Sometimes when you ride on public transportation, finding an open seat is nice. Sit back, relax, and take a load off. But what happens when you want a seat and someone uses one for their belongings? A person we’ll call “Kennedy” was riding a public transit bus recently and made a questionable choice but felt justified in their actions.
Empty at First
Kennedy says that when they boarded the near-empty bus with their heavy bags of groceries, they didn’t want to have to deal with trying to put their heavy bags between their legs as they don’t often fit well. They also said that since the bus was fairly empty, they didn’t see the problem in using the extra seat to hold their heavy bags.
Fill Station
Kennedy reveals that as the bus became more and more crowded, they noticed that some people were standing, but they didn’t feel the need to move their bags. They say that most people would rather stand than sit next to strangers, and so they didn’t offer the extra seat to anyone.
Last Stop
When Kennedy reached their stop, where a majority of people were getting off, someone approached them and said, “You could have moved your bag and not been inconsiderate and rude. Everyone wants to sit, not just you.”
Seriously?
Kennedy was taken aback by the stranger’s assertive comment as they hadn’t really noticed a problem, and no one had even asked to sit down. They also say that bus rides are usually first come, first serve and consider their behavior rather normal. Of course, the internet has opinions.
ASAP
One commenter thought Kennedy certainly should have moved their bags. “Nope – as soon as the bus fills up, you move your stuff. YOU might rather stand, but many people would way rather sit.”
Two Birds
Another contributor offered Kennedy an alternate solution. “If you’d rather stand, leave your bags on the seat and stand beside them. Two birds, one stone. Otherwise, you’re just a jerk.”
Pay the Fare
Someone let Kennedy know they were definitely in the wrong. “I ride the bus all the time. If your bag didn’t pay for the fare, it doesn’t get a seat.”
Decent and Respectful
One person put Kennedy in everyone else’s shoes. “If you were standing, you wouldn’t be offended that someone thought their bags were more worthy of a seat than you are? The decent & respectful thing to do is just put your bag on your lap or between your feet.”
Disabled Traveler
Another interested party said this to Kennedy. “I’m disabled. I need a seat whenever possible. I also often travel with HEAVY bags and gear – I STILL don’t deprive people of a seat for my bag.”
Courteous
One participant was thinking of people with special needs. “It’s still courteous to offer the seat to people once people start filling in. Especially since a free seat may help people who need to sit down like Handicapped, Pregnant, or Elderly persons.”
Total Whiplash
Someone else was on Kennedy’s side for about five seconds. “Total wild ride! I 100% thought it was going to be some grody old man wanting to sit next to a pretty young woman and asking her to move her stuff when other seats were clearly available. Crazy how fast I switched from totally on her side to ‘Oh my gosh, how do you not know how to live in a society, you ketchup sandwich.’”
Not Their Problem
Another individual told Kennedy how it was. “I rode a bus also for about four years through uni; yes, having bags on the bus sucks. No, you don’t get to make it everyone else’s problem. It goes under your feet, between your legs, or on your lap in a seat.”
Shouldn’t Need
One person let Kennedy know the score. “You shouldn’t need to be asked to move your bags so another person could sit down. You shouldn’t need to be told to do the obviously right thing, and you shouldn’t need to ask people if you’re in the wrong for something like this.”
Polite and Considerate
Another contributor thinks Kennedy should clearly understand basic human decency. “Put your bags in your lap if you don’t have room in front of your feet. Do you really not understand that that’s the proper way to do things? It’s just being polite and considerate of other people.”
Now
A second individual thinks Kennedy should definitely know how to act going forward. “Whenever I take the bus or train, and there’s either the option for an open seat immediately next to someone or asking someone else to move their bag, I always ask them to move their bag. You know what you’re doing, putting your bag there to deter other people from having a seat. It’s just rude. So now you can move your bag.”
Role Reversal
An observant person wonders if Kennedy would feel the same if they were the one standing and wanting a seat. “$10 says if the situation were reversed and Kennedy was one of the standing people, they would have been annoyed that the other person didn’t move their bags.”
Who’s to Blame?
Another participant thought Kennedy was blaming everyone else for not asking them to move their stuff to sit down. “I really don’t like people who think like “I’m going to be inconvenient, and the onus is on everyone else for not asking me to stop being inconvenient.”
Say What You Mean
Someone else thinks Kennedy might have been using doublespeak. “People don’t want to sit by a stranger” really meant “I don’t want a stranger to sit by me.”
How it Works
Another interested party wanted Kennedy to know how the real world works. “I have traveled with heavy bags. You can put one between your legs and one on top of your legs. Or even put one bag on top of the other bag. Or, if it really is impossible, you stand yourself when the bus gets crowded.”
Human Decency
Making mistakes is part of being human. On the flip side, so is common decency. Kennedy made a mistake, and most people can get past that. What seems to be hanging most people up is that they then tried to wax over their mistake by blaming everyone else and making multiple excuses on why they didn’t just move their bags. Here’s a hint, if you don’t want it done to you, don’t do it to other people.
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