Sorry for another OT post -- but this is really bugging me and I need some unbiased opinions.
I'm taking a class (Master Gardener) on Thursday nights. The class runs from 6 - 10. The classroom is absurdly overcrowded with 4 rows of tables and chairs -- with the space between rows so tight that someone of my size cannot sit comfortable without moving either my table forward or the table behind me back (which then further crowds the students at those tables). All students are adults (almost everyone over 30 and more than 1/2 over 40 or so) -- so we're not talking about "kids" here. There are no assigned seats but as you would expect -- people tend to return to the same seats week after week.
Because of this -- I arrive nearly 40 minutes early to the class so that I can select a seat on the aisle for several reasons. 1) my size -- no way can I comfortably sit buried in the middle of the row. 2) I have learned that I am somewhat claustrophobic -- not horribly so -- but enough I get somewhat anxious when confined. At restaurants -- I avoid at all costs sitting on the inside of a booth. When I have to -- I notice I am terribly anxious and fidgety. 3) I battle diverticulitis -- and frequently need to excuse myself and get to the nearest restroom ASAP. I have had multiple experiences of not getting there quickly enough (TMI.. sorry but this particular health situation rules much of my life).
So last night I arrive my usual time but someone has taken the seat I usually take at the end of the table. So I take the seat at the table in front of her and place my belongings. I actually sit there through the quiz and then we are instructed to go to a room down the hall to look at some specimens of tree leaves with diseases... so I get up and leave my things (notebook, writing pad, pencil, water, cell phone on the table and my purse on my chair and coat on the back of my chair) while I proceed with the class to the adjacent room.
While I am there, the woman who routinely sits where I chose to sit -- moves all of my belongings to an inside spot on another table. She sits down and when I return she says "too bad... this is my seat". I was livid. I am a non-confrontational person usually but there was no way I would even fit where she put my things ... let alone manage it otherwise (anxiety-wise and accessibility wise). In front of the entire class, I quietly called her out and asked her to please move -- -as I was sitting there. She called me a name for making a big deal out of it... and I replied that there were no assigned seats and she needs to find a vacant seat and please relocate. She refused. I did say she was being juvenile but otherwise did not get negative or really loud... just stood over her and waited until she moved. This whole thing took 3-4 minutes and the entire class was sitting watching --- mouths open but saying nothing.
Finally she did move -- and I reclaimed my seat. Afterwards I was so upset that my system was more upset than normal. Ended up running down the hall several times. And she ended up leaving class 45 minutes early (which she does routinely).
Was I out of line making a "big deal" of this? There were no more available end seats by this time so there really was no place for me to go comfortably. The woman is 1/2 my size and could easily have sat where she put my things. She likes being on the end (I think so she can leave early).
I'm still very upset over this. I hate being perceived as a "trouble maker" -- but this just rubbed me the wrong way. That she even moved my purse to a new location blows my mind. I would **NEVER** think of touching someone else's purse unless to prevent it from being damaged somehow.
So tell me -- was I out of line? I don't know that she is -- but even if she can't handle "inside tight spaces" -- would she have the right to move me out because she has been sitting there for the past several weeks? What would you have done?
Kate in MI