Sitting on the tube

[fluffymark]

atreic and the_alchemist have been having a LJ discussion and poll (? now vanished ?) on the rights and wrongs of giving up your seat to someone on the tube. Go read.

Which leads me rather shamefully to this morning's journey in. *bigsigh*

Managed to get a seat on the Central Line at Leytonstone, which was good. At Stratford, a woman boarded, moved in front of the seats and started glaring at everyone. I wondered what she wanted - she looked a bit insane. A few minutes later someone else offered her their seat, which she sulkily took. It transpired that she wanted a seat because she was pregnant, but she didn't look pregnant. A very minor bulge, yes, but only obvious after she'd sat down. I felt horribly guilty about not spotting this, and failing to offer my seat, and she sat opposite me and glared at me all the way to Bank, which didn't help any and really began to freak me out. What should I have done? *confused* I mean if she was obviously pregnant I'd have happily given up my seat, but I really didn't notice she was until too late. *distressed*

Now I'm beginning to think that these Badges for Commuters aren't such a bad idea after all.

Comments

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

It's probably a lot more obvious to her than it is to other people, especially with winter clothing etc.

I give up my seat for older people or people who obviously need to sit, but only if my back has not been hurting that day. It bothers me when people assume that just because I look healthy I am going to be comfortable standing. If my back is sore and standing is going to make it worse and someone actually asks me for my seat, I usually just explain I have a bad back and ask them to ask someone else. This doesn't happen very often, but nobody has had a problem with it yet. Also, on one or two occasions on crowded trains I have asked to sit down on account of my back hurting (although I am less likely to do this than to keep my seat).

Given the number of things which can make standing uncomfortable for people, and the fact that many of them are not immediately visible, I don't think anyone should automatically expect others to stand and offer their seat. For all she knows, you might have a bad back and knee problems and one leg longer than the other and be in a lot of pain and really not in good shape to stand up. How rude of her to glare!

[kake]

I agree. If you need a seat, say so. People are not psychic.

[booklectica]

Agreed, but see below regarding shyness. And pregnancy is not the most rational time of one's life (in my experience). Glaring is definitely wrong, though.

[kake]

I do think people should make allowances for each other wherever possible, but how do you make allowances for the possibility of someone being too shy to speak up about something they need? There's all kinds of things you might be in need of at any time.

[booklectica]

Oh, there's no solution, except the shy person getting less shy. Which I knew at the time. Didn't help. :)

PS. How are you? Haven't seen you for ages.