Habitude

By scrappy

August 7, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Shouldn’t it be like any of item of quality and or importance. If you accidentally knocked a vase on the floor and broke it, would you offer to buy a new one or fix it if possible? I know I would make this offer. So, if I ever break a chair, I would offer too. I am not obese though, and I know this enters more embarassment into the situation, but still, it is right to offer to pay.

By Zedd

August 7, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

If you’re obese and break a chair perhaps you should not only offer to pay, but take it as a giant wake up call.

By Tony S

August 7, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

If any of you fat-azzes breaka my furniture - I’ll send Sal or Vinnie over to breaka you legs.

By Carri

August 7, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

My brother-in-law, who is a big guy, was sitting in one of those plastic outdoor type chairs while my family was having dinner out on the patio. One of the legs broke and he went tumbling over backward, rolling a short distance down a small hill. He was not hurt, but everyone else busted a gut laughing. Of course, no one expected him to pay for the chair! It might be a different story if it was a nice chair or an antique. Also, if someone fell in your house and got hurt, they might decide to sue you, so I don’t think I would expect them to pay for a broken chair in that circumstance.

By Susan

August 7, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

The person who sat in it, knowing very well their weight could be a problem, should have asked first if the chair was safe for him/her to sit in. If not, then I believe the “sitter” should be responsible for repairs rather than the “sittee”. Then again, if the chair was an antique or treasured item, it should have been placed in a safe area, or had a sign “no sitting, please” placed on it to avoid such accidents…which this was…an accident. However, accident or not, you are responsible for any damages YOU cause. I am not “hefty”, however, at my size, I certainly wouldn’t sit on a child-sized chair, or one that looked like it might not hold me. Bottom line (no pun intended), the sitter is the responsible party.

By Joe

August 7, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

I think that the fact of whether a person is obese, fat, chunky or just hefty is irrelevant. If you break something that does not belong to you, you should at least offer to fix or replace it (unless it is obviously defective).

I was shopping at a furniture store several years ago when I inadvertantly backed into a coffee table and knocked the glass top onto the floor, shattering it into “a million pieces”. I didn’t feel that I had knocked the table anywhere nearly hard enough to knock the top off, but I immediately offered to pay for the damage (about $600). The manager, who did not see what happened, nontheless declined my offer. Needless to say, I bought several pieces of furniture later on that year from that particular store. In short, I think that people should do what they think is right in their hearts. As long as the offer is sincere, everything will work out in the long run, even if it does cost you some money.

By Gigi

August 7, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

If you’re going to invite someone to your home, you should have furniture that will support them and be comfortable. If your chair breaks when they attempt to use it for it’s intended purpose, it is your fault and you should apologize to them.

If they barged in uninvited, or if they used a chair that was placed in a spot where people wouldn’t be expected to sit, that’s a different story.

If you think fat people should pay if your furniture will break under their weight, you shouldn’t have fat people visit your house. Hosts are responsible for their guests’ safety and comfort while in their home.

By Grant Parker

August 7, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

You break, you offer to pay. Then you go on a diet.

By ron

August 7, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

It is the homeowners responsibility to have furniture that doesn’t break under a guest.Assign fatso to a chair that you know will hold him.Make sure your homeowners insurance is current.

By Lacey

August 7, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

I think the host should have furniture that can hold up to their guests. Between this blog and the one about removing your shoes and the one about how much to bring to your hostess, I am so much more appreciative of my friends!
A real hostess makes sure their guests are comfortable and taken care of in their home. Otherwise, don’t invite anyone over. If you have a chair that might break, politely tell that person in confidence not to sit on it because it is not sturdy. That is your job as the host/hostess. If you have a friend over with kids, remove items from the living room that could be broken.
I never require my guests to go beyond anything other than a great conversation/visit. That is why I had them over in the first place.

By Steve

August 7, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this

The lardo should have the common decency and respect to offer to pay for the broken chair. Unfortunately, most people dont have common decency and respect nowadays.

By elladee

August 7, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this

If you break something at another’s home, you should offer to pay for it.

We had a similar situation in which, for some strange reason, the obese relative would make a beeline for the delicate antique chair. After this happened several times, my mother moved the chair upstairs to her room each time that particular relative was expected over.

By Keon Johnsno

August 7, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this

Etiquette says that the offending party offer to repair or replace that which they have damaged. However, who goes by etiquette today? There are always exceptions.

For instance, what is the offending party is completely unable to make restitution now or in the future? This could be the case for something priceless or irreplaceable or if the person is simply not of the financial means.

We should also consider the issue of law. Legally, we are responsible for the people that enter into our homes or businesses. In the situations given by the author, the people who fell could’ve been hurt. In that case, would the home owner be held responsible? The answer could be yes, with the right judge and lawyer. The argument could be that, such an item should NOT have been used for guest as it’s sturdiness could be questioned.

The best advice for this is prevention. In many homes, I have seen DECORATIVE living rooms, which are NOT for sitting…just looking. One should designate space for their company, or decline from having company. In order to save the association, it would be best in MOST situations to with split the difference or for the host to eat the lost.

By been there

August 7, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this

I had a brother-in-law and sister who r hefty break a sofa at christmas and then broke the matching live seat at easter. Have since replaced with heftier models and hope they will hold up

By Fat Guy

August 8, 2008 7:40 AM | Link to this

What if you catch the act on video and send it in to America’s Funniest Videos and win $10,000? Are you obligated to split the money with the fat person who broke your furniture?

That is the real ethical quandary we should be addressing.

By It happens

August 8, 2008 7:40 AM | Link to this

I broke a china dish once at a friends house and went out and bought a replacement dish immediately. Luckily the pattern was still available. But if you break something at a family members house - I think the host should suck it up and say no problem - accidents happen.

By Rod

August 8, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this

The homeowner is responsible for providing adequate seating for the guests. As mentioned above, the person who fell - if injured - would clearly have a legal case if they felt like suing (or were seriously injured).

It doesn’t matter if I weigh 500 pounds - if you invite me to your home, it’s reasonable for me to expect seating to be provided which will not fail me.

If you’ve got some delicate furniture, move it to the basement when company comes over.

By Wayne

September 22, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

Take a look at my website - www.theteeburrcompany.com - betcha can’t break my furniture!