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To the guy who let his backpack take up an entire seat on a crowded bus while a pregnant woman was standing right in front of you – classy move.
Not that anyone else offered their seat until I did… I thought we were a friendly city!! —Seranada
This article appears in Aug 12-18, 2010.
10 Comments
He needs to be taught respect. Not everyone has a good upbringing you know. Next time, gently tap him on the shoulder and advise him he is being a douchebag.
It’s not as if he got her pregnant…or did he?
I agree OP…as some folks who comment on here will state…they are not legally required to give up their seat to a pregnant lady so why should they???(that should cover a few of those commentors)…I am astounded at how much decency and courtesy and common sense has left or simply never been existent in some people. Its like they think the world owes them something. OP just read the comments on some of these posts from the last week. its quite alarming. I usually offer my seat to ladies, even old people as much as I despise many of them, but one thing that can slightly defend those who dont..and I mean slightly..is that when this particular polite gesture was more common-place it was also more commonly accepted and with a gracious thank you. Nowadays ladies and oldies have more often declined the offer or even taken it as an insult of some sort. girlpower and all that. Its certainly still good manners…
I don’t think it advisable for a pregnant woman to sit on those seats. Seriously.
While obviously someone should have given up their seat for the pregnant woman, she could have asked the dude to move his backpack. I’ve asked people to move their backpacks on the bus several times. I get dirty looks, but that’s it. The other passengers were rude, yes, but it was also her own idiotic fault for not asking.
What does oldhand actually know about women other than that they’re g-g-g-g-g-girls?
That lady could have the spawn of Satan growing in her. No way is she getting my seat. She’s gonna be getting maternity benefits so she’s already sitting in our wallets. Nope no seat for you.
Of course I kid. Some people (perhaps like backpack guy) are actually too stunned to notice anything pass their nose. If she really wanted the seat I see no problem with her speaking up and asking for it. No one would fault her.
Donkey, I know you were jesting when you commented about maternity leave, but it brings up an interesting point. Actually two.
Until recently, those of us who were self-employed or owned a business did not qualify for benefits, just like we could not draw EI when the economy slowed or it was the slow time of the year for doing business (summer is anathema to my work).
Secondly, the same people who get paid maternity/paternity leave are the same people paying into the system with every paycheque. It’s not some mythical slush fund for preggos and their ilk.
Finally (I know this is three points not two), the reason government extended benefits to one year, is they found that it gave families time to adjust, time to bond, and time to figure out how to go forward. In turn it lowered child illness, parental stress and related illnesses, and fostered better, more stable families which (in turn) meant fewer divorces, hospital/doctor visits, fewer Children’s Services interventions, fewer struggles, etc over the long term. Essentially, a better ROI than not paying mat & pat.
She could’ve asked the guy to move his bag. If she’s old enough to get knocked up, she should be old enough to take care of the health of her child and if standing is so harmful, then she’s the one being the douche.
If I had a broiler sitting in my uterus on a gross sticky muggy day and I had to take metro transit I’d probably just look at the little jerkwad with his bag taking up the seat and either thrown the bag off the seat of barked “MOVE!”
I have three friends who are pregnant right now and some friends who delivered last year and: August pregnancies SUCK.
They should just make a bus for pregnant bitches if we’re so expected to give up our seats just because some chick is eating for two.