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

I have never expected anyone to give up their seat for me, but was shocked by the story of the blind man. Last week, in outer London, the youngish man in front of me (and sleeping granddaughter in buggy) in the bus queue, once the near-empty bus arrived, chose to sit in the seat next to the wheelchair space. An elderly woman was sat at the other end of the space. Hence there was not enough space for the buggy. Angry? Furious. I was physically incapable of lifting the sleeping toddler, while simultaneously folding the buggy.
Thoughtlessness.

Most times I get offered a seat by younger people, generally female. The men just ignore me. I get angry if a man rushes to get to a spare seat, allowing me to stand instead of him. I'm 72 with a painful knee so standing is not the best thing for it, but am I old fashioned in thinking that the lady should be offered the seat?

50 odd years ago I gave up my seat and was then put off the bus as there were more than 5 standing!

I don’t like making sweeping statements however I have noticed that many young women sit with their handbags on the seat beside them and are very reluctant to move said bags ! If a bus is busy , I insist that they do and ignore the glares !

A lot of folk are scared to offer a seat on the underground due to being told 'no thank you' in a rude way. I always say yes and thank you.
Mind you 15 years on same tube route makes one expert at standing at correct spot on platform to get first dibs at a seat.

I must say that when I travel on the London Underground I always seem to be offered a seat, which I take most gratefully.

On the buses it is a different matter, when I was a child mothers always put their young children on their laps. They never let an adult stand. Now every child, even the smallest has to occupy a whole seat, sometimes with the mother standing. Do little bottoms have to have a seat to themselves?

I don't think youngsters are caring about baby boomers pensions or grand houses etc etc. They just haven't been taught to give up their seats. They are full of goodness but all directed only to popular causes they have been taught to care about and giving up seats for the elderly wouldn't have been one of them in particular.

Most travellers do not seem to be British

Really? Telly
How on earth do you come to that conclusion?
Unless we are talking US tourists or foreign exchange students. I fear that is a potentially racist conclusion to draw.
.

I commute regularly to London at peak times and never ever have to stand - sometimes people are practically fighting each other to give me their seat. Same for helping me on and off the train - as it’s rush hour the other passengers tend to be younger than me on the whole and I find I get help from across the age range, male and female and ethnicities. I don’t use buses or the tube so can’t speak for those

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

All good points about us greedy baby boomers

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.

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!

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?

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.

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 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.

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

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.