Your opinions on generational attitudes?

TheConways

building_with_lego wrote: »

I make mine sit down while I stand simply because they're littleish, and the buses here demand that children sit at all times.

I'm quite surprised that buses demand the kids sit - I would have thought that adults standing would pose a greater problem if the bus braked hard (as often happens where I live!).

I think if kids are small enough, they can sit on your knee. If they're too big for your knee, they can stand.

I actually get really annoyed to see a packed bus with adults and kids (5-15) sitting on the seats. I was on crutches for a period earlier this year, and I continually had to ask for a seat - no-one moving otherwise when it was fairly obvious I was struggling to stand, let alone walk...

euronorris

TheConways wrote: »

I actually get really annoyed to see a packed bus with adults and kids (5-15) sitting on the seats. I was on crutches for a period earlier this year, and I continually had to ask for a seat - no-one moving otherwise when it was fairly obvious I was struggling to stand, let alone walk...

It's true that a lot of adults are just as bad. I remember not long after I moved here, I was on the train home, when a guy got on in army uniform, on crutches (with a leg in plaster), and carrying a massive holdall type bag on his shoulder and people barely even made room for him to move around, let alone sit down. I gave him my seat, but I get so irked when I am already standing and no one else bothers to give up a seat to a heavily pregnant woman, or someone with an obvious disability/injury etc.

mumps

Brighton_belle wrote: »

And that is great mumps.
But in general, I think if a teenager offers someone 'older' their chair, it can be helpful to reward their consideration and good manners with accepting it even if you personally don't need it at that moment. They may feel embarrassed by a refusal and be hesitant to do it again if they feel self conscious about 'getting it wrong'.
If a young lad on a bus offers me his chair, I do accept with a smile and and an appreciative thank you.

Well I would decline with a smile and a thanks but no thanks. If I am more comfortable sitting on the floor or standing on the bus then I think I am entitled to do just that.

When my DD was younger she went to dance classes. The teacher was late 60's. She always warmed up by doing various exercises finishing with cartwheels and back flips round the hall. It was a picture to watch young moms when their children first started.

I hate the stereotype that we should behave in a certain way because of when we were born. Young people might need a seat more than I do even if they were born later. I have four grown up children. One of them had a knee injury when they were younger, looks fine, walks fine, has pain most of the time. We really can't judge by age can we.

mumps

TheConways wrote: »

I'm quite surprised that buses demand the kids sit - I would have thought that adults standing would pose a greater problem if the bus braked hard (as often happens where I live!).

I think if kids are small enough, they can sit on your knee. If they're too big for your knee, they can stand.

I actually get really annoyed to see a packed bus with adults and kids (5-15) sitting on the seats. I was on crutches for a period earlier this year, and I continually had to ask for a seat - no-one moving otherwise when it was fairly obvious I was struggling to stand, let alone walk...

I think adults tent to have better balance than younger children, I am not talking teenagers but a four or five year old would be more likely to go flying down the bus if it braked hard.

Fire_Fox

Teens sit on the floor because they are more flexible, accustomed to it and can easily arise; many people 40+ cannot arise without assistance or are too stiff in the joints to sit comfortably on the floor. All adult (say 13+) guests should offer to "help with anything" as a matter of common courtesy, TBH it's generally female guests who do this be they teen or middle aged. Generally I'd expect the host to prepare and serve drinks but guests that are close relatives to get cups and spoons out.

Erinnire

Children sit on the floor... thats how I was brought up and it will be exactly the same for my girls. When we got abit older we would sometimes cheekily jump onto the sofa before all the adults where in but we were very quickly told to move

TheConways

mumps wrote: »

I think adults tent to have better balance than younger children, I am not talking teenagers but a four or five year old would be more likely to go flying down the bus if it braked hard.

Hmm... In which case I reserve the right to change my stance when I have children myself!!

euronorris

TheConways wrote: »

Hmm... In which case I reserve the right to change my stance when I have children myself!!

Yeah, younger children like to think that they can hold on easily, but the reality is usually very different and they either need help, or should be seated, but about 6+ (depending on the child) they are OK to do it.

GobbledyGook

euronorris wrote: »

Yeah, younger children like to think that they can hold on easily, but the reality is usually very different and they either need help, or should be seated, but about 6+ (depending on the child) they are OK to do it.

It would also be more dangerous for an adult to stumble or fall into a small child if the bus brakes sharply than for them to bump another healthy adult.

I hate getting the bus because there's always someone glowering at me for not making my 9 year old stand. However she's got epilepsy that is quite unpredictable and I think she's safer in a seat than a healthy adult. Normally I'll have her on a seat, son on my knee and younger daughter wedged in between us. You'd think I'd eaten someone's kitten with the looks you get. I have offered people my seat before on the condition that they take J on their lap, but they do just look at you like you are mad :rotfl:

The best one is you can hear them carping about them paying for a full price ticket and a child being a 'half'. If only!! The child ticket is 2/3 of an adult ticket so two 2/3's sharing actually cost me more for the kids than one adult!

euronorris

Oh yeah, the invisible problems are such a PITA. I remember suffering with terrible back pain, and often had to ask for a seat on the train but it was rarely given. I usually just got told that I looked fine!!! OF COURSE I DID, IT WAS MY BACK WHICH WAS IN AGONY, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY FACE OR LIMBS. *and breathe - rant over* Sorry about that, but some days it was a struggle to get on the train, and I'd be fighting the side effects of the powerful pain meds and muscle relaxants too and being able to sit down meant the difference between being able to stay on the train, or having to get off sharpish so I could puke. The whole thing just drove me nuts!

Meh. Was a horrible time, and did nothing for my faith in humanity!