A 23-year-old woman has sparked a debate after refusing to change her seat in a cafe to a group of middle-aged women.
In a recent post shared on the popular “Am I the Asshole?” On the Reddit forum, the woman asked if she was wrong for not moving from the “comfortable chair” she was in. She explained that she recently found a coffee shop near her, after moving to a new neighborhood.
After remembering how he recently went to work at the coffee shop, he went on to describe the size of the space and his experience with other customers there.
“The cafeteria is relatively small, with less than 10 tables available. “I sat in the most comfortable looking chair in the store, one of the four chairs at the largest table,” she wrote. “I was a little entertained with my drink and cake when a group of four middle-aged people asked me if I could move so they could sit there together.”
He stated that he understood why the group would be “uncomfortable in other seats in the store,” as his chair “had a high back, armrests, and was plush and soft leather.” However, she still told the group that she was not going to move. She also gave them a recommendation on how to handle the situation, which was an idea the four women initially rejected.
“I would also like to sit comfortably. “I told them they were free to take the other three chairs and move one closer to the table,” the woman continued. “They told me that they had something to discuss between them and that they would appreciate it if I moved. Again I told them that I liked the chair and that I was there first so as not to move.”
According to the Reddit poster, the four women examined her in the cafeteria. “They complained about the selfish young people, gave me dirty looks and asked the store to do their takeout orders,” she added.
She concluded by sharing that her mother thought she “was selfish” by “occupying a table for four” when she was alone in the cafeteria.
In an edition of the publication, the woman clarified that “there were many other tables for four people” available in the cafeteria. However, she stated that the “chairs at other tables are not as comfortable” as hers.
The Reddit post quickly went viral, with more than 9,300 upvotes. There was mixed reaction in the comments, with several people coming to the woman's defense and stating that she should be able to stay at her table if she got there first. They also noted that this should be the case if there were other four-person tables open in the cafeteria.
“If there are other tables that fit four, then [you’re not the a**hole]“one wrote. “You deserve a comfortable seat too. But if there is no other table for four, it is a bit inconsiderate to take a table for four just for yourself, both for the other customers and for the cafeteria.»
“Seating is usually assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. It doesn't matter if it's just one person occupying a large table. Unless there are rules specifically against it at that establishment, [original poster] You have the right to choose the available seat you prefer. They also offered to let them use the table, but they refused,” one wrote. “They are strange, if they don't want people to listen to their conversation, they can sit somewhere else or go somewhere else. Tough shit. I worked in coffee shops for years, that's how it works.”
However, other people criticized the woman for occupying a table for four people when she went to the cafeteria alone, especially if she was going to be there for a few hours to work.
“It has nothing to do with the chair, it's because you took a table with four seats in a small cafe. Not only that, but the 'bigger' table,” one wrote. “The larger tables are not intended for individuals.”
“[You’re the a**hole] for occupying the largest table as a lone customer in an already small cafeteria. Next time just move the comfortable chair to a smaller table,” wrote another.
A third joked: “Single people at big tables make me want revenge. Signed, the director of a cafeteria.
