Bus seat deference to a nun

Is that true? I assumed they had to wear the habit or whatever it's called. I guess there's less chance of getting a seat on the bus if you're in plain clothes. 😂

I remember my auntie was friends with a nun who'd taken a vow of silence! She was allowed to speak to us when we visited though, but she had to be behind a plastic screen! This was in Ireland. She definitely wore the garb.

My friend, in her late 50s, was surprised when a young person gave up their seat to her in Prague. She accepted graciously.

It is showing far better manners than the school children plus teachers on a trip abroad.

Getting onto a shuttle bus ( seating) and doing so first before the elderly people waiting got on and then found themselves standing.

I was so cross I remarked to the teacher that it was a shame older people were standing ( I am talking about mid 70’s + etc ) and children about 12 -14 were all sitting down. And that none of them had offered anyone their seats. I was standing. But did not need a seat as not as frail as others.
She did eventually ask two of them to stand up and offer their seats. Which they did without quibble. Two of them. There were about 20 + children on the bus. And about ten old people standing.

Your DH has old fashioned manners. Be glad of it.

My DH gives his seat up for women generally. He's not sexist, just very gentlemanly. It's a lovely quality and I would never take issue with it.

Assuming criticism in the face of curiosity sounds like an excessively negative way to live.

Lots of you reacting to my calling nuns serene . And yeah I was taught by Irish nuns and agree that they were in no way kind or nice . They were a race all their own . But I find most nuns in other places especially Continental do exude contentedness. Must be the sunshine .

I'm not religious but nuns and others who devote their lives to religious service often do a lot of good and live very simple lives with a lot of work involved - I think it's a nice gesture really.

You did a good thing if there is a heaven your place is booked 😀

They often dress in lay clothes now so harder to spot 😁

I stopped to let a nun cross the road the other day. She wasn’t old either and I normally only stop for children, the elderly and people with dogs.

Now I’m questioning why I felt the need to stop for her 🤣

I’m amazed at how many atheists would do the same! I wouldn’t give up a seat just because someone was a nun, no.

Nun of that.

Good for your husband, lovely manners.

The fact felt the need to question an act of politeness is a form of criticism.

If I was on a train w DP and a woman in her 60s got on, he would give up his seat for her automatically.

I just asked him what he would do if she was a young nun and he said, "Not if she looked robust."

I feel sorry for men sometimes. Damned if they do, damned if they dont. Are they not permitted to show good manners and respect anymore?

But she posted in AIBU and even included a poll. That to me means she did think it 'wrong' on at least some level, otherwise why post about it?

Your husband was being a respectful atheist good for him, he has manners.

I'd guess it was some cultural norm he's somehow absorbed despite lacking any religious belief or particular respect for nuns. I don't think I'd give special deference to nuns over similarly aged women, personally, as a woman. I doubt my husband would, either, honestly. Neither of us are Catholic, but we are Christian.

It used to be that a polite, well-mannered man would offer his seat for any woman, didn't it? Strange and sad that we've come to a place where it's almost considered remarkable behaviour.

If you’re in a catholic country then I think it’s a polite sign of respect. I remember being in Rome years ago, and realising the safest way to cross a road was to cross with a nun. Cars slow down and won’t crash into them!

The op didn't say she thought it was wrong or that she thought there was any fautto be attributed, just that she found it curious that he would treat a nun differently from any other bus user. And he clearly agreed as he had no explanation for why a nun inspired him to stand over all the other bus users. You can wonder about something without condemning it.

It's one of these threads where a guy can't do right for doing wrong.

He did a polite and respectful thing and OP is finding fault with him. Poor guy.

And no I'm not a man. But in this case I am most definitely on the side of decent behaviour, which is what OP's H exhibited.

It's interesting, raised protestant I always have a bit of 'fear of authority' around religious people in the church. But my friend who is RoI catholic would tell me about getting off with the boys in the seminary before they'd made their pledge of celibacy, and she would tell her Priest off if she thought he'd handled something wrong! I guess because Catholic church members are so much more a part of the community, and so many families have boys in the Priesthood, that they are not seen as 'other' as much.

This is a great thread! I'm also an atheist but can see myself doing the same thing. First reason is that I do this if someone is older than me, but I think the other reason is there's something awe inspiring about someone who dedicates themself to faith like that. Maybe it's growing up in a Christian country, but I'd hope I'd do the same for an Imam or a Buddist monk/nun (if I knew how to discern them i.e. robes a dead give away if no-one else is wearing them)

We recently used public transport in Poland. Everytime there was a shortage of seats, the men stood and offered to the women. It was refreshing and really lovely.

I’m going to ask my stepdad (Irish lapsed Catholic) if he’d do this in Ireland (he hires cars anyway mostly no buses). The answer I’m guessing, could go either way.