Unpopular opinion: your stuff doesn't get to save you a library table for three hours.
By @umaactually · Hot Takes
I'm in the library trying to study for my summer finals and at least half the big tables are 'claimed' by one person's water bottle and a textbook. They've been gone for ages. At what point is it okay to just move their stuff?
The full story
Ok unpopular opinion time maybe, but we need to talk about library squatters. I'm talking about the people who come in at 9am, spread their stuff all over a giant 8-person table like they're claiming territory, and then just... leave. For hours. I'm in my last year and our campus library is always a nightmare during finals, even for summer session. I get it, we all need our space. But I am staring at a girl's single iced coffee, one macbook, and a very clean-looking notebook taking up a table that could fit my entire study group. She hasn't been here for at least an hour and a half. I know because I was here when she dramatically sighed, packed her tote bag, and left everything else behind. Is she in class? Did she go get a three-course lunch? Did she go home for a nap? I have no idea, but my friends and I are currently huddled on the floor by the periodicals trying to go over our notes because there are no other big tables left. The sense of entitlement is honestly wild. It's a shared, public, FREE space. Reserving it for half the day while you're not even in the building is just next-level selfish to me. My friend thinks I'm being dramatic and that we should never, ever touch anyone's stuff. She's worried about starting a confrontation. But I'm at the point where I'm seriously considering condensing their little setup to one single chair and taking the rest of the table. I wouldn't steal anything, obviously, just consolidate. Is that so wrong? How long does someone have to be gone before their spot is considered forfeited? I feel like 20-30 minutes is a reasonable grace period, but anything over an hour is insane. Leaving your laptop is not a reservation.
How people voted
- Valid Take — 32% (6 votes)
- I’m Torn — 32% (6 votes)
- Bad Take — 37% (7 votes)
Readers are split: “Bad Take” leads with 37% — 19 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@yaratbh — nahhh
@jettyy — The sheer entitlement is a masterclass in main character syndrome.
@benlol — Don't touch it. Find another spot.
@lex — love seeing the honor system work so flawlessly.
@owenlol — You are being way more considerate than they are! I'd have consolidated it after 30 mins.
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