Furious debate as woman hits out at kids not giving up their bus-seats for elderly passenger
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Public transport etiquette has been a long-debated topic for ages now; what with manspreading, not using seats to rest your bags and never daring to crack open a meal deal on board.
And the latest furious debate follows some good old-fashioned seat politics, which kicked off after a woman hit out at kids for not giving up their bus-seats for an elderly passenger.
Taking to Mumsnet on Tuesday (25 July), the mum set the scene and provided some context on the contentious situation.
Posting on the On the 'Am I Being Unreasonable' (AIBU) thread, she explained: "I was on a packed bus today with my friend who's in her late seventies."
While her elderly mate wasn't 'frail', she was 'clearly an older woman' who was walking 'quite slowly' and admittedly 'hasn't got the best balance'.
"We were going to the seaside," the woman continued, "and as it's the first day of the school holidays there were lots of families with young children on the bus."
The woman went on to explain that 'many of the seats' were being occupied by children - whether that was toddlers or early teens.
"Absolutely none of them offered her their seat and their parents neither told them to nor offered their own seats," she claimed.
Clearly ruffled by the whole ordeal, the mum hit out: "Do most people now really think a child should have a seat of their own when there's someone who needs it more?
"If so, why?"
While being understanding that some children with disabilities and other conditions may 'need a seat of their own', the woman declared that 'most preschool children can sit on their parents lap'.
And for the older kids?
"Most children over five can stand for a bus journey, can't they?" the woman concluded.
Many mums rushed to share their opinions on the incident with many in total agreement with the woman.
One Mumsnet user penned: "Yes older children and young teens should've offered definitely - empathy levels have declined in the last 10-15 years since children put down books and picked up smart phones.
"So many people are entirely self-serving these days."
Ouch.
A second echoed: "You are right.
"Children, teens and able-bodied [sic] adults should move. As kids we always gave way for adults of anyone needing seats, these days kids are taught to be selfish and entitled sadly by parents who have no a whisper of empathy."
Double ouch.
Others, however, had a different verdict on the matter.
"If I've paid £6 or whatever for a ticket then I'm sitting in a seat if I got there first," declared another Mumsnet user.
"If you have a problem with the lack of seating, take it up with the bus company and their CEO on six figures a year."
Where do you stand?
Featured Image Credit: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Izesek/Alamy
Topics: Parenting, Social Media, Travel
