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

robpw2

cazibelifluff wrote: »

heaven forbid that those who are horrified by the idea never get pregnant, have pregnant wives etc, age or suffer disabilitiy just in case they come up against such small-minded unkindness!

(not to mention the fact that they might be judged to be spongers rather than getting something back from their taxes! again lets hope you never have children if that's your view!!!)

oh i agree with this part .. i just dont know who gets the highest priority ..

robpw2

hislan wrote: »

Beacause it would be SO much better for me to sit in silence and watch the pregnant woman suffer, thus teaching my children that they should turn a blind eye to other peoples needs!

If my comments make other people in the carriage feel uncomfortable then GOOD!

If my comments are not relevant to all people in the carriage (those with disabilities / elderly etc) then they know who they are and will know that they have a good reason not to offer their seat!

Yes, I probably would get one of my children to sit on my knee (obvious solution!), but it doesn't make the inconsiderate behaviour of the other people in the carriage any less worthy of comment!

yes but then you would be lying to your kids .. you would be teaching them to make !!! u me and that would not be a very good thing for you to learn

you can make comments without shouting your mouth off ..

you could also offer your seat .. the best way to teach kids is set an example but no you seem to think that your need for a seat is greater than anyone elses ..

jimxc28

To pay you??? for the seat!! "sorry luv, but i paid fer this, tuff sh*t. give me money or stand." Shocking yet hilarious at your attitude.

Yes, yawn, in an ideal situation, she should book...but we're also saying, if she had not had the chance, sudden travel etc etc. or perhaps on the morning commute train. i pay 180quid a month or 12quid a day. i pay for the trip to brighton, not a chair. I pay for Southern or FCC to power the train, for them to have/maintain cctv so i dont get mugged by some of you ignorant lot, and if i'm lucky a seat, great. A seat is a bonus really on such trains. So it's irrelevant if she booked or not, simple fact she is on the train and finds it VERY difficult to stand, if you don't find it difficult i.e. have no health issues to stand then you should give way.

Stampede_2

Short answer: Yes.

Life is now so needlesly complicated by PC considerations, I come from a time when it was normal to walk on the outside, hold doors open - not just for ladies, give up your seat, smile, say 'please' and 'thank you', always write promptly to Aunties & Uncles and acknowledge my birthday pressies. etc. etc. and yes I have noticed some people seem insulted and respond offensively to these gestures .. it is such a shame.

Back to the dilemma, is it really a dilemma as my first inclination would be to offer my seat regardless of what others might or might not do, and even if I think some one fitter than me should have done so first. I don't know their circumstances.

There is an additional point, and I'm a little rusty on the law but I seem to recall that the Occupiers Liability Act applies to railway carriages. Essentially this is legislation that says your premises must be safe for visitors ( and incidentally also even for trespassers ). Also I was told ( is it true ) that in circumstances of overcrowding a guard has the power to down grade a first class carriage and make it available to the huddled masses. Putting these things to-gether I'd probably give up my seat and move to first class and challenge the train company to take action with my defence being I must anticipate, mitigate and remove myself from obvious dangers posed by their overcrowding, obstructive cases and bags in the aisles etc. Take a few photos as well as evidence. I might even explain this to the pregnant lady so she could decide if she prefer going first class herself - if she understandably didn't then bring it on .. no pun intended but some one has to stand up against being treated like cattle when we travel.

:j Totally debt free - just normal normal every day taxes & utility bills.
Alway pay my card off in full.

ChelseaGirl

Yes of course I would give up my seat. I agree that a pregnant lady is not ill, but it can be very uncomfortable and tiring.
I've got two children, and thankfully I sailed through both pregnancies, but I do realise that not everyone is as fortunate as me.
I think it's only good manners and a show of human kindness to give your seat up to someone who possibly needs it more than you do - or at least to offer the seat. What is the big hardship in that?

Teresasw

I would give up my seat instantly.

Some of the attitudes on here really make me sick. Who really thinks a heavily pregnant woman would go on a long train journey without a seat reservation unless it was some kind of last minute necessity? You've just made up some kind of negative moral judgement about the pregnant woman's organisational abilities merely to justify your own appalling manners.

Pregnancy might not be an illness but it can certainly be physically disabling in the later stages. It could certainly be dangerous for mother and child if the woman fell over on a swaying train. A decent person would offer their seat, no question about it.

She might only be travelling one stop anyway.

BruceMe

I totally endorse what znww5 has just posted. Those posters who have failed to refer to the hypothetical woman respectfully ('up the duff') or who have otherwise shown a lack of empathy are demonstrating selfishness and ignorance. Having a reserved, or indeed unreserved seat has nothing to do with the position of the mother-to-be. If you want a humane and co-operative society, start acting humanely and co-operatively in your own life! Having money and forethought are less important in the grand scheme of things than fairness and consideration of those in need.

liz545

Absolutely. It may be annoying or uncomfortable for me to stand, but my discomfort is bound to be less than hers, if she's heavily pregnant. Yes, in a perfect world, she would have prebooked a seat as well, but sometimes you have to travel at short notice! Ultimately, it's not about how much the ticket cost, it's about helping someone in need.

chrissie55

I would probably think she's a silly moo, but offer to share my seat on & off with her anyway, as my arthritis means I need to keep mobile. I'd say it loudly enough to let the whole carriage know, & maybe feel abashed....;)

chrissie55

....never rely on a person's better nature...they may not have one....