The event I heard about was obviously a different one, as it involved 6 students who attempted to save "already saved" seats with their backbacks. It was quite a fuss. I am sure that members of a team that is opposed to saving seats would not have done that. I will spare the thread the unimportant details, and leave out the colorful adjectives that only serve to demonstrate my lack of objectivity.
The scenario mentioned below, however, with three arrivals and no response followed by more arrivals eliciting a response; reminds me of a conflict in the middle east that continues to this day. I am sure that everyone there is just standing up for their rights. After all, if you don't stand up for your rights people will just run over you, won't they?
These actions, by definition, are a confrontation. You really can't claim that you are not seeking a conflict when you stand up (or sit down) for your rights.
With regard to Jeff's comments in response to my post, he quoted my post and replied to it directly. An insult is in the eye of the beholder; as is the notion of yelling, the notion of rudeness, the notion of calmness and the notion of politeness. These are all perceptions, and are all important, but it is how other people percieve you that really matters.
An earlier poster indicated that a thread addressing seat saving would not be very fruitful, and I think that poster was right. I will drop this thread from my list.
Eugene
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Karthik
I was never the intent of Jeff or the other 188/1114 mentors & students to cause a conflict. Here's exactly what happened. Some 1114/188 scouts went to the front row of the Curie stands to grab seats for scouting. Obviously they wanted the seats with best field of view. These teams were being saved by another team. Since the rules specifically disallow the saving of seats, they sat down in them. Initially, nothing was said. Then 3 additional 1114 members came to sit down with their teammates. Then the mentors form the seat saving team came and began yelling at the 1114 members. The 1114 members calmly explained that the saving of seats was illegal. The team in question said "it doesn't matter, everyone else does it." They then proceed to lambaste these mentors and students in rather rude fashion.
You can claim that they were looking for conflict, but these individuals were just standing up (or sitting  ) for their rights. Too often teams are allowed to save seats because no one lets them know it's wrong. Some teams are even shocked to discover that it's not permitted, and graciously free up the seats once they see the rule.
Yes, we should not seek conflict, but at the same time we cannot turn a blind eye upon those who break the rules.
As for Jeffrey's comment about the disdain for his age group, there were comments directed at the 1114/188 college mentors during this fracas which illustrated this disdain. I don't believe Jeff's comment was directed at you. |