Why don't people give up their seats to the needy?

Well, I suppose one can only say , selfishness, lack of compassion, ignorance or perhaps may be just not knowing if they should ( hard to believe, but you never know) very sad ,what is wrong with people, do we no longer know how to communicate, I once read -all it needs for evil to exist in the world is for one man to do nothing. All though this was not an evil act, there certainly wasn’t any kindness or thoughtfulness around. Shameful really?

I've seen elderly people give up their seats for other elderly people while the young and fit sit tight. Maybe they just don't know any better.
I had to get off a bus last week as no seats. I knew there was a bench at the next stop where I could sit and wait for a bus I might get a seat on. No way I could have stood hanging on all the way to town.
Young people today (mutter mutter shakes head sorrowfully)...

‘....that good men do nothing’ is the quote.

However this is simply disgraceful. Yes, shameful I agree Bridgeit

Some do, many don’t.
I seem to strike lucky (sorry Luckygirl!) whenever I use the tube. Must be the silver hair, couldn’t *possibly be the wrinkles!
When Paw was alive and he was still able to use public transport he would stand there with his walking sticks so I would just collar any seated passenger and ask them to give up their seat for my disabled husband. Paw would never have asked, I have no such scruples.

It seems some people honestly don't know about manners.
I see smart young people, dressed immaculately, on their way to work, with their feet up on bus/train seats!

I have found that members of ethnic communities are more likely to give up their seats to elderly passengers (me) than youngsters of my own race. What does this say about us? When I had a few days in Rome, using public transport a lot, I was most impressed with the alacrity with which I was offered a seat. Do Italians value their 'oldies' more than we British do?

Recently, when in London for a few days, it was people without British accents who gave up their seats for us. In one carriage I think everyone was no more than half our age and 5 of them were children of about 10 - 15 but didn't offer us a seat.

A few weeks later we were on a train out of Birmingham in the rush hour and found ourselves standing next to the seats which had a notice saying 'Please offer these seats to the elderly or disabled'. No one did. DH has trouble standing for long but we would have been OK if we hadn't heard an announcement saying there was a delay. I asked him if he was going to be OK standing for longer and we had a conversation about it being a shame no one offered a seat. A couple offered us theirs and we thanked them and said it was a shame that those in the row behind who were sitting in seats which should have been given up hadn't offered. We sat down and then the young woman who should have given up her seat got out her season ticket and ranted that she had paid for her seat and was going to sit in it. We pointed out the notice and she said she had been travelling on this train for 4 years and hadn't seen it. She then proceeded to have a hissy fit and said she was going to have a panic attack, she had never been treated so badly, she would have given up her seat to her parents etc. on and on and one. We got off at the same time as her and were behind her walking to the car park, she was perfectly fine chatting away on her phone!

Fortunately where we live anyone needing a seat would have to choose between all the offers which would have been made!

everybody values their senior citizens more than the UK does ,look at the pension situation..ours is one of the worst in Europe if not further afield

Offering a seat can work both ways- I have seen people mortified on the tube offering their seat and being totally rebuffed. Very unnecessary. If somebody offers me a seat and eg I am getting off at he next stop- I state that but I thank the person for offering. I usually do take a seat when it is offered but I have never asked for a seat. I also have offered my seat to somebody in a worse state than myself. Occasionally that shames somebody more fit and I do take that seat if only to attempt to teach a lesson.

I agree with Charleygirl this can work both ways, feminazis want equality.

Travelling around Glasgow I have been offered a seat on both bus and subway. On a Northern train from Carlisle to Newcastle on a very busy Saturday DH and I had to stand all the way, not one of the youngsters offered us a seat.

One time a young woman from a different ethnic background was sitting in a disabled seat at the front. A very frail old lady got on. Another passenger pointed out the sign about its being a seat for disabled and elderly people. The young woman said scornfully, 'just because it's written there doesn't mean I have to give up this seat' and sat on. You can imagine how that went down with the other mostly older passengers!

Travelling through London last weekend I was offered help with luggage at Kings Cross, help at the tickket hall for the underground, a seat offered on the tube, and help at Hatton Cross station with my luggage where there is no lift. Only one was from a British person and then they were probably older than me!! I usually find that the young people of other ethic backgrounds leap to their feet the minute they see my walking stick.

There is no respect for the elderly in the UK. After all, we are the ones who have had it so good all our lives and are now living in luxury on huge pensions in our huge houses that we bought for next to nothing, while the younger generation can't afford housing or pensions . Everything that is wrong in this country is our fault, so who cares if we have to stand on public transport?

I too am very appreciative when a seat is offered and would generally take it unless about to get off. A couple of years ago I was with a friend at rush hour and the bus was full. Two people offered her a seat bot no one offered me one so I said to one of them "I'll have it please, I'm 6 weeks older than her1" I thought she could have accepted it just because it was offered but I must admit to being chuffed that they thought she needed it and I didn't!

Bathsheba so true!!! Some would be shocked if they knew how much we earned. My first was £8 a month- a whole £2 a week! Admittedly I was not trained but it did not improve that much. Naturally earning those riches I now own many houses.

Sorry I digress.

All good points about us greedy baby boomers

You are so right. It must be our fault they have to pay 2% mortgage interest and can buy school uniforms for next to nothing in the supermarkets. Then of course we are responsible for all those take out coffees and bought sandwiches instead of making their own. Don't forget all the ready meals and takeaways and the obesity, all out fault. I hang my head in shame.

When I was pregnant with my first I was not offered a seat on a London commuter train. Hmph. Now, just last week, a woman not much younger than me, picked up my suitcase and carried it down 2 flights of stairs as the escalator was broken at the station. I don't know what to say!! well obviously I thanked her profusely but do I look so helpless

I remember going to school on the bus, in the days when there was a bus conductor with his ticket machine. Woe betide any schoolchild who did not rise and give his seat to an adult, let alone an elderly adult. Although to be honest we never had to be reminded. It was instilled into us by parents from the time we were too big to "scrunch up" and sit on their knee.

From what I have seen, and I am sure others will think differently, but I see more helpful passengers in Scotland than England.

Giving up your seat is Normal in Norfolk!
At least I’ve found it to be.

H and I discussed this earlier. He remarked that, yes he is disabled in the respect of his sight but is not disabled in a way that makes it difficult for him to stand and that some may have thought they were being inclusive.
H's opinion.

I am fortunate to be able bodied, so don’t really need a seat, although I am occasionally offered one. I must say though, there are two sides to this. Only last week I saw a young man, probably late twenties offer his seat to an elderly woman who nearly knocked him over with her bags to get to it, but at no point offered him any kind of thanks. Surely she didn’t believe herself so entitled to this seat that saying ‘thank you’ was too much! I’m also reminded of poor nephew who following an injury at work severely, severely damaged his knee. He’s had several knee surgeries, including donor ligaments. He’s still in excruciating pain, and has struggled to find work, as standing for any length of time is impossible. He has been advised by the doctor that he is far too young for a knee replacement, and so just has to try to mange the pain. On several occasions he has received abuse on public transport, because on the outside, he appears to be a fit and healthy young man in his early thirties. The reality is that at 66, I’m more capable of standing than he is. My dil when pregnant suffered from very low blood pressure, passing out 4 times in 3 weeks. Although she wasn’t visibly pregnant, she would have really struggled standing on hot public transport. Her mother suffers from fibromyalgia, meaning she is in almost constant pain. There are days when her feet are so swollen she can hardly wear shoes. Not all conditions are visible, just because somebody is younger than us and appears to be well doesn’t mean that is the case.

I have been offered a seat a couple of times in the past and although I am not old, was certainly older than those who offered. In both cases they were not British nationals. Many travellers do not seem to be British. Last time I went I was offered a seat, but gave to my travelling companion, although younger, in much poorer health. As others have said you can't tell by just looking.