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

Tiger_greeneyes

juno wrote: »

If you'd asked me a few years ago, I would have given up my seat unquestionably. If I was fit and healthy now, I still would. But I had to stand on a short bus journey recently and it left me in so much pain for the rest of the day that I really couldn't give up my seat

I'm in exactly the same position as you Juno, it's no fun being in pain is it I'm hazarding a guess but there's a thread on here for Fibromyalgia sufferers if you're interested

juno

Tiger_greeneyes wrote: »

I'm in exactly the same position as you Juno, it's no fun being in pain is it I'm hazarding a guess but there's a thread on here for Fibromyalgia sufferers if you're interested

I'm arthritis, actually, but from what I understand it's similar. Moving is fine, but standing still (even leaning against something) is agony after a while

Tiger_greeneyes

juno wrote: »

I'm arthritis, actually, but from what I understand it's similar. Moving is fine, but standing still (even leaning against something) is agony after a while

They're very similar - the most fundamental difference is with arthritis it's the joints that get attacked whilst with FM it's the muscles. My Dad had RA and my Mum OS so I know a bit about it. You'd be more than welcome to join the FM thread btw, many of the difficulties we face are very similar and it's nice to chat with people who know where you're coming from

amus

This is a hard one, as having been a pregnant woman, I was amazed at how inconsiderate people often were towards me when I was heavily pregnant. I must admit if I had paid to pre book a seat I would be a little reluctant, but having been in that position (heavily pregnant) and knowing how it feels I think I would. If Id never been pregnant before maybe not?

Tiger_greeneyes

amus wrote: »

This is a hard one, as having been a pregnant woman, I was amazed at how inconsiderate people often were towards me when I was heavily pregnant. I must admit if I had paid to pre book a seat I would be a little reluctant, but having been in that position (heavily pregnant) and knowing how it feels I think I would. If Id never been pregnant before maybe not?

It doesn't cost any extra to reserve a seat Amus Bearing in mind that it's a 5 hour journey, I think most people would want to reserve a seat whether they're pregnant or not.

As for the comment about inconsiderate people, I worked out roughly that 65-70% of people in this thread are adamant that they would give up their seat - although unfortunately, this doesn't seem to translate to real-life scenarios as you've discovered. There are a few people (myself included) who won't give up their seats - they actually can't because of disabilities - hence having reserved their seat in advance.

LJRB

Lots of people seem to be missing the point here. We're not talking about a 20 minute ride on a tube train, where everyone has a right to a seat as much as the next person, and common courtesy dictates that you give up your seat for those who are less able to stand then yourself.

We're talking about a FIVE HOUR train ride where you've had the common sense to book a seat in advance. The pregnant woman (or old person, or person on crutches) will have been advised at the time of buying her ticket that it's a busy train and it's first come, first served with regard to whatever seats remain. It was then her choice as to whether or not she should travel.

I would ALWAYS give up my seat on a tube train for those less able to stand but on a five hour train journey where I've paid £50 and booked in advanced with an allocated seat I most certainly would not, and if I were to find myself in the same situation as the pregnant woman I would not expect you to give up your seat for me, either.

LJRB

mr-tom wrote: »

Slightly off topic, but the one which annoys me is bikes.

One of my trains is a little local service which is absolutely jam packed (as bad as the underground at rush hour - you'd need a shoe horn to fit anybody else in the standing space...)

And yet cyclists insist on using it at rush hour, shoving their bikes into crowds of people who have nowhere to go and taking up the space of 4 people for the price of their one ticket.

Yes I understand the reasons for bikes being allowed on trains, but on overcrowded peak time services...?

I spoke to First Great Western about it once and raised the issue of Health and Safety and their duty of care.

The response of the Station Manager (Bristol Temple Meads) was priceless.

Mr Tom, have you thought of it this way - those people who bring bikes onto the train, once they leave the train, are then continuing their journey without crowing other trains and are doing the environment a favour? Just a thought.

TroubleGum_2

Of course I would give up my seat without hesitation. My £50 still gets me to the destination and I`m a big strong lass who can easily stand for a few hours.
I like babies and think they should be protected.
I wouldnt think twice about the money.

Tiger_greeneyes

TroubleGum wrote: »

Of course I would give up my seat without hesitation. My £50 still gets me to the destination and I`m a big strong lass who can easily stand for a few hours.
I like babies and think they should be protected.
I wouldnt think twice about the money.

It's not about the money for me either - in fact, I think there were only a couple of people replying that the money was important. The question here should really be "a heavily pregnant woman is facing a five hour journey on a packed train with no available seats - does she think about what she wants or about her babies welfare"?

As for babies being protected, shouldn't that be the main concern of the expectant mother? Anyone would think that the journey is more important to her than the health of her child. I can't imagine any journey that would take precedence over the welfare of my unborn child, no matter what the reason for travelling. I'd rather be selfish and not do the journey rather than be selfish enough to put my child at risk.

easy

Maybe Mrs hyperthetical mum-to-be didn't realise that particular train would be overcrowded?

I did this once years ago. I wasn't travelling at a particularly peak time, but the train was full. As I said earlier, I'm disabled, so after the first 20 mins or so I perched on my briefcase in the corridor.

A chap who had a reserved seat passed me on his way to the loo. He offered me his seat, and even tho I protested because he had paid extra, he INSISTED I used it.
BTW I was working for a very mean company at the time, who wouldn't have paid expenses for a reserved seat.