pd2,
As has already been explained in detail by davecfm56, the CC do not calculate the loading. The message is passed to us from the Flight Crew having usually come, I think, from Flight Ops. Anyway, aside from the legal angle, is it really worth taking the risk no matter how small it may seem, just for the sake of sitting in a particular seat for take-off? I'll happily admit that I'm no expert on the intricacies of weight and balance, so I'll trust those that are. If they say someone needs to be moved, then moved they shall be! Whether that be to their new seat or off the aircraft is up to them.
Unfortunately, the request was so stupid, that I politely refused, told her I was comfortable where I was and asked her to explain her why.
Just a thought.... if you treat passengers like idiots... they might just take offence and become uncooperative.
Just out of interest, if the Captain had personally approached you in the cabin and asked you to move seats for weight and balance issues, would you have assumed he/she was treating you like an idiot and replied that you were quite comfortable where you were, thank you. Or was it just because it was a CC member that asked you to move? After all, what could she possibly know about such complicated technicalities?
Still, at least you can now be assured that you weren't
being treated like an idiot.....