MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Would you give up a £50 train seat for a pregnant woman?

ThinkingOfLinking

I wouldn't give my seat up; as others have said, it's common sense to pre-book. Besides which, I know from a friend who is a train driver, if you're pregnant and cannot get a seat, you ARE allowed to go and sit in First Class at no extra charge. I have pins and plates in my leg from an accident and if I was to fall, standing on a train, then I'd need massive surgery to reset every pin and plate in that leg so it's just not worth the risk for me.;)

ThinkingOfLinking

aless02 wrote: »

Anyway, as a pregnant woman (not heavily), I find the selfishness on this thread astounding. I would simply go sit in a 1st if I was not offered a seat, as standing 5 hours would be impossible.

Not being funny, but it was your choice to become pregnant. Why should others make concessions for your decision? When I was pregnant, I never expected others to do this for me.

janey_uk

I wouldn't because there are other options available, and pregnant women can find a member of staff for assistance. Some train companies allow passengers who are heavily pregnant to upgrade to sit in first class for free, some even allowing you to upgrade season tickets for free for a couple of months. Southern Railways allowed me to do this several times when their services were busy (because you can't book seats). Their staff on the West London line deserve a MASSIVE big-up for kindness and being pregnant women friendly.

Having had a baby last year and being a regular London commuter I know that most people wouldn't offer a seat on a crowded train for a non-reserved 20 minute journey, let alone a five hour one. Fellow passengers at Euston would push by me for the last seat or make me climb over them because they wouldn't even get up from the aisle seat to let me sit in a vacant window one.

jackie1969uk

I would 100% give her the seat if anyone was pregnant, disabled or elderly, I couldn't live with myself watching her stand for 5 hours. I done a 7 hour journey sitting on a bag on an overbooked train so I know my butt can handle it. I have also argued with a ticket collector over a family with mouthy teenagers sitting in my booked seats for myself and a 10, 5 and 4 years old. Was told I had no legal right to the seat and only got the seats back when passengers in surrounding seats made a scene. Thank god for passing my driving test and don't need the train now.

Can't believe how many people wouldn't even consider giving up the seat. After all we were all children being carried by pregnant mothers.

uropachild

Just because it's a choice, doesn't make it any more comfortable to stand for 5 hours (my aforementioned factors not withstanding). I can't believe this is even being cited as a reasonable excuse for not giving up your seat.

If everyone decided not to have children based on the fact that they might eventually need to take an unforeseen 5 hour train journey where they would have to stand because a carriage full of rude people won't stand for them the human race would not last very long!

the_beast

hislan wrote: »

I ABSOLUTELY WOULD give up my seat!

I have two young children (3 and 5) and if they were with me I'd give it up also - and hopefully teach them a bit about human decency (something that many of the posters above obviously know nothing about!!!) If I did have my kids with me I'd probably make a big 'huff and puff' about it while loudly commenting to them "Yes, mummy does think it's very rude that someone doesn't offer this nice lady a seat....but don't worry, we're nice people and will give her our seat, even though that big strong man over there trying to ignore her while pretending to fiddle with his phone could stand SO much more easily than either of us!!!" :rotfl:

Have you ever thought that there might be a reason for the 'big strong man' not giving up his seat? As a 'big strong man' I would offer my seat to a pregnant lady in a heartbeat, had it not been for the accident I had which tore my knee apart when I was 16. Standing for long periods is probably harder for me than most (although having never been pregnant I can't confirm this), and having a smart alec trying to make me feel bad about it is the last thing I need. How does this make you any better than the others not offering their seat? Not really a great example for your kids...

On a shorter journey I would be more than happy to offer my seat, but I would be wary of offering it to a seemingly pregnant fat woman, as the offer may cause offense!

rountree

no i wouldn't.

It's not my fault she hasn't got a seat, and it's not my fault she's pregnant. She should have booked in advance like (i assume) everyone else, and if i've paid £50 for a seat, I certainly wouldn't give it up for anyone, old lady/pregnant woman.

Taxpayers will be paying towards the cost of her child so why start helping her with a seat too?

If it was me, I wouldn't expect anyone who has paid for their seat and has a long journey to give their seat up for me, but then again, I would have booked in advance!

I think it's quite rude that people in society still believe in these things, I mean, why should anyone feel pushed to do this? I am a woman and yet I don't believe this.

freebird65

Even though a part of me thinks "no, she should have booked like me", I suspect I would get up........some time ago on a very crowded tube train, I did just that as all the men around me lifted their papers higher and ignored the very heavily pregnant woman in obvious discomfort.

No big deal, you're thinking? So what? I was on crutches at the time.

Bunnikins69

Hi,

Of course I would give up my seat. At the end of the day, you can always sit on the floor if you get desperate for a rest and seats are bound to become available on the way.

I commute into London and often stand although the journey is only 70 minutes or so but I just don't want to bother fighting with someone for a seat so I usually just stand in the corner of the carriage and read my newspaper. I think that all the business men racing along the platform look pretty desperate really.

What's the rush, where's the fire I say ???!!!

Isn't it just common decency to help someone in this situation.

I have a young toddler so I would have appreciated it when I was pregnant.

People just need to do a kind deed everyday to make themselves feel good.

:rotfl:

smk77

rountree wrote: »

Taxpayers will be paying towards the cost of her child so why start helping her with a seat too?

Her child will be paying towards your pension and healthcare in your old age. Besides, as stated a number of times in this thread, pregnant women work and pay tax too and some pay more than most!

rountree wrote: »

If it was me, I wouldn't expect anyone who has paid for their seat and has a long journey to give their seat up for me, but then again, I would have booked in advance!

Have you never had to make a journey at short notice? Perhaps to see an ill relative? Perhaps this is why the pregant woman is on the train? Don't just assume that she's not been as wise as everyone else and booked in advance.

rountree wrote: »

I think it's quite rude that people in society still believe in these things, I mean, why should anyone feel pushed to do this? I am a woman and yet I don't believe this.

Since when has is been rude to have manners?? :rotfl::rotfl: