Do you give up your seat on public transport for the elderly, or a pregnant woman?
Of course you do! I’m sure my readers are the nicest, most courteous people around 😉 .
These days, I don’t travel by bus or train terribly often, and rarely in peak hour. But I do remember when I was working in the city, that I would always stand and offer my seat to others when I felt they needed the seat, more than I did.
I don’t care if you are male or female – it’s just good manners.
Now that Miss 20 is a legal secretary, she commutes to the city on a daily basis.
Most days she finds herself standing for the entire one hour trip, whether by bus or train. It’s tiring (particularly when she insists on wearing killer high heels), and annoying, but she accepts that this is one of the trade-offs from the days of women’s lib.
However, what really gets her hot under the collar, is when men – or women for that matter – refuse to give up their seat for older folk, or women who are obviously pregnant.
I’m quite proud of the fact that Miss 20 is quite conscientious in offering her seat to those who have more need of it. (Such a well brought up young lady – must have fantastic parents 😉 !)
Because when you get down to it, it’s not a matter of:
- gender equality;
- the rules of modern society;
- or first in, best dressed.
No, it’s simply good manners to vacate your seat for somebody who is likely in more need of it than yourself.
Fortunately not all men are guilty of this rudeness. I know for a fact that both the hubster, and Miss 20’s partner, never hesitate to offer their seat in situations like these.
Why do you think men these days refuse to give up their seat – even to those who quite obviously are struggling?
I’m not sure of the answer to that one. I guess people are just selfish. When we were on the train in Singapore more than once an old (older than me) lady would gesture to me to sit in the seats reserved for the elderly. Surely not! Yes they would insist. There we would sit smiling at each other and me feeling like a fraud.
What really gets my daughter, is how they deliberately ignore the person who is struggling to stand. When writing this post I did some research, it turns out etiquette is different across the world. Apparently if you offer your seat to an older person in Japan they get offended because it makes them feel old and infirm! And in the USA, adults are expected to give up their seats for children which is the complete opposite to us!
I think it’s got a lot to do with many people being more self-centred and generally lacking in good manners and consideration for others these days. Fortunately the bus I usually catch into the city is never very busy but I’ve sometimes been on buses full of high school children who haven’t offered their seat to an adult. I found this useful article on the topic: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-21/donnelly-old-fashioned-manners-are-an-endangered-species/5908456
I did some research when I was writing this article June, and apparently in Japan older folk get offended and refused to accept a seat if it is offered. Meanwhile, in the USA, you get dirty looks if you (as an adult) don’t give up your seat for a child – completely the opposite to us!