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AIBU?

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Impatient train woman

317 replies

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 17:36

I regularly commute on a train for around an hour each way. There are no reserved seats. I have a type of arthritis that makes sitting (or standing!) quite uncomfortable so I try to get one of the limited seats with extra leg room.

I walked the length of the train to find one today and the only one was a window seat with someone already sitting in the aisle. I duly asked the lady in the aisle if it was free and she said yes and stood up. I then took off my coat and got my coffee cup out of my bag and put my bag and coat in the overhead rack. While I did this a bit of a queue of people built up.

When I sat down, the lady muttered “take your time why don’t you”. AIBU to think she was very rude and should sit on the window seat if she doesn’t want to move? When I said that, she responded that I was keeping other people waiting!

OP posts:
Amaranthasweetandfair · 10/12/2024 19:22

I'd have taken my coat off and got my cup out before getting on and then just sat down, you know on a busy train there won't be much time or room for this shenanigans!

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:22

TheignT · 10/12/2024 19:21

How big was the queue that built up in 2 seconds?

2 or 3 people as I’ve already said.

OP posts:
Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:21

YaWeeFurryBastard · 10/12/2024 19:20

The people stuck behind you were likely also looking for a seat and potentially missed out on getting one further down the carriage if someone else got there first whilst you were faffing with your coat. I’d have been quite annoyed if I were them.

Nope it was last carriage so the door at the far end doesn’t open. There were loads of seats available anyway.

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 10/12/2024 19:21

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:13

Wow, are you always so impatient with disabled people?

taking off your coat and getting your cup out of the bag is nothing to do with you being disabled. You made a choice to do things your way and stuff everyone else.

TheignT · 10/12/2024 19:21

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:06

Putting my coat in the overhead rack probably only took 2 seconds. Not sure who can’t wait that long.

I am in the SE for what it’s worth. My total commute is over 2 hours.

How big was the queue that built up in 2 seconds?

YaWeeFurryBastard · 10/12/2024 19:20

The people stuck behind you were likely also looking for a seat and potentially missed out on getting one further down the carriage if someone else got there first whilst you were faffing with your coat. I’d have been quite annoyed if I were them.

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:20

FloordrobeIsGoingToGetME · 10/12/2024 19:15

She was very rude.

I might have thought it but I wouldn't have said it!

Was it awkward for the rest of the journey?

Not really, we just ignored each other!

OP posts:
Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:18

Fillybuster · 10/12/2024 19:16

Op, it sounds like it wasn’t a nice experience and you’ve come on here looking for sympathy and support. But…you’ve asked AIBU and lots (not all, but lots) of responses have said that actually, maybe, you were. Please don’t keep arguing with each of them and telling them why they are wrong. If you didn’t want to hear that, then you probably shouldn’t have asked the question!

I just wondered how most people would react. I think it’s a bit sad most people seem so impatient and intolerant of someone clearly struggling and in pain, but perhaps I should have expected that.

OP posts:
Fillybuster · 10/12/2024 19:16

Op, it sounds like it wasn’t a nice experience and you’ve come on here looking for sympathy and support. But…you’ve asked AIBU and lots (not all, but lots) of responses have said that actually, maybe, you were. Please don’t keep arguing with each of them and telling them why they are wrong. If you didn’t want to hear that, then you probably shouldn’t have asked the question!

Bababear987 · 10/12/2024 19:15

I think OP you sound like your faffing about quite a lot and it drives me crazy being queued behind people like that when I just want to sit down. I probably wouldnt have said anything to you but I hate when peoples faffing is wasting my time. You wouldve definitely got a look

FloordrobeIsGoingToGetME · 10/12/2024 19:15

She was very rude.

I might have thought it but I wouldn't have said it!

Was it awkward for the rest of the journey?

MuddyPawsIndoors · 10/12/2024 19:14

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:01

That’s not possible with my arthritis.

Are they both very heavy?

If so, I suppose there's nothing else could have done, except apologise.

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:14

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 10/12/2024 19:12

You might have been less than perfectly comfortable with your coat draped over the table or your lap, but very likely other people on that train would be standing up for the whole journey. To be honest you are sounding quite entitled! If you absolutely had to get out your coffee and put things on the rack because of your arthritis, you could at least have apologised to everyone waiting rather than blaming them for being impatient.

No one was standing, there were multiple empty seats. As explained above, I needed one with extra leg room.

OP posts:
Clariceamelia · 10/12/2024 19:13

Fwiw, I am becoming irritated just reading your post. I can well appreciate the woman who stood up for you to sit down was amazed anyone would need to bother with all that faff on a busy commuter train. And cause a pile up. Maybe go First Class where you cant irritate anyone.

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:13

TeenLifeMum · 10/12/2024 19:11

I'd sort my coat one sat and have it on my lap but I can’t stand people faffing on public transport. She politely stood up for you and you faffed.

Wow, are you always so impatient with disabled people?

OP posts:
SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 10/12/2024 19:12

You might have been less than perfectly comfortable with your coat draped over the table or your lap, but very likely other people on that train would be standing up for the whole journey. To be honest you are sounding quite entitled! If you absolutely had to get out your coffee and put things on the rack because of your arthritis, you could at least have apologised to everyone waiting rather than blaming them for being impatient.

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:12

IDontHateRainbows · 10/12/2024 19:09

I tend to sit down until the scrum clears and then do the necessaries when it's cleared/ train moving

But then I would have had to ask aisle lady to move again, as explained above. I would have done what you suggest if I’d had the aisle seat, of course.

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 10/12/2024 19:11

I'd sort my coat one sat and have it on my lap but I can’t stand people faffing on public transport. She politely stood up for you and you faffed.

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:10

RosieLeaf · 10/12/2024 19:07

If it was 2 seconds how did such a queue build up behind you?

It wasn’t a huge queue, just 2 or 3 people. I also took some time getting my coat off, getting my cup out and putting my bag up as mentioned in my OP. Maybe 30 seconds in total?

OP posts:
IDontHateRainbows · 10/12/2024 19:09

I tend to sit down until the scrum clears and then do the necessaries when it's cleared/ train moving

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:09

Barrenfieldoffucks · 10/12/2024 19:07

I probably would have wriggled out of it while in the space and put it over or under my legs.

Easier said than done with arthritis. And I need the leg space as mentioned in my OP.

OP posts:
Barrenfieldoffucks · 10/12/2024 19:08

Or already had my coat/cup out and ready to allow for a quick duck out of the thoroughfare.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 10/12/2024 19:07

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:04

I would have been very uncomfortable sitting for over an hour in my coat.

I probably would have wriggled out of it while in the space and put it over or under my legs.

RosieLeaf · 10/12/2024 19:07

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:06

Putting my coat in the overhead rack probably only took 2 seconds. Not sure who can’t wait that long.

I am in the SE for what it’s worth. My total commute is over 2 hours.

If it was 2 seconds how did such a queue build up behind you?

Bigtom · 10/12/2024 19:06

RosieLeaf · 10/12/2024 19:03

Coat on lap, as PP said. An hour is a standard commute in the SE.

Edited

Putting my coat in the overhead rack probably only took 2 seconds. Not sure who can’t wait that long.

I am in the SE for what it’s worth. My total commute is over 2 hours.

OP posts:
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