It certainly makes sense, but I don’t recall seeing them the last time I rode Chicago public trans. Anyone?
I don’t like the practice at all. I find it stupid to automatically assume that because I am female I am unable to stand up on a bus or a train or anywhere. Course I don’t give up my seat to pregnant women either. I don’t think someone should expect special perks because they chose to breed.
If you wouldn’t do it for an able bodied man, you don’t need to do it for me. I’m female, not handicapped, and I’m perfectly capable of opening a door for myself. If I need help I will ask for it. Until then, assume that I can take care of myself.
I agree with you. Someone else’s decision to breed does not entitle them automatically to special treatment.
I pay no attention to the pregnancy spaces in parking lots either. How the hell would they legally enforce that? Force me to pee on a stick?
And I’m guessing that’s something you’re used to being. How is it rude to expect physically able people to accomodate those who are (however voluntarily or temporarily) less physically able? Would you ask the guy on crutches how he broke his leg before deciding whether or not he’s worthy of a little courtesy?
I’ll give up my seat to anyone who appears to be uncomfortable standing, whether they’re visibly disabled in some way, or look exhausted or a little woozy, or are just carrying a bunch of bags. I suppose we could debate whether or not they have a “right” to the seat, but who cares? What gives me a “right” to the seat?
Happens all the time. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen an elderly gentlemen give up his seat, despite being surrounded by people who should know better, I’d never have to take public transportation again.
I’ve nearly come to blows over this situation. And it’s always some turd of a kid or some smug asshole in a $1200 suit. When this happens, I smile politely and say “Excuse me, but I got up so that this person could sit. Do you mind?” and if they don’t move (which has happened twice, because apparently some people don’t feel this thing we call “shame”), then I smile wider and say “If you don’t move your ass immediately, actual physical violence is going to ensue.” That worked both times. Apparently even the shameless are hesitant to deal with people they think might be crazy.
Riding the MBTA day in and day out for twenty years has taught me that many, many people are raised by wolves.
Would you give your seat up for a fat person who was obviously out of breath or carrying a huge load of stuff?
Now why would you take an attitude like that toward someone who was just trying to be nice? No one said you were incapable.
How do you know it was a decision, and so what if it was? It’s not about whether or not someone “decided” to do something. It’s about current need and your decision to make someone else’s life a little better or a little worse.
I ignore these for the same reason.
I should say that I ignore the “pregnant” spots for partially the same reason. I think there are other people in equal or greater need of those spots, so they shouldn’t be designated solely for pregnant people. For instance, women with a bunch of kids, people who just bought a TV or some other giant thing that is cumbersome, people who are *with * someone who is physically incapacitated, etc. It should be about current need.
Even where such rules are posted, they are often not expressed in wording that makes them appear mandatory; for example, the seats nearest the doors in train carriages here are usually labelled ‘Please give up this seat if a disabled person requires it’* (or something like that; I think the wording may have been changed to include pregnant, elderly and infirm people too). But this is just a polite request, or it appears to be. Would you feel obliged to give up the seat under these circumstances?
*I saw one once that had some of the letters coloured out, so it said:
Please give up this
seat if a disabled
person requires it.
I love that.
Doubtful. Seating is first come first serve unless the ticket’s got a seat number on it.
I’m not into chivalry.
In this day and age, being pregnant is a choice.
Or, apparently, courtesy.
I would absolutely give up a seat to a pregnant woman, but yeah, you’d probably have to ask for it. One, I probably have my nose in a book and haven’t even noticed you, and two, I will not make the mistake of assuming you’re pregnant. I’ve been down that road, it goes nowhere good.
I certainly don’t think gentlemen should have to get up to give me a seat. I’d feel weird, like they were hitting on me. I can stand.
I have gotten up to give my seat to old people unhesitatingly but it’s different to assume someone’s old then that they’re pregnant.
So please, just say something!
Well, you’d have to ask me. I’ll give up my seat willingly, but quite frankly, I wouldn’t have noticed you.
First, it’s exceedingly rare that I will sit on my bus and subway ride to work. I find it more comfortable standing than being wedged into a seat. I’m not a small person, I have long legs and broad shoulders. I need room. So I stand. If I’m sitting, it means that when I got on the bus or subway it was near empty. And like I do whenever I get on mass transit, I started reading. So unless you are naked or a threat, you are just not registering.
True story: My wife once got on a fairly empty train and sat exactly opposite me. I didn’t notice her until we got to our stop. She thought my obliviousness was rather funny.
I’m curious. If abortion rights were removed completely, and abortion became neither legal or accessible, would you still feel the same way about giving up your seat for a very pregnant woman?
If you were in South Dakota, would you give up your seat for a pregnant woman?
Do you have no compassion for someone who might be in distress?
Well that’s good, because this isn’t about chivalry.
You don’t know that. It’s an option for most people, but not all. But that’s not the point.
I’m a 60 y.o. female with spinal arthritis and bad knees. If I saw someone who was worse off than me on that particular day, I’d give him or her my seat. I’ve also opened doors for able-bodied men who happened to be carrying large, heavy or bulky objects.
Oh, and if someone opens a door for me, motions for me to proceed first, or some such common courtesy, I smile and say “Thank you.” I also don’t care if this doesn’t happen.
IMHO it’s all about that “do unto others…” thing. And I’m not even religious.
Some posters on this thread have matter-of-factly written that men should give up their seats to pregnant, elderly and otherwise “mobility-challenged” (my word) individuals. Why not able-bodied women?
As a middle-aged, fit and able-bodied male, I am offended that some people here (not all, judging by the wording of some posts) expect me and my younger brethren to give up our seats, but hold no such expectations for equally fit females. For those of you who just assume that women are inherently too frail to make such a sacrifice, I would suggest you come and ride the NYC subway sometime. You will see a selection of athletic, toned and energetic women that puts most of us males to shame. To suggest that such women are more entitled to stay seated than some of us men is just laughable or so sexist as to be rude.
Hey, I’m female and when I’m somewhere with public transportation (always as a tourist), I’m always giving up my seat for people who look like they need it - people with a lot of packages included (overweight or not). The natives don’t seem to care much. However, when a gentleman has tried to give up a seat for me, a perfectly able bodied young woman, I appreciate the courtesy but politely decline. (If he tries to insist, I hate that - I’m not insulted by somebody offering, but to disrespect my refusal in the mistaken name of chivalry does smell of chauvanism. Plus, they’re always ancient.)
Most people would say it’s every able-bodied person’s responsibility to help those less able. That is, those who cotton to the Social Contract ™ which states: Thou shall not take a steaming dump on your fellow man just because you can.
I always look around for someone more needy and tell them to take it. I prefer standing (or hanging out between the cars).
I think anyone - male, female or neuter - who is ablebodied should offer his/her/its seat to someone of any gender who obviously needs the seat more. When I lived in Atlanta, I relied on public transportation and always offered my seat to the elderly, pregnant women, or anyone with an obvious handicap (crutches, etc.). I consider it just polite.
Hey I am a young lady who has offered her seat to male senior citizens. Generally they won’t accept, but at least once I offered it to a man with a walker and he gladly accepted.