To think this woman was being an unbearable nob?

[ShushBaby]

Reminded of this by another thread about offering seats on trains, but didn't want to hijack...

Recently I was on a cross-country train and it was extremely busy. Lots of people standing up. The guard was passing through the carriages asking people to remove luggage from seats so that others could sit down.

One woman- pretty heavily pregnant- who had her bags on the seat next to her, in response just looked apologetic and said 'sorry... I'm pregnant?' (no further explanation as to why this meant she needed two seats). And the guard just walked on and left her to it.

I don't blame him for not insisting she move the bags- he was probably wary of coming across as bullish and bossy to a (simper) pregnant woman.

But I do think she was being a bit of a twat, frankly.

Why on earth should being pregnant mean you need two seats? She wasn't abnormally massive, she could have moved to aisle seat if she wanted to have access to the loo....what other reason could there be?!

AIBU?

Well the person described was not acting decently, so I don't see what your rosy view of humanity has got to do with anything.

Of course it makes sense. She didn't want anyone sitting next to her.

Sara- but someone did ask her- the train conductor. He asked her to move her bags and she said 'I'm pregnant' as if that was explanation enough not to do it. I actually think, pregnant or not, if there was a valid reason she should have explained. And it it's up to the individual to ask for a seat, why is not up to her to ask for help/explain?

And if we're working on the basis that she might have been suffering in some way but be 'tired of explaining', what about people standing up who might have a secret leg pain or backache or raging hangover that they were tired of explaining too?

Of course allowances should be made for pregnant women in some circumstances (I'm 35 weeks pregnant myself- now give me your seat immediately ), but not any allowance in any circumstance, no questions asked. Personally in this situation I don't see a reason why she needed two seats.

I don't actually feel particularly venomous about this incident btw, have just got a potty mouth and it find it childishly amusing to use terms like 'unbearable nob'.

Oh, by the way, she was in labour.

(She wasn't)

Quint I'm not pregnant-women bashing. I'm this-particular-person bashing.

Sorry you have been ill.

Quint. Yes that's enough to make anyone feel pretty rubbish. You poor thing. On the upside if it started Monday it can't last much longer although I know that's scant consolation when you're living it.

Get well soon.

I don't get this whole not talking to people on trains etc. Why are we all so isolated and afraid to ask anyone anything?

I remember getting the Eurostar when 5 months pregnant with a large empty suitcase (plan was to fill it up with shopping in the UK and DH was coming over later to help me bring it back )

I carefully put my suitcase in the luggage holder bit at the bottom. Settled into my seat and saw the conductor shoving it up top where I could barely have reached it when not pregnant shortarse let alone pregnant. I beetled up to him and asked him to put it down as I wouldn't be able to get it down the other end but he said someone would help me and you know what? They did. All I did was ask a nice bloke and it was no problem.

I was in the tube, sitting down and visibly pregnant. Another pregnant lady boarded and the chap sitting next to me offered her a seat. She shouted at him that she was pregnant not ill so she didn't need his help. A simply no thank you would have sufficed

Poor guy. I told him I would have accepted the seat and it shouldn't put him off offering. He told me his wife was pregnant with SPD and always had to ask for a seat.

That pregnant woman was a nob. She's probably still a nob when she's not pregnant.

I agree with you shush that it was her response. I'm pregnant is not a reason why she can't move the bags.

I think I am beginning to think that Twat really is a term of endearment.

I am also thinking the Swedish term tvätt which refers to laundry and cleaning.
From Old Norse þváttr, from Proto-Germanic *þwahtuz. Related to två.

The word has fascinated me since I was little and my dad was importing laundry detergent from across the border.

Brockenhurst Everlong for a funeral.

But I am really looking forward to 4 1/2 hours on a train, alone, with a newspaper and a book and a bag of sweeties

New Forest - and there is a train direct from Manchester. Who knew?

She wasn't acted particularly rudely either- the person asking (train driver) didn't need the seat and she apologised.

In those circumstances I can't really manage to work myself up in a frenzy to call her a twat for not giving a full an frank disclosure re her inability to give up an additional sat on a no doubt crowded train.

Maybe she was being selfish maybe she had good reason. I am surprised at the vitriol.

Exit sorry for the circumstances of your trip and quint sorry you're feeling shite.

I