Children taking seats on the tube

[BlueBlueSea]

I know there was a thread about this before, but I wanted to see what you think I should have done in this situation.

On the tube this afternoon. Load of primary school kids got on, lots of noise and pushing for seats. two kids jumped onto the seat next to me. A chap getting on behind them said 'hey, you two off' and when they got off the seat he sat down. The teacher glared and shouted 'Thank you!' at him. His response was that they should not have taken the seat. Nothing more was said. Most of them did manage to sit down and others were holding on. I did not give up my seat. Nor did anyone else.

I do not feel obliged to give up my seat for kids, but I do think he was in the wrong telling them to get up so he could sit down. I wanted to say something but felt that he was a bit aggressive and I did not want a row on the tube.

AIBU in thinking he was wrong and I should have said something.

I would have thought the normal tube rule would apply regardless of age ie first come first served. Unless you are in the seats allocated for those less able to stand. i shouldn't think you had more right to a seat because people sitting are children. I would never expect a child to give up their seat for me but nor would i have thought of giving up my seat for them. Unless there was nowhere for them to hold on and they were wobbling. i hadn't ever really thought about it.

How old was the man?

YABU - not your responsibility to say anything and what good would it have done?

I think it's crazy that children should have to give up a seat for an able bodied adult. It gives children the impression that they are lesser people/less valid than adults. Not a good lesson for our children. It's like adults overtaking children in check out queues in shops - why is the adult's time more valuable than the child's? The fact that children don't pay isn't relevant, in my country senior citizens dont pay for public transport and there is no question that they should not occupy a seat - in fact seats are given to them which is fair and right.

I think he was bloody rude. I always remember the injustice I felt as a child when I visited Holland - being forced to get up so normal able bodied adults could sit down.

Personally, I would give up my seat for struggling parents with small children who are a bit wobbly.

I was fucking furious when I was getting on one of those small single deck buses you get in London and I heard a teacher tell a group of school children (I know the school it is near me) to rush on and grab all the seats - they did so without consideration for the less abled, those with bags etc trying to make it home from work.

I was really surprised and a bit disgusted that people didn't offer him a seat.
I would offer a child a seat.
It's a polite thing to do.

But then again, I would offer an older person my seat too.

Meh. If it was that important to you, then you would have said it but what's the point now?

When I was young, it was a condition of the bus company that children only got reduced fares, if they gave up their seat for an adult standing.

They're children. Not second-class citizens.

I think young children should be seated on the tube. It's downright dangerous otherwise.

I think he was a nob head. People would be up in arms if the kids had spoken to him like that. I would happily stand on the tube for a child.

He was rude.

people should ideally offer seats to those who are in need of a seat. It shouldn't be some sort of age heirachy.

I would stand before making Ds stand. He may look normal but his special needs mean that standing on transport just wouldn't work be possible for him without him being in pain and risking hurting himself.

To answer questions, he was in his mid 50's I guess, the kids looked as if they were year 2 or 3.

The teacher did say something, she shouted 'Thank you!!' and glared at him, he muttered that they should not have jumped on the seat.

They did not push him out of the way, he was coming from the other direction. They were on the seat before he got to it. They were not rude or unruly, just excited to all be out on a trip together.

Did he target boys or girls for his "you off" remark? Just curious.

He sounds like a right curmudgeon. And the teacher handled it weakly. I think in that circumstance, I'd have given up my seat for the two kids just to stick to Mr Grumpy.

I'm surprised people think the teacher should have engaged in a confrontation when supervising multiple children.

Teacake- under 11s are free on the tube with a paying adult and schools are granted free travel for trips
visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/help/travelling-with-children/

Well frankly, the teacher should have been aware that the children were racing for seats, and curbed them a bit.

I was taught to give up my seat from the age of around 8 or so, when I was perfectly capable of hanging on standing on public transport. I find the current parental entitlement "oh my child must have a seat" to be very self-centred. No wonder we have such a selfish society, when children are not taught to stop & think about others, rather than headlong grab for themselves.

Although we'd only have a quarter as many AIBU topics if people had been taught proper manners - and I don't mean etiquette: I mean true "politesse" which is about thinking of others before yourself.

Did he target boys or girls for his "you off" remark? Just curious.

It was two boys. They were small enough to sit on one seat together.

I would give up a tube seat for a child, without any drama. What are they supposed to hang on to? I don't recall seeing any provision for child sized people on the tube. I know if I'm standing I need to hang onto the ceiling rail for dear life!