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anyonebutedmonton · 06-23-2010, 08:19 AM

I want to hear some opinions on something that happened to me this morning, specifically from others who are forced to ride the c-train daily. Normally if I realized that someone is struggling, be it for disability or old age, I would give up my seat for them without question. I understand that some people have a more difficult time standing than a 24yr old male who is in decent shape. Here is the situation that occurred this morning:

I get on at crowfoot which provides me the benefit of normally getting a seat as it is the first stop. I often skip a train that is full and wait the extra 5 - 10 minutes so I can get a seat for the ride in. This morning I was reading on my iPad, not paying attention to much (its 7am and I am half asleep) when a 50ish lady bluntly asks me "can I have your seat". I of course gave it to her partly out of chivalry but also partly because of how public her request was. It was obvious she asked me in a way that no one would turn her down.

The more I thought about it the more it kind of pissed me off. She was by no means in a position where standing would have been uncomfortable. The only reason my ungodly 1hr commute is bearable is that in the mornings I can sit with my coffee and read. Do I owe it to someone, who has the ability to stand, to give up my seat simply because she is a woman and is older than me? Honestly if that were the case every day I would look at another form of transportation. Should I feel bad for sitting every time an oldish age female boards the train and has to stand? Honest question...

06-23-2010, 08:19 AM	#1
anyonebutedmonton Scoring Winger Join Date: Jul 2006 Exp:	Giving up your seat... I want to hear some opinions on something that happened to me this morning, specifically from others who are forced to ride the c-train daily. Normally if I realized that someone is struggling, be it for disability or old age, I would give up my seat for them without question. I understand that some people have a more difficult time standing than a 24yr old male who is in decent shape. Here is the situation that occurred this morning: I get on at crowfoot which provides me the benefit of normally getting a seat as it is the first stop. I often skip a train that is full and wait the extra 5 - 10 minutes so I can get a seat for the ride in. This morning I was reading on my iPad, not paying attention to much (its 7am and I am half asleep) when a 50ish lady bluntly asks me "can I have your seat". I of course gave it to her partly out of chivalry but also partly because of how public her request was. It was obvious she asked me in a way that no one would turn her down. The more I thought about it the more it kind of pissed me off. She was by no means in a position where standing would have been uncomfortable. The only reason my ungodly 1hr commute is bearable is that in the mornings I can sit with my coffee and read. Do I owe it to someone, who has the ability to stand, to give up my seat simply because she is a woman and is older than me? Honestly if that were the case every day I would look at another form of transportation. Should I feel bad for sitting every time an oldish age female boards the train and has to stand? Honest question...