Is it right for Singaporean elderly to scold youngsters for not giving up seats?
There was this old woman who scolded a teenager for sitting down on the MRT seat today. Was right in front of them.
The teen was sitting on an MRT seat and the old lady was beside her, over the glass, where the teen couldn’t see her.
The old lady then banged the glass and said that the seats were for elderly, not for youngsters.
The teen, who was using the phone, said that she didn’t see the old lady because she was on her phone but then she stood up and let the old lady sit.
Feel like the old lady could have just asked nicely instead of being rude and scolding the teen because respect goes both ways.
What if the teen was also injured or not feeling well? Is it necessary to scold someone instead of asking politely?
Feel like now it’s compulsory to give up your seat or people will shame you on social media. Even sleeping/unaware people get shamed online when elderly board the train.
If you need a seat you should ask politely instead of shaming people on social media or scolding them.
Respecting elderly is important and giving up your seat to them is kind, but this kindness should not be demanded.
Netizens’ comments
- I had an elderly auntie who asked me to get up from reserved seat but I have severely low platelets and was on the way to collect my meds at NUH. She spoke in Chinese which was hard to explain my condition to her but she just cornered me to the reserved seat (her trolley was right at my feet) and wouldn’t move until someone else gave her a seat… It’s damn sad that unless you’re visibly pregnant or sick, nobody has any sympathy for you.
- And this is why I don’t dare to sit on “reserved” seats. But the entitlement is real – I witnessed one auntie who was given a seat immediately after boarding by the person sitting next to the reserved seat. But it wasn’t good enough for her and she kept scolding the literal schoolkid sitting on the reserved seat for not giving it to her. For two whole stations.