I've noticed when I first marry couples and sit them down for a meal, they may or may not sit together. It could be random, but I'm beginning to wonder if it also tells me how compatible they are (and therefore, how easily they'll have kids). Some of them will sit right next to each other every time they eat (like one old couple I have right now). Others will sit as far apart as possible. Still others will be spaced out by 2-3 chairs. Am I overthinking this, or am I on to something?

Ive noticed that to. I will have a newlywed couple, and it will be just the two of them, and they will sit at opposite ends of the table from each other. no matter how many times i pick them up and have them sit back down, they are determined to stay away from each other. maybe one of them isnt "feeling fresh" and the other one just wants to avoid them

I'm using the spaghetti dinner mod now...so maybe I can blame bad breath!

I think it's random and I just blame it on their food preference Each person will pick a plate and will go to that plate each time you feed them. If their spot is taken by another peep, they end up going to that empty spot on the left side.. or if the rest of the table is full, they'll go to the free spot.

I also find it funny when they all start looking over towards the TV, it's very realistic!

I actually thought the same thing at one time. lol I had a few "incompatible" couples that gave me fits having kids and they would always sit at opposite ends of the table, if I dropped them before I seated the kids.

I haven't compiled stats on it, but I did play around with where I dropped them and found that sometimes you can drop them on a certain stool (rather than the table) and they will sit on that stool. Of course, having kids in the house means there are fewer available seating places and they may end up sitting next to each other whether they want to or not.

So, I don't know if there's anything to the theory or not, but I do cringe when I have a brand new couple sit so very far apart. hehe

I don't mean to ruin these ideas, but I think that the particular person you have determines it. Something in the programming that makes the difference. But don't quote me on that. lol

A sound theory, except for my one beloved couple, they are empty nesters, and they still sit next to each other in the same spot. The wife sits at the empty seat, and her husband will sit to her immediate right. They've eaten this way since their wedding day. It's so romantic!

But for most of my couples, when they first marry, one will sit at the empty spot and the other chooses a spot somewhere else - often at the opposite end of the table. I don't know why they like the empty spot so much.

Like I said, they all have their preferences So far the only way I've seen them move to a different spot is if their spot is taken by another peep ^^

I do have my couples that sit next to each other as well, it's sweet!

I have one mother (empty nester) who will usually sit on the long side of the bar, but will occasionally sit on the short end. The only difference that I can see when she sits on the short end is her status saying "Hungry" I have noticed that whoever sits on the short end takes longer to finish a meal than those seated on the long side. In a house of 8, I can usually seat the first five and then place the remaining three as the seats empty on the long side, and usually one, if not both of the people on the short side will still be eating as the second wave begins to leave the bar. So I wonder if seating preference may have to do with how hungry they are as well?

That's an interesting theory knk! I'm very tempted to run another experiment just to give it a little test I get disappointed when I find out it's just random because it's much more interesting to figure out a little algorithm.

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In my family of 3, they each had their own preferred spot to sit on, the parents being on the short end of the table and their son on the long end. They all have the same amount of hunger. The son finished eating significantly faster than the parents

In my larger family, two of the boys prefer the empty seat, so I put one of them on the spot and the other boy went to the seat next to it. This time the longer end of the table finished their food quicker.

I haven't the patience to do the longer experiments, but I would be very interested to find out. Since I noticed the short end taking longer in my families, I have not once seen an occasion in which the short end finished first. But just because my people have that quirk... If you do decide to gather data and see, keep me posted.

I'm still debating whether I should try a long-term experiment or not ^^ Especially when most of the experiments can be solved by a quick response from one of the admins!

I remember that happened with my genetic experiments with rare children or "mutations"

It seems to me that those sitting on the short end ALWAYS take longer to eat. ALWAYS. lol

When I have only 2 or 3 in the home I try to get them to sit somewhere else but usually they head right back to those end seats despite my encouragement to sit on the long side.

It doesn't really matter of course, but I feed my couples before encouraging them to increase their families so I get impatient when 1 lingers over his/her meal....

Hadn't read this thread before.....made lightbulb go off....my two on the short end always take longer to eat. And don't believe any of my couples have ever sat next to one another.
However.....have you ever had a peep refuse to sit at the table because [apparently] 'his' seat is already taken....tho there is another empty one? Happened to me, but only once.

That only happened to me when 4 peeps are already sitting down and another peep somewhere in the house decided to sit down for a meal.. therefore it was full even if the last peep isn't sitting yet and the one I tried to seat shook his head at me.

Since the start of this topic, my peeps at the short side of the bar have ALWAYS taken longer. Not once have they finished first.

Empty seat Empty seat??

Ah!!! I got it! You're talking about the seat with no plate, right? (I hope right! )

If you mean gmom's post, I think she meant that there was an available spot at the table, but because it was not her lil peep's usual or favorite spot, he refused to sit and eat.