That seat is taken…
By ingrid
@ridingbet (66854)
Philippines
March 28, 2016 1:41am CST
That seat is taken…
I and my son went to the office of a bank because I cannot withdraw any amount from my account last Saturday for my PTPA blood extraction. What appeared in the slips was “transaction cancelled” or “dormant account”.
We arrived at 9:26 AM, I was #5015, and the number flashed on LED TV was 5014. It took more than 2 hours before I finally asked the bank employees about my problem, and she told me that I have to make another account, so I had to photocopy one of my valid ID’s.
We went out then we had our snacks at a food stall. I ordered hamburger (buy 1 and 1 free) and my son, chili hotdog. I had a bottle of water while my son had a bottle of Pepsi. Later, I told my son to have my driver’s license ID be Xeroxed. He put his Pepsi bottle in front of his seat.
We sat on one side. The other side was occupied by college students, and they saw my son leave. Two students moved at my side even with the bottle of Pepsi still there. I looked at the student then took the bottle and placed it on my right side.
When my son came and gave me my ID, and drank his Pepsi, I looked again at the student at my left side and asked her:”Are you a student?” she said “yes, Ma’am, of CSU”. I told her, “Don’t you know that when a bottle of soft drink is placed in front of a chair, it means that that seat is taken?” She blushed and said nothing.
While I was standing up to leave, I uttered “Were you not taught about good manners and right conduct?” and I said those in English.
Have you met a young person like this one I encountered and berated?
18 people like this
20 responses
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
though many of the youth have good manners, could it be that their family background have something to do with the rudeness and being insensitive of these kids?
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@AkoPinay true. peer pressure, that is why the brotherhood (sorority and fraternity) exist.
1 person likes this
@AkoPinay (11496)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@ridingbet sometimes family background and sometimes environment 
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@ridingbet Oh , then that was rude of her to seat on his temporarily vacated seat Or it could be that she was expecting for your son to be introduced to her , when he came back , only to be berated instead . 
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@SIMPLYD sorry for her; my son is snobbish but this is because he only has eyes for his GF. and who should introduce her to my son? Me? hahaha! No way? When I was uttering the "GMRC" thing, my son asked me why, so I narrated him what happened when he was out.
sorry for her; my son is snobbish but this is because he only has eyes for his GF. and who should introduce her to my son? Me? hahaha! No way? When I was uttering the "GMRC" thing, my son asked me why, so I narrated him what happened when he was out.1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
we spoke with my son in Tagalog my friend and I told him that he should come back after having my ID xeroxed--- loud and clear. (I think the lady had an instant crush on my son because I stared at them when they were seated at the other side, and the young ladies were looking and smiling).
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
28 Mar 16
@ridingbet This is sadly true, I cannot understand why schools are not more serious about good manners.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
yes, and they think it is all right for us to be disrespected.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@LadyDuck we had a subject when we were in our elementary grades about GMRC and the words "If you please" and "I am sorry" are stressed. well, even some teachers do not have GMRC, my friend, and they also bully their pupils.
1 person likes this
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
Oh, I thank God for not experiencing that. Because if I was the one, I will do the same and do some more to teach them a lesson.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
we (you and I), as teachers, sometimes encounter these attitudes, right? And we always believe that it is at home that students should be first taught GMRC!
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
I think I still haven't. She should have asked first if she can have that chair. Awww!
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
that is just a simple courtesy and yet she did not do it. So sad yet disgusting.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
30 Mar 16
@brokenbee yes that would be good too, because at least she will inform me while my son is away, but that was not what happened
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11937)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
@ridingbet Or maybe she could have asked if she may sit there for a moment until your son comes back. Hmmmm
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
28 Mar 16
Seems the youth of today doesn't know much. I mean they don't take their faces out of their phones long enough to learn anything.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
that is the error of technology now, my friend. We put our lives on it that we forget we need human touch, and respect as well.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
31 Mar 16
@fishtiger58 but there are still some parents who instill GMRC to their children, and they grow up to be responsible adults. How I wish we can bring back those times when technology was not yet so updated and upgraded
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
30 Mar 16
@ridingbet We know that the kids of today don't have a clue.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@ridingbet So that girl must have felt the authority of a teacher in you.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
I talked to her in very clear voice, without a smile and looking serious. Would you even believe that when I scold my students, I speak in straight (I believe so) English? That is also what I told this lady--- in straight English.
I had to show them that I am a teacher.
I had to show them that I am a teacher.1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@salonga she should have, my friend, because I looked straight at her while uttering those words in English. hahaha! Really, when I am angry, I speak in English, just like my sister when she talks over the phone complaining- she also speaks in English. the teachers in us.
Really, when I am angry, I speak in English, just like my sister when she talks over the phone complaining- she also speaks in English. the teachers in us.1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
to think they are already college students, they should have thought about asking me first, but they didn't.
@toniganzon (77209)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
A few years back we went to KFC to have lunch. Though I don't like KFC, my son wanted to eat there. That particular branch was always crowded and I didn't like it but son insisted. So while my husband was in line to place our order, me and my son went looking for vacant seats. We saw these two young teenagers who were already finished eating so we stood beside them waiting for them to get up and leave. But to our dismay, they didn't leave. They were smooching and doing all sorts of public display of affection even though they knew that other people are waiting for them to vacate their seat. It was very inconsiderate of them! Anyway, I told my 10 year old son then, that he should always be considerate of others and not be like those teens.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (77209)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@ridingbet That was really rude. I'm not from QC, I'm from Iloilo City.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
that was so inconsiderate of those 2 people. you are right- they should be aware that there are customers waiting for their seats to be vacated. well, I think you are in the capital city (Manila or QC) that is why they do their PDA?
we also had an instance when I and my son were eating in Chow King here in my place. Since the place was crowded and many were waiting (like you at KFC), I was still sipping my pineapple juice on that big glass when the bus boy told me that we should vacate our seats/table immediately because there were people waiting to sit. Isn't that another form of rudeness too? I haven't seen that bus boy now (I reported him to the manager).
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
@toniganzon oh, I see. But still, PDA should not be displayed in public. Or else, motels should be in open spaces na. just kidding!
@flapiz (23530)
• United Kingdom
28 Mar 16
Plenty of times. It's really disappointing. For instance I was eating in a fast food chain and I cleaned up after my mess (because I always want to make the job of the cleaner lighter). And a student approached me and said. Just leave it there. It's their job anyway. Like I know it's their job but I care about people and it's not too much for me to clean up. It's my habit. There's nothing wrong with being one less table to clean for the cleaner. Tsk, tsk.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (23530)
• United Kingdom
29 Mar 16
@ridingbet Indeed I thought that being responsible and conscientious should be a common sense. But apparently not.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
Ah! That is the youth of today. Why don't they think... What if they are the bus boys/cleaners and they see the tables all Topsy-turvy and with many items disarranged and dirty? will they ask the customers to clean their own mess, when they know that is their responsibility?
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
I guess that common sense is no longer common these days.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
true, we the 'seasoned' elders should point out the need to practice GMRC because they should also know how we felt when they will be old and 'seasoned' people like us.
1 person likes this
@ida123 (6206)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
28 Mar 16
@ridingbet
You right friend.
1 person likes this
@Yar_Joey (3271)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
I will not say anything to her but look at her straight to her eyes. I can be patient but I boil too when I hear something bad. The youth of today really have no GMRC training, and I blame partly the technology and parents who are unmindful of their children.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
like a volcano? like me, I burst when I get angry, but I can hold myself until I reach the brim.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
30 Mar 16
@Yar_Joey I am, my friend. I also have an angel to keep my heart cool, aside from my son of course
@Yar_Joey (3271)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
@ridingbet keep your cool, my friend. take good care of your heart
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
Oh, the student should have asked if the seat was tsken or if they can occupy it temporarily.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
true. We are all from the same city anyway, so they should have asked me in our dialect. She waited for my English
questions. 
questions. @nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
@ridingbet lol. Did have a nosebleed?
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
@nottoooldtowrite no, I should not bleed. maybe the student into comprehending what i just said in English (even though I am not a native English speaker, I was clear and vocal with my statement).
maybe the student into comprehending what i just said in English (even though I am not a native English speaker, I was clear and vocal with my statement).
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
28 Mar 16
Yes here they would have cursed you out up and down for daring to say anything. It is rare to encounter manners here in our place my friend.
Sorry this happen to you.
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
Mind boggling these teens are. I have nephew and niece who doesn't say "po" and "opo" as sign of respect agreement to their elders. Of course, the kids on my other brother does it. It's the parents fault if they don't teach these to their children.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
but even if the manners are taught inside the house with the parents as first teachers, how about the outside forces like the peers and the society as a whole?
young people nowadays....
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
28 Mar 16
This is not unusual. if Sears are scarce, if you aren't occupying your seat, the odds are someone else will.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
but there were 2 seats on my right side, my friend and they should not sit there on the seat (left side) where my son sat on. They heard me loud and clear.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
28 Mar 16
yes, but they were there right in front of us and these ladies saw my son leave his seat and I put his Pepsi bottle aligned with his seat, so they should know that that seat was taken.
@Dextoi (1845)
• Philippines
29 Mar 16
This is one of the reasons why I don't go and eat on crowded places. I get irritated so easily. If there's a long queue in any food store/cart, I would not bother joining them. I don't want to be surrounded by rude people because I don't want to say something rude to them.
