No seats available---do you offer yours?

@favefive (178)
United States
May 23, 2007 12:39am CST
I wonder how many people are out there, male or female, would offer their seat to someone when the ride is full? Like on a train, bus, etc? Do you pick the person you give it to? Do you just give it to an older person, or a woman with a child or a pretty woman? How about the disabled? I ask this because I was on a packed ride this afternoon ad there were no seats available, three was an old lady and I gave her my seat, she thanked me and I feel good about it. But there are a lot of young healthy "men" closer to her who just pretended to be asleep, I happened to see her and yelled out to her to come take my seat. I had to yell out since I was 3-4 rows away from her. Even the elderly seats were taken by a couple of younger women, I presume they wer in their early 30's...but like the others, they pretended to be asleep.
6 responses
@alpine_007 (1469)
• Pakistan
23 May 07
if i am fine and don't have any problem standing i would give my seat to an old person or a disabled person who cannot stand and also cannot bear the shocks while standing
@favefive (178)
• United States
23 May 07
Thanks for your comments. Good to know that there are people like you around.
@jianhong (739)
• Singapore
23 May 07
Yup, i will definitely give my seat to the elder people, pregenant lady or handicapped people. I think it is a must to do. I always like to help people in need of help. Because i know the feeling of wanting help when you are in need. So i will try my best to help him/her in any way i can. Ya, some people maybe pretending they are sleeping. But I also know that some people are shy to give their seat to someone who need it. Some just don't know how to approach them. Some might afraid what other people will think of him if he/she gives the seat to the needy. In this situation, i should call this a social norm or social conformity.
@favefive (178)
• United States
23 May 07
That is true, others may be shy...but when the people in need are just next to them, I think they should just stand up and do the hand gesture. They can do it quietly.
• India
23 May 07
Well friend i personally think that young people like us should give our seats to elderly person's but giving away your seat just to impress a girl is a think i strongly appose.I think giving away your seat to a needy person is good thing to do.
@favefive (178)
• United States
23 May 07
I agree. It should be to the person that needs it the most, like ederly, a woman with a baby, disabled. And if you are a guy and want to be a gentleman, offer it to the first lady that comes not because she is pretty but because you care :).
@angela2006 (1845)
• China
23 May 07
yes,if only I have then I will.actually this morning,when I took a bus ,there was an old man who just stood beside a seat but the young man who took the seat just pretend to not having seen this,and he just sat there.when I thought if the old man were his father,what would he do?
@favefive (178)
• United States
23 May 07
Thanks for your response, that is a good way to put it...what if it happens to your own father, or mother? I just think others don't care to bother anymore.
@youless (112113)
• Guangzhou, China
23 May 07
Usually I will offer seats to the elders, pregnant women, people who have baby/child. I can't think out any reasons not give them my seat. Anway, my work needs me to seat in the office all the time. I will feel guilty if I don't offer them the seats. I will take a seat if the seat is nearby me or almost everyone has the seat. Sometimes I am also mad to the people who don't offer the seat to the people in need. But I can't do anything.
@favefive (178)
• United States
23 May 07
Right you are...thanks for your response. Sometimes we just can't do anything when we see others not care.
@kyutstudph (1263)
• Philippines
23 May 07
I usually ride a train when going to the office when I see people especially the old ones and pregnant mothers I usually give them my seat to make them feel comfortable and as a sign of respect.
@favefive (178)
• United States
23 May 07
It's good to know....hope there are more people like you.