Table etiquette at beach outrages picnickers: ‘It’s the height of selfishness’
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Picnicking at the beach is an Australian tradition, as iconic as Vegemite on toast or a game of backyard cricket.
But a photo taken at Sydney's Bronte Beach has sparked a fiery debate over what many might consider a harmless act of preparation: reserving a picnic table by leaving belongings on it.
The image, which showed two picnic tables under a hut adorned with tablecloths and bags but not a human in sight, has become the centre of a discussion about picnic table etiquette.
‘There were at least half a dozen of these tables ‘reserved’ for a couple of hours on Sunday morning from very early in the day,’ the poster wrote on social media.
‘We got there at 7 am and left a few hours later. No one was using the tables the entire time we were there.’
The post quickly gained traction, and the consensus was that there was a fine line between reserving a spot and hogging a public amenity.
One commenter went as far as to call the act 'unAustralian’.
‘It's not acceptable,’ one person said.
‘You can reserve it by sitting there yourself, but not by leaving an item.’
‘Yes, you should be actually using it, not leaving your s**t on there to reserve it for later,’ another agreed.
‘It's the height of selfishness.’
Some argue that physically occupying the space is the only acceptable way to claim it, while others believe that as long as other seats are available, it's a non-issue.
‘In this instance, it’s probably okay,’ they commented. ‘The back table is free, go grab it.’
The discussion also highlighted the 'unspoken rules' of shotgunning picnic spots.
‘As long as there’s people there minding the tables, not just throwing a bunch of tablecloths down and walking off, I’m fine with it,’ someone wrote.
‘First come, first served.’
‘If I was bringing a few things from the car, I might do this,’ another explained.
‘Like dropping off the tablecloth and backpack before grabbing the esky etc. But I'd maintain line of sight. Anything else isn't justified in my opinion.’
However, not everyone is so patient or understanding.
Some users suggested taking matters into their own hands by moving the unattended items and ‘move yourself in’.
‘Assume they have gone home and left their rubbish behind and throw the grubs’ rubbish in the bin,’ someone recommended.
‘All I see is a free tablecloth and free bag,’ another pointed out.
Waverley Council's response was a call for common sense and courtesy.
‘We ask that people refrain from reserving tables and always have a backup plan if picnic shelters or barbecues are already in use,’ a spokesperson for the council said.
They added that ‘generally’ people use the public places and ‘that there is space for all to enjoy our parks and reserves’, but admitted that it can get hectic.
‘Waverley is the second-most densely populated local government area in Australia outside of the City of Sydney, and we attract millions of visitors every year, so our recreational spaces are at a premium.’
‘On weekends and at other peak times, picnic tables and barbecues do invariably fill up. So we ask people to share our spaces so that everyone can have a turn.’
Proper etiquette is still a must wherever you go. However, in recent years, some popular coastal spots have faced serious problems due to increasing visitor numbers and disrespectful behaviour.
In a previous story, a council contemplated balancing the need for access and the preservation of this beach by introducing fees for visitors. You can read more about the story here.
What's your take on this picnic table etiquette debate? Have you encountered similar situations? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments below.
But a photo taken at Sydney's Bronte Beach has sparked a fiery debate over what many might consider a harmless act of preparation: reserving a picnic table by leaving belongings on it.
The image, which showed two picnic tables under a hut adorned with tablecloths and bags but not a human in sight, has become the centre of a discussion about picnic table etiquette.
‘There were at least half a dozen of these tables ‘reserved’ for a couple of hours on Sunday morning from very early in the day,’ the poster wrote on social media.
These tables had bags and tablecloths but there was no one around. Credit: @Gozzhogger / Reddit
‘We got there at 7 am and left a few hours later. No one was using the tables the entire time we were there.’
The post quickly gained traction, and the consensus was that there was a fine line between reserving a spot and hogging a public amenity.
One commenter went as far as to call the act 'unAustralian’.
‘It's not acceptable,’ one person said.
‘You can reserve it by sitting there yourself, but not by leaving an item.’
‘Yes, you should be actually using it, not leaving your s**t on there to reserve it for later,’ another agreed.
‘It's the height of selfishness.’
Some argue that physically occupying the space is the only acceptable way to claim it, while others believe that as long as other seats are available, it's a non-issue.
‘In this instance, it’s probably okay,’ they commented. ‘The back table is free, go grab it.’
The discussion also highlighted the 'unspoken rules' of shotgunning picnic spots.
‘As long as there’s people there minding the tables, not just throwing a bunch of tablecloths down and walking off, I’m fine with it,’ someone wrote.
‘First come, first served.’
‘If I was bringing a few things from the car, I might do this,’ another explained.
‘Like dropping off the tablecloth and backpack before grabbing the esky etc. But I'd maintain line of sight. Anything else isn't justified in my opinion.’
However, not everyone is so patient or understanding.
Some users suggested taking matters into their own hands by moving the unattended items and ‘move yourself in’.
‘Assume they have gone home and left their rubbish behind and throw the grubs’ rubbish in the bin,’ someone recommended.
‘All I see is a free tablecloth and free bag,’ another pointed out.
Waverley Council's response was a call for common sense and courtesy.
‘We ask that people refrain from reserving tables and always have a backup plan if picnic shelters or barbecues are already in use,’ a spokesperson for the council said.
They added that ‘generally’ people use the public places and ‘that there is space for all to enjoy our parks and reserves’, but admitted that it can get hectic.
‘Waverley is the second-most densely populated local government area in Australia outside of the City of Sydney, and we attract millions of visitors every year, so our recreational spaces are at a premium.’
‘On weekends and at other peak times, picnic tables and barbecues do invariably fill up. So we ask people to share our spaces so that everyone can have a turn.’
Proper etiquette is still a must wherever you go. However, in recent years, some popular coastal spots have faced serious problems due to increasing visitor numbers and disrespectful behaviour.
In a previous story, a council contemplated balancing the need for access and the preservation of this beach by introducing fees for visitors. You can read more about the story here.
