Standing up for Pregnant lady

indsty

When I was a child you got up and gave your seat to any adult who was standing (and the whole bus would have told you off it you didn't). Now I am in my sixties I would still offer if I saw a very pregnant, or unsteady person of any age. However I would be a bit miffed if there were younger people still sitting down - however I am always glad to set them a good example.

fierystormcloud

geerex wrote: »

You did the right thing OP - why should you be put out when you've done the sensible thing and planned ahead just to give up the thing you'd planned for to someone who lacked the intelligence to do the same?

People are idiots, they don't use their brains. My local station is a terminus and every day, you see the same people heading for the first open door they see and standing for 50 minutes in a packed rear coach. The front coaches are empty. Not only would they get a seat, they may even get a table to themselves! The irony is that they still need to walk the length of the train at the other end, the walking distance is still the same.
I probably wouldn't have given my seat up either, in the vain hope that maybe she'd learn for next time. Doubtful though that may seem.

I don't believe a word of this.

And have you thought that the empty coaches at the FRONT are probably FIRST CLASS coaches?!

You couldn't make it up! :rotfl:

No, the OP did NOT do the 'right thing;' what a bizarre thing to say!

I would have given up my seat BTW, and I think any decent considerate citizen would. :cool:

Hope YOU need a seat sometime, and some selfish individual refuses you because you 'shoulda got there sooner!'

Dear me... some people!

fierystormcloud

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

In answer to the OP's question of would I have got up for her in this situation, then yes I would. It doesn't matter if you feel that she could have got the next train 5 minutes later. Maybe she had to be somewhere on time?

I've been brought up to have good manners, and therefore would also offer to my seat to anyone who looked they they were in need of a seat and were struggling, regardless of age. It's basic human manners. If you are fit, healthy and feeling ok, then I personally feel that you should at least offer your seat to someone who seems to be more in need of it.

This bit is baffling me too.

Why is everyone saying she should have got the next train 5 minutes later?

For a start, maybe she NEEDED to get that train to be somewhere for a specific time... And secondly, that one may have been equally as packed!

geerex

fierystormcloud wrote: »

I don't believe a word of this.

And have you thought that the empty coaches at the FRONT are probably FIRST CLASS coaches?!

You couldn't make it up! :rotfl:

No, the OP did NOT do the 'right thing;' what a bizarre thing to say!

I would have given up my seat BTW, and I think any decent considerate citizen would. :cool:

Hope YOU need a seat sometime, and some selfish individual refuses you because you 'shoulda got there sooner!'

You couldn't make it up! :rotfl:

I know it'll blow your mind, but some trains are configured differently to what you are used to. In my example, first class is located at the extreme ends of the train.

Try to think first before you post with your mock incredulity.

You couldn't make it up! :rotfl:

Andypandyboy

I would definitely have offered. I also would hope my children would too.

fierystormcloud

geerex wrote: »

I know it'll blow your mind, but some trains are configured differently to what you are used to. In my example, first class is located at the extreme ends of the train.

Try to think first before you post with your mock incredulity.

You couldn't make it up! :rotfl:

Oh yes, of course they are, but in EVERYONE ELSE'S WORLD....First class is generally at the front. :rotfl:

I don't believe your story for a fleeting second, that half the train is empty and people are all huddled in one or two carriages. I do believe that the empty carriages were first class though!

Tigsteroonie

DKLS wrote: »

I once offered me seat to a lady I thought was pregnant, she was huffing and puffing and looked flushed and uncomfortable, I offered my seat and she berated me as she was "effing fat not pregnant".

I wouldn't berate you, I'd just place my hand on my fat belly and say "Thank you" :rotfl:

I've been known to let a full tram leave my stop and wait 5 minutes for the next tram, just because it'll be emptier and I'd get a seat

GwylimT

I personally believe any decent person would happily give up a seat for a person with a greater need than themselves. Being pregnant, elderly or disabled certainly should never determine which train you are allowed to catch.

AubreyMac

The problem is, the 'need' for a seat is not always obvious or visible.

Once I was on a bus which got full after I had got on. An elderly woman asked a younger person for their seat and moaned that people nowadays have no consideration, the young guy explained that one of his leg was a prosthetic and lifted his jeans to prove it. His face went totally red and I think he found that little encounter a bit humiliating. I thought that woman was really rude & I felt sorry for the lad.

When I use public transport I choose not to sit where I may have to get up so will sit by window, at the back (or upstairs if it's a bus) as certain seats are prioritised for those less able to stand.

But to answer your question, I would not offer my seat to a pregnant woman. It is their choice to get pregnant after all.

Kynthia

benjus wrote: »

I think this question makes more sense when viewed from the perspective of the pregnant woman. For the sake of argument let's assume that she does travel this route frequently and knows how the trains work, and that while she'd rather arrive asap nothing particularly bad is going to happen if she's 5 minutes later.

So she arrives at the station and sees a full train about to depart and an empty train due to depart in 5 minutes.

Should she board the full train and ask/expect someone to give up their seat for her, or board the empty train and wait 5 minutes?

Maybe she didn't ask/expect someone to give up their seat for her so she didn't need to get the later train?

I'm sure most people who really need a seat would take the later train if they could. When I was pregnant I developed complications with my pelvis which made walking and stairs very painful at times. Standing on a moving train would be difficult and I didn't even look pregnant yet. It made me more aware that people can have hidden issues and I try to remember that when someone doesn't give up their seat or uses the lift for one floor.