Is this seat taken?

Hey there.... I don't know if its me or the way I look... but every time I go to a hawker centre or food court... I sit alone at a table. And this is like really early in the morning before 7am. Its not exactly peak hour lunch/dinner time so there are lots of empty tables to go around. I order my favourite "bak chor mee" at the corner and sit nearest table available.

My food comes and I happily tuck into my noodles. Every time, (I've counted at least 10), some old man or woman would come up to my table and ask in Mandarin or Hokkien "Is this seat taken?" Not that I mind people sitting with me, but I do mind other people watching me eat. Maybe they wanted company .... or just want to sit next to a pretty girl. I really have no idea.

I don't understand this. There are 5 other empty tables around me and they choose to sit next to me. One time I didn't answer the man but looked around at the other empty tables instead. He got the message and move to another table.

Does anyone else have the same experience?