Originally Posted by
Tizzette
Even seat swappers who think they have an equal seat to offer and ask nicely are overlooking that when it comes right down to it, they are asking a favor of a perfect stranger. IMHO that is bad manners and you don't do it unless you really NEED to.
Sure, it's asking for a favor, but there's clearly a spectrum of acceptability in terms of whether asking for a favor is bad manners. Asking someone next to you in an elevator "excuse me, do you have the time" is a polite request for a very minor favor. Telling that same person "I demand you come home with my right now and dedicate your life to providing me sexual pleasure," pretty much the other end of the spectrum.