I had cause to accompany my 78 year old mum to Guys Hospital this morning making the journey by tube from North Greewich station. Service was good and train not packed but seats all taken. Now everyone could see that my mum is a little old lady that would have been far more comfortable and less likely to be buffeted by the journey if she had a seat. That much to me is obvious. Of the fourteen seats in our section I estimate two were taken by persons over sixty. The remaining twelve by ages which I estimate averaged mid thirties ish and of both sexes. Not one of the twelve offered the seat to my mum the old dear. I offer my seat regularly to anyone who I consider in more need of being seated than I do. Am I just that bloody old fashioned to expect this act of what I consider common courtesy or have we finally sunk that low. I suspect the latter but am still very very disappointed.
Comments
Next stop an elderly couple got on and I kid you not they all simultaneously got up and offered they seat.
When I mentioned this to my cousin he laughed and said the Hungarians hadn't had their freedom for that long and consequently hadn't learnt to abuse it - yet!
Baby on board so you must give up your seat for me? People might not have seen it anyway, and she's only 5 months... you'll find once she hits 7 months she will get a seat constantly.
I got him by the ear and booted him off the bus.
im up in court next tuesday.
They have become the preserve of middle class tossers rather than everybody it would seem and are perceived as a sign of weakness.
But people are wrapped up in their own worlds. You could say that's selfishness, but if someone is reading, game playing or whatever, is it such a crime?
The solution (which I've seen work just fine) is maybe to ask politely "would anyone be able to give up a seat for me/my mother". That soon 'shames' someone in to shifting. Of course it would be better not to have to ask, but the problem gets solved quickly at least without any lingering bad feeling
Golden rules always give your seat up to a Pregnant lady and for any lady or gentlem who needs it more --simples perhaps BR and the Underground should advertise that.
got to go and get me train now !!!!!!!!!!!!!
But I do agree that it is a sign that people are generally so wrapped up in their personal space and in a bubble they are just not aware of what is going on. It is really sad and depressing.
Or just ignorant gits ?
Most people bitd would've been brought up with the 'respect your elders' drummed into them whether it's offering seats or what.
TBH Though, I do prefer to stand infront of the seats questioning people whether there sister is there mother and there father is indeed their brother! ;-)
''Im not pregnant''
"Young people: Pissing off older people since 4000BC"
Im going to get me one of them Baby on Board badges mind you... and hope that i spot no one i know on the train.
i always offer my seat to anyone who looks a bit older than me , although getting less of them people about
someone like nicholas is probably always offered a seat and doesn't require it
going on tube tomorrow will see if she gets a seat
Most of my age group are losers and don't follow these rules me and some of my friends always do though.
He was in everyone's way and somehow oblivious to the chaos he was causing - being polite Canadians everyone struggled to get round him, nobody said a thing.....
That's why I always stand on the tube. Negotiating all the good manners/bad manners, 'no madam, I'm just offering you my seat because I thought you might like a sit down, I'm not trying to mug you. Please stop trying to call the police madam, phones don't work down here. No, that's not my fault either' stuff is just too much work for me. Stand up, iPod on (at a volume that is respectful to my fellow passengers of course), look at the floor, escape.
Not at all. It's just that at one time not too many years go and certainly a time many on here remember very well, it just happened without asking or thought. It just did so something has changed.