Choose A Seat

[teacake44]

You walk into a park, or any public space for that matter, there are two benches, and you would like to sit for a time, the one bench as one person already sitting down. Do you choose the empty bench to sit on, or sit next to the person on the other. And the reason for your choice.

[Theland]

"Alright mate / love. Mind if I sit here? My word it's warm today."

[anotheoldgit]

It would be dependant on the particular religion of the person.

I say this because, in a certain large store, I chose to sit on a bench next to a young Muslim female, whilst waiting for my wife to go through the checkout.

In that same checkout queue there was a more elderly Muslim female, who on spotting me sitting next to the younger person, rushed out of the queue and came over to her to angrily tear a strip off the young girl and told her to remove herself from the bench.

She was then forced to stand a distance away while what I presumed was her mother, had gone through the checkout.

[THECORBYLOON]

Would you ask the person about their religion?

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON


No because one can tell a Muslim and it is only that religion that has certain particular problems regarding their females.

[spathiphyllum]

"Spath, why would you have to be a freak to sit on the other bench."


You're obviously not accustomed to British culture. We don't talk to strangers, and we queue.

[dave50]

To expand on this, would you, if you were a male on your own sit on a park bench if there was a children's play area in the vicinity?

[THECORBYLOON]

ANOTHEOLDGIT, describe what like a Muslim looks.

[Mamyalynne]

Your point brings back a sad memory Dave - an elderly neighbour and his wife used to walk their little dog up to the nearby park and sit on a bench quite near the playground for a while.

His wife died first then a little later the dog died, he kept up the daily walk to the park and bench - but got reported by so called 'watching children', he never really left the house after that.

[naomi24]

God! That is terrible, Mamyalynne. A sad indictment upon our society.

[Mamyalynne]

It was terribly sad Naomi , yes.

[TonyV]

Dave, never really thought about it, I often sit in the park and have a sandwich which has a children's playground close by. Think you are getting a bit to PC.

[spathiphyllum]

At the local skatepark, when parents turn up without a child to 'watch' the little scooters, someone always questions their motives. "Which kid is yours" someone will shout. If they don't respond, others will question it. If they don't have a child down their, (never actually happened, but easily could) we would probably try to take further action.

[anotheoldgit]

Mamyalynne

Yes a sad reflection on the times which we now live.

I remember a time when one could take their children or grand children to the local park's paddling pool, and then take snaps with your Brownie box camera of them happily playing.

Try doing that today, not with a Brownie box camera of course, but with the phones or cameras of today.

[naomi24]

spath, //we would probably try to take further action. //

Who are 'we' - and what action would you take?

I prefer to sit in the shade, but it would depend on who the occupant of the bench was. If it was some scruffy bloke I'd sit on the empty bench - even if it was in the sun.

[Mamyalynne]

I'd take pictures but of my offspring, not surrounded by others - makes sense to me.

[Zacs-Master]

People do that all the time AOG.

Would you sit next to a black man on a park bench?

[THECORBYLOON]

Perhaps it was ANOTHELOLDGIT's appearance or demeanour that was the issue, not the fact he is a man.

[anotheoldgit]

CORBYLOON

/// ANOTHEOLDGIT, describe what like a Muslim looks. ///

If it is any help to you, but first remove your head from out of the sand and take off your rose-tinted specs.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSMPuKMGg4UWTKdGs5zsnXReGbMK9Bs4d-p-u89CPcqbC6F1L3ocg

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTOVD1DxMaJ3PzZeku71QjcV0eXgppYzwMCYPSgB3XCI6j9UIRo

[naomi24]

aog, if she moved, why is that a problem for you?

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON
/// Perhaps it was ANOTHELOLDGIT's appearance or demeanour that was the issue, not the fact he is a man. ///

Not so because I was white and dressed as a perfect English gent, and it was I who had no issue with choosing to sit next to a Muslim, but it was obvious that the Muslim mother who apparently had an issue.