Boston.com has an article today on how people in Boston have no manners. They're proof of this fact? A columnist rode the train with a pregnant lady to see how many people would offer their seat to her, and the results were not that great.
When A Seat Isn't Yours <-- the article. Here is what I want to know though. Since when do people feel entitled to being on the recieving end of proper etitquette? I am not saying I would not offer my seat, I can and do offer my seat on the train to people who clearly need it more than I do......but I don't feel obliged to do so. I don't think giving your seat up on a train should be considered de rigeur. I mean, I think in general most people will give you their seat if you are elderly or very pregnant or laden down with bags, i saw it every day when I worked in Boston. But i have more pleasant feelings for the person who didn't give up their seat than I do for the people who are bitching about how they are entitled to a seat and we are all so rude for not recognizing that. If you need a seat that badly, ask for one!
I was once riding the red line and a woman began complaining loudly to her friend that she couldn't believe how no one was giving her a seat. I couldnt understand WHY she was complaining until she mentioned she was pregnant. However she had a very large, fluffy coat on and didn't look any more pregnant that anyone who wears a large coat. I only noticed her when she started to complain so loudly that it disrupted my book-reading... Furthermore, who pays attention to other people on the train? I am usually buried in a book with my walkman on so it could happen that a pregnant or elderly person is shooting me death glares about my ignorance of their standing plight, while I simply have not even noticed their precense.
I am always surprised and appreciative of polite gestures, but i don't expect them. that's kind of a dissapointing way to go through life.
And if i have learned ANYTHING from life, it's that you should never rely on others to have good etiquette. Just be glad that you do.
Friday, November 11, 2005
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I agree that if you go through life with a sense of entitlement, you're in for a whole lot of disappointment... but the people in that story? Sucked. A police officer, for crying out loud? On the other hand, I wouldn't have guessed this was a problem, as I have seen many people on the train give up their seats for people who obviously needed them, and I don't even ride the T that often. I guess it's all in how you look at it.
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