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

[arkady.livejournal.com]

Both times when pregnant, I regularly gave up my seat to other people who needed it more than I do. Then again, at 7 months' pregnant with my first daughter I was charging around playing Quasar in a black velvet catsuit!

I actually found I needed a seat more in the first couple of weeks after giving birth, as standing up for any length of time was painful - a bit like incredibly bad period pain coupled with sore hip joints. It only bothered me if I was standing around for any length of time though, and most people readily give up their seat to a young woman carrying a newborn baby.