Classification Notice for Seat Saving
A seat is being saved for someone who is not present. The person saving the seat is defending it with more energy than their own seat received.
CLASSIFICATION NOTICE RE: Seat saving on behalf of an absent party TYPE: Proxy possession with elevated commitment
The Situation
Person A has a seat. Person B, who is expected to return from the bathroom in approximately four minutes, has a seat being held by Person A through a bag placement and verbal defense.
The seat is in a venue that is not full but is sufficiently occupied that unoccupied seats attract attention.
The Defense
Since Person B's departure, two separate people have approached and asked whether the seat was free. Both were told "no, someone's coming." Both accepted this and found other arrangements.
Person A has given more attention to Person B's seat than to their own. Person A's own seat was occupied without any explicit claiming. Person B's seat has been actively managed.
The Commitment Asymmetry
The commitment disparity between Person A's defense of Person B's seat and Person B's expectation of Person A's defense is notable. Person B does not know there have been two challenges. Person B, if asked, would probably say "just leave my bag there, it's fine" rather than expecting sustained verbal defense.
The verbal defense was not necessary. The bag would likely have held the seat without it. The verbal defense was offered because being asked "is this taken" creates a social context in which an audible response feels more reliable than pointing to a bag.
The Return
Person B returned at approximately the expected time. The seat was available. Person A reported the two challenges with some satisfaction. Person B said "thanks, I didn't think anyone would need it."
Both were correct.