Whatever happened to good old manners, courtesy and respect ?

ShootersHillGuru

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.

Rizzo

I'm afraid if you commute regularly you will see that this is not unusual. My wife is pregnant at the moment and had to stand all the way home the other night despite having a prominent "BABY ON BOARD" badge on her coat.

E_cafc

It`s without doubt the latter. All of the good things we knew are gone forever and they are never coming back. God only knows what this country will be like in another 10-20 years!!

Uboat

It`s without doubt the latter. All of the good things we knew are gone forever and they are never coming back. God only knows what this country will be like in another 10-20 years!!

I think that might be a tiny bit dramatic.

Curb_It

I'm afraid if you commute regularly you will see that this is not unusual. My wife is pregnant at the moment and had to stand all the way home the other night despite having a prominent "BABY ON BOARD" badge on her coat.

How far along is your wife? Does she need to wear such a badge to prove that she is pregnant?

Addick Addict

A decade ago I was on an underground train in Hungary. Sitting opposite me were four rather terrifying skinheads who looked like they would kill their mother for a fish and chip supper.

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!

Friend Or Defoe

It`s without doubt the latter. All of the good things we knew are gone forever and they are never coming back. God only knows what this country will be like in another 10-20 years!!

Ha ha, I blame the liberals!

E_cafc

Uboat

Bloody Tony Blair etc

Rizzo

I'm afraid if you commute regularly you will see that this is not unusual. My wife is pregnant at the moment and had to stand all the way home the other night despite having a prominent "BABY ON BOARD" badge on her coat.

How far along is your wife? Does she need to wear such a badge to prove that she is pregnant?

She's 5 months gone so she's definitely showing.

Curb_It

Or just looks a bit pot bellied?

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.

razil

I think a lot of these things are symptoms of cramped depersonalised modern living, commuting be a prime example. It promotes the attidude of head down leave me alone I've got a seat type syndrome. We suffer a lot in the country as we are cramped, I wonder what its like in Tokyo although perhaps a more traditional society like theirs has a different impact?

danwhicks

Good old manners, courtesy and respect were all recently sold on ebay to the highest bidder - such are the times we live in

johnny73

Similar situation when the wife was pregnant (and she was using the bus all the way to the 8th month). Annoys me when parents getting on a bus with a pram (some of these prams are the size of tanks) loaded with shopping bags and then proceeding to take up the whole disabled area so that other parents can't even get on the bus. First of all we bought a cheap smaller buggy for the buses and then the minute my youngest was able to walk we left the buggy at home. Queuing has also disappeared. I always give up my seat.

Rizzo

Or just looks a bit pot bellied?

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.

People would have seen it but sadly these days they pretend otherwise and just sit there in their own selfish little world.

Curb_It

i watched a young lad of about 10 trying to whack his mate of about 12 in the nuts on the bus the other day, all whilst he was still seated in front of an old chap of 80 who stood by front him getting pushed about.

I got him by the ear and booted him off the bus.

im up in court next tuesday.

LenGlover

Whatever happened to good old manners, courtesy and respect ?

They have become the preserve of middle class tossers rather than everybody it would seem and are perceived as a sign of weakness.

colthe3rd

I think a lot of these things are symptoms of cramped depersonalised modern living, commuting be a prime example. It promotes the attidude of head down leave me alone I've got a seat type syndrome. We suffer a lot in the country as we are cramped, I wonder what its like in Tokyo although perhaps a more traditional society like theirs has a different impact?

A friend of mine is seeing a Japanese girl at the moment and she always moans that on our underground we don't move away from the door and down the carriage, everyone just stands blocking the doorway, she has a point!

Plaaayer

i watched a young lad of about 10 trying to whack his mate of about 12 in the nuts on the bus the other day, all whilst he was still seated in front of an old chap of 80 who stood by front him getting pushed about.

I got him by the ear and booted him off the bus.

im up in court next tuesday.

Poor old fella, you could have had a go at the kids though!

Salad

ha ha

redlanered

Maybe there are more of us middle-class tossers down my way, but the picture is not as bleak as some paint here (which does not mean it's perfect, or that I'm doubting SHGuru's experience). On the trains & buses I use, yes there is a degree of nervousness regarding women in the early stages of pregnancy, but once it's obvious you generally see a seat offered quite quickly.

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

mistrollingin

SHG Totally agree with you. Trouble is these days on public transport, the vast majority spend so much time staring into their bloody mobiles, whilst their ears are plugged up with some listening device most of 'em wouldn't notice if Aretha Franklin got on and started singing "Valley Floyd Road" backed by Booker T and the MG's.

ShootersHillGuru

I felt embarrassed for those just sitting there.

Granpa

Two things really, first of all good manners in this Country are not taught as they were in my day, just as bad language has become offensive along with deteriorating standards everywhere. Secondly rush hour travel is like that every day, and people only think of themselves. I regularly give thanks for being at this end of my life.

Saga Lout

I was on a train involved in an incident which resulted in the train being stopped outside of the station. After a while we were told to get off. It was a big drop down to trackside. Imagine how grateful I was when the young lady in front of me helped me get off. Imagine how upset I was later that evening when I realised that she did that because she thought I was an old man!!!!

ShootersHillGuru

If the cap fits ;0)

jdsd42

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.

Well come to 2012 travel club --- and the next generation of travellers -- some dont give a F**k about others once they get a seat i witnessed two men fight over a seat one evening on the way home from work -- yet there was another seat free just a little way up the train when they started scrapping and both in mid to late 40s - w**kers

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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!

MuttleyCAFC

I remember a few years back a female colleague coming into the office very upset. It turned out somebody had offered her their seat thinking she was pregnant when she wasn't.

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.

ShootersHillGuru

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 ?

Deadred

Unfortunately a sign of the times SHG. Easier said than done I know but I think I might have asked anyone sitting in the elderly / disabled seats if their need was that great failing which asked the youngest person if they wouldn't mind giving their seat up. My late father had arthritus in his knees and because he had a walking stick he was more often than not offered a seat on public transport.

shanecafc97

I always give up my seat