Would you give up your seat on a bus or train?
I use public transport to get to work during the week, and as a regular commuter I like to think of myself as a considerate and conscientious passenger, and as such I will not think twice about offering my seat to someone less able bodied or a pregnant woman. Also whenever passengers are leaving the train, I will allow them to exit first and will support mothers with buggies on the stairs or those with heavy luggage.
Some may call me old fashioned but if I am standing waiting for a seat and a woman is too, I will let them take the seat ahead of me. Perhaps I am in a minority of people who do this, but I don't think that it is a particularly bad habit and if more people did the same the world would be a more civilised place. This week, however, an incident occurred which made me think, am I just being a mug offering my seat to a woman before me?
On a journey I was on recently the train was very busy and I was standing throughout a good few stops. A woman came on board and eventually a seat became available. I gestured to the woman to let her know that she could take the seat; she then sat down and just glanced up at me without so much as a thank you. Afterwards I thought did I do the right thing by offering my seat or is it every man/person for themselves in this society? Should I just accept that with equality offering my seat is plain condescending and I should not expect a word of thanks?
Interestingly I told a group of young male offenders who attend a workshop that I run this story. Nearly all of them said that they would not have bothered giving up a seat and some would have (in other words) given this woman a piece of their mind if asked to move - this is something I would never do.
What do people think?
By: Funkg
Comments from visitors
Sorry, just being picky.
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I thought that unless it was reserved seating, it was first come, first seated. Just where do these idiots think they have the right or authority to tell me I cant sit there because they don't want me to! Could I then come in just before the program starts and tell them "get out of that seat. I want it." What is the difference?
How can these idiots think they are so important, they can come at the last minute and have seats waiting for them because everyone is supposed to cowardly slink away to let them have it.
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Unfortunately I have recently heard tales of a few folk being verbally abused while offering a seat to someone. I think it is a bit sad that people are are made to feel afraid of being considerate incase it's taken the wrong way.
Personally though I think it's nice to do this. It does brighten alot of people's days, it's only a minority that are either too inconsiderate to acknowledge you or are offended. If there were more people like you society would be that bit brighter :)
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i also say "thank you, but i'm fine standing" if someone offers me their seat, as a little old lady once did. I doubt she'd still be upright when the bus pulled off, she had a zimmer!
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Not anymore as I'm no longer soft and gulIible. In fact, I don't have one good word to write about anyone except myself. I like it this way, I know where I stand.
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I was brought up to offer my seat to a lady or some one less able than myself and in most cases a nice thank you is offered in return.
I have noticed in this world of female equality that the odd lady would be slighted by my actions and would think I was being condescending. However it is an extremely rare reaction and wont stop me from doing it again in the future.
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The other tricky one is when they look old but not too old and you don't want to offend by offering them your seat. Or are they fat or pregnant? Have you ever come across this dilemma?
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Doesn't quite hurt as much as a broken jaw,nose and wrist sprains.
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I felt so grown up giving my seat to this lady. So proud. Imagine my suprise and feeling far from proud, 20 minutes later down A+E with a broken jaw, nose and serious sprains on my wrists.
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Did they complain that the driver didn't offer his own seat too?
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Matters are eased considerably if the person is crippled or very elderly.
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