in a sparse waiting area made someone relocate

I sat down right beside the only other person in the clinic waiting room. They got up and moved to a chair far away without a word. What's the unspoken rule about how close we can sit when there are plenty of open spots?

3 comments

3 Comments

wendy1314d ago

I mean, sitting THAT close in an empty room is basically a SOCIAL crime. People need their personal space bubble, you know? You probably made them think you were about to ask for spare change or something.

karens124d ago

People often choose the closest seat without much thought (you know, when you're just trying to sit down). @wendy131 calls it a social crime, but public seating doesn't come with rules about distance. I've sat near others in empty rooms by accident, and their move away can make you feel awkward for no reason. In a clinic, everyone's already stressed, so maybe we cut each other some slack.

finleys374d ago

Last week at the pharmacy, I picked a chair right next to the only other person in a whole row of empty seats. They stood up and moved across the room before I could even set my bag down. I spent the next ten minutes quietly wondering if my cough sounded scary or if I’d forgotten to put on deodorant.