I’m tellin’ ya! LOL I never, in a million years, would have guessed it was so much of an issue!
:thumbsup:Amen!
One of the big problems, though, is that so few of the aisle-sitters, at least in my experience, are willing to let folks in (not to mention the fact that this topic has barely mentioned those folks who believe they own their regular seats). And like Armor of Light said, with kids it’s often not possible to get their early, regardless of your best efforts and intentions (and, frankly, I long for the days when we had the 5:1 bathroom ratio). On days where we get there later than planned, we know there’s no point in trying for a seat on one entire side of the church simply because we know from experience that the pew-steaders there won’t move for any reason. We’ve actually been at Masses where the other half of the church is packed, while that side still has the wide open spaces thanks to all the claims of “it’s taken” or, better yet, the ones who simply lock their eyes on the altar and don’t even blink when you ask if either you or them can scoot in. It probably wouldn’t annoy me nearly as much if there hadn’t had so many occasions over the years where my or someone else’s very pregnant wife had to stand through Mass because someone wasn’t willing to give up “their” seat.
To me, it still wouldn’t phase me. I would just climb over the top. If they were kneeling, just push on past them from behind. Like the Nike commercial, just do it. If it makes you feel better, just plop down one foot on the other side, though for me, since I am not bothered by pushing my way past, I would not see the point in such a thing, except maybe the irony.
I don’t think anyone said it was the biggest issue in their lives, but this being a Catholic forum, I think sometimes it’s beneficial to come here and blow off steam about Catholic matters. Any of us could just as easily go to our fallen away or non-believing friends and gripe about it to them, but I’ve found that mentioning anything Catholic to them is usually nothing more than an invitation to ridicule.
Not the issue I was addressing here…I was talking about the use of the word “choose” in the post. Simply pointing out that the later arrivals are not always by choice. Hardly due to laziness in my case.
So true, that … or down in front, you can have your pick there!
Hehe… well, when you have a small child (or children), it can certainly “feel” like you are setting up camp (car seat-check, diaper bag-check, teething ring–check, blanket—check, extra outfit in case of accidents–check, small distracting toy that can keep baby from fussing while not distracting others–check… my own shoes… wait, I am still wearing slippers?!
)
). Now, if someone needs or wishes to get into the open places and touches me, I not only let them in, I even smile – but I do keep my seat. Now, do you suppose all that counts as a venial or a mortal sin? 