SHAMED INTO
GIVING UP HIS SEAT….
I didn’t see
what happened however I heard it all blow by blow. The trained stopped and
passengers came on. We were 7 stops into the ride so there were scarcely any
seats left. The door closed and the trained started to move when I heard. “I
want to sit there, give me that seat!” I did not hear the gentleman’s reply, her
response however told the story that she did not get her wish. She proceeded to
speak loudly shouting. “These seats are for the disabled and old. I am not old.
I am only 45 but I can’t stand for long. I have shaky legs. I will fall down. I
want that seat!” I looked to my left following the sound of her voice. I saw a
Caucasian woman, who looked more like she was in her 50s than in her mid 40s as
she claimed holding a buggy in her right hand while she held on with her left
bellowing and badgering the man for the seat. Again I did not hear the man’s
reply as his responses were too low for me to hear because I was on the opposite
side of the train car. Her replies relayed that there was an ongoing dialogue
taking place. She again shouted in demand of the seat, when that didn’t work she
resorted to blackmail. “I need to sit down. I will fall down. Do you want me to
fall down?” “You want me to fall down and stop the train.” “I can fall down and
stop the train if you like, will that suit you better.” Suddenly the
manipulative badgering stopped; she succeeded in getting “her” seat. The train
car was decidedly quiet for the rest of the ride.
Lesson
of the day:
In life there
are many storms we must navigate; sometimes those storms manifest in the form of
people and attitudes. When those times are upon us we must adapt quickly and be
like a willow tree to ensure survival.
oh dear oh dear, glad she got that seat then. Sometimes people don't realize or think these seats are for the disabled, especially when it's busy.
ReplyDeleteThere may be some truth to that though her approach could have been kinder, less loud and entitled.
DeleteI understand her need to sit but that was a pretty rude way to say it... It's too bad he just didn't offer her the seat when she got on... I try to make sure I get on at a place where there are seats as I too cannot stand for a very long time without getting shaky but I have never demanded a seat... You are right though, we all have storms to navigate xox
ReplyDeleteI have found that entitlement often brings the elements of rudeness. The point is just as one could not tell she has a disability that same could have been true for the man sitting in the seat she demanded.
DeleteI do not like her approach, the man might be too sick to stand or anything could be wrong with him and he choose not to let the world know about it. The lesson of the day is so on point.
ReplyDeletewww.molarabrown.com
Agreed. There was a definite air of entitlement to her belligerent demanding tone. Just as she had a disability that was undetectable the same could have been true for the gentleman she badgered for his seat. Not everything is visible to the eye and just because one look well doesn't mean they truly are.
DeleteOh brother, some people demand their way and others just go about and make their way. Just because one doesn't announce to the world their conditions does not mean they don't have one.
ReplyDeleteVery true. I like that, "some people demand their way and other just go about and make their way." nice
Delete