WHERE DO YOU SIT?

I have always been interested in where people choose to sit when they can sit anywhere. I know it is not consistent for all venues. In fact, the venue determines our choices. At the first service of my church seating is much like a donut. They sit in a circle leaving the middle empty. In the second service it fills up from the back to the front.

I know the venue determines where I sit. If I go to live theater, I want to sit as close to the front as possible, even the front row. At movies I sit near the middle with a leaning toward the front. I want the action to fill my line of vision without breaking me neck looking nearly straight up. At sporting events my seat is determined by cost. I go for the cheep seats. While living in Regina I often had season tickets to see the Roughriders. The last few games of years were absolutely miserable. I hate ice cycles hanging off the end of my nose. At potluck dinners, I sit somewhat near the serving table. Got to be near the food. At seminars and lectures seating is always determined by the subject, the lecturer or teacher and what I know about their communication skills or want to know about the subject. At church, I am usually on either side and about 20% of the way from the front.

Where we sit is an indication of out interest and/or financial ability. The closer one is the front, the greater the interest. The back indicates a disinterest and fears at times (I am hiding in the back so please don’t call on me). Students near the front get better grades and the grades get lower the further from the front one sits.

I would get these kinds of stats across my desk when I was teaching so I compared notes with my son-in-law. He is a high school English teacher. The question: Is there a correlation between grades and where one sits? A resounding yes! He says yes. I say yes and all the stats crossing my desk and his say yes.

I know people want to argue. There is always some one near the front whose grades are no more than average. I agree with that, but I never had a student near the front that was marginal, but they might be awful if they were at the back. Distance from instruction or viewing has everything to do with distractions. The fewest the distractions the greater is one’s ability to focus.

This also applies to the church. Are the front pews filled with the better Christians? Not necessarily! But these people pay the most avid attention. They may be the most hungry. They may be searching. They may also be hard of hearing or cannot see well.

So is there a correlation between where you sit at any venue and you interest in the subject? Most likely!

I have given up any interest in actually attending any professional game.. The best seat in the house is in my easy chair where no one is sitting in front of me, no one is spilling beer nor are they screaming in my ear. I am not sure what this means? I know I can get food without missing anything. I can read a book if the game is boring or I can play a computer game. In other words, I can easily move on to something better. I guess that means I am not a diehard sports fan. If it entertains me fine, if not — I’m outta there.

There is one place I always try to sit in the very front — in my car behind the steering wheel.