In today’s digital age, a post on reddit about a man’s refusal to give up their bus seat to a pregnant woman has ignited a widespread discussion.
His story, revealing the tension between personal exhaustion and communal respect, has resonated with many, drawing reactions from both online readers and the individual’s family.
With his family upset he asks for the internet’s opinion whether he was in the “right or wrong”.
He writes:
“This happened just last night, and my family completely lost their minds at me about it. So here I am.”
“I take the bus to and from work (car got totaled about a month ago, still waiting on insurance to reimburse me so I can get a new one), and right now on public transit with limited seating.
At my job, I’m literally on my feet all day, and I work 10 hour shifts. It sucks but the pay is good, so I can deal, but after a long day, my feet are sore AF.
I genuinely cherish the time I spend sitting on the bus ride home, knowing I have to walk another 15-20 minutes to my house from the bus stop.”
“So last night I’m on the bus, and a very heavily pregnant lady gets on. She looks around for a seat, only to find there are no available ones left.
I’m the closest to her, so she starts giving me the imploring eyes.
I had my headphones on and tried to pretend I couldn’t see her, but once she started talking to me it became inevitable.
I wasn’t rude or anything, I just told her no, I’ve had a long day and my feet are sore. I don’t want to give up my seat. She started crying about how she’s a pregnant single mom, and I told her I’m sorry, but that was her personal choice and she can’t expect other people to accommodate her life choices.”
“After going back and forth for a bit, an old man finally shouted that I’m a “worthless punk” and offered his seat to the lady.
He started ranting and raving about the “damn millennials” and I just looked the other way and pretended I didn’t hear it. As they were trading seats, the bus driver had to slam the brakes for whatever reason, and the pregnant lady and the old man both fell. They started yelling at me, calling me all sorts of nasty names, but I just looked the other way and ignored it.”
“When I got home and told my sister, she flipped out and went crying to our parents, who also chewed me out.
But I was tired and had a long day, and I don’t know why we need to keep perpetuating the idea that breeding somehow means your entitled to people’s seats.
I’m tired, too. AITA, though?”
The heated debate reached a climax when the online community began to weigh in, offering perspectives that ranged from supportive to critically reflective.
The top comment says:
“Did you know that being heavily pregnant really alters your balance, let alone the tired thing? No – you didn’t ask her to be pregnant, but you can, as an able-bodied otherwise healthy person just choose to be nice. By being a selfhsh grumpy bugger a heavily pregnant person and an old person fell over. I bet you’re a real ‘nice guy.'”
The situation serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay between personal discomfort and the responsibility towards collective well-being in shared spaces.
It underscores the need for compassion and understanding, even when faced with the weariness of our own daily struggles.
Most people seem to agree that in this case, the decision not to offer the seat wasn’t the kindest choice.
What’s your take? Do you think more consideration should have been given to the pregnant woman’s needs?
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
