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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to wonder if this is typical London?

160 replies

teeththief · 20/12/2015 23:16

I recently went to London with my 8 year old. We were on the tubes and an employee appeared on the tube with a man who was obviously blind. The employee asked loudly if anyone was willing to give up their seat for the man. The only person who didn't look away and stood up immediately giving their seat away was my 8 year old! Is this normal behaviour in London or did we just hit a bad time?

OP posts:
VegetablEsoup · 20/12/2015 23:48

not normal.
I always get a seat if I needed (sometimes have to ask).
it's a bit more difficult for dc who looks fine but has a problem that means they can't stand for long. but even then, they always get a seat if we ask.

potap123 · 20/12/2015 23:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
teeththief · 20/12/2015 23:52

You get some revolting specimens who are just vile at every level but they are individuals not Londoners as a group

That was my mistake! I was affected by the fact my 8 year old who stood up because nobody else did and thought that's how it was London. I was mistaken. That group of adults on that one tube marred my experience

OP posts:
ButtonMoon88 · 20/12/2015 23:52

Of course it isn't typical.
I HATE this whole Londoners are rude stereotype, we walk with our heads down and we never talk to each other bullshit.

WorraLiberty · 20/12/2015 23:54

My Aunt is visually impaired and I've often taken her to Moorfields eye hospital on the tube.

Not only is she regularly offered a seat when it's packed but so am I, just for travelling with her.

WorraLiberty · 20/12/2015 23:57

Yeah but why would that one experience make you think that's how London was? Confused

If you'd never met someone from...I don't know, say 'Trinidad' for example who was rude to you.

Would that make you think everyone from Trinidad was rude?

SilentlyScreamingAgain · 21/12/2015 00:01

I used to commute at around time as a young, attractive, blind woman. Due to the nature of the tube, I wouldn't see her every day, maybe a couple of times a month. Without fail, she would be offer a seat and without fail, she would rip whoever offered a new one about there being nothing wrong with her legs. She was the most accomplished swearer I've ever encountered.

I imagine she ran into quite a few tube users and she was certainly memorable.

Original poster
teeththief · 21/12/2015 00:02

Oh the irony of me traveling on the tube from moorfields! I'm guessing this gentleman was also a patient

buttonmoon I was genuinely shocked at the response. But I do realise the other passengers may not have been Londoners. Hence my question of 'typical London' rather than 'typical Londoners'

OP posts:
MidniteScribbler · 21/12/2015 00:05

I think that's it's also several factors:

All the people sitting on the window seats would assume that it's too difficult to get across the person sitting on the aisle and expect an aisle sitter to get up.
Anyone with headphones on would probably not have even heard it.
Ditto someone really engaged in a book or on their phone.

Some people may have hearing issues.
Some people may have disabilities of their own.

You can't assume that every person on every train in London is rude based on a thirty second snapshot.

WanderingNotLost · 21/12/2015 00:05

The whole London being full of rude people is a common misconception. Sure it's not a country village where you smile and say hello to everyone you walk past, but it's not as bad as a lot of people make out! You just had a bad tube experience OP and they were probably all tourists anyway

WorraLiberty · 21/12/2015 00:06

Oh the irony of me traveling on the tube from moorfields! I'm guessing this gentleman was also a patient

OK I'll admit I've had a Wine but I don't understand what you're saying?

cleaty · 21/12/2015 00:07

So everyone is ignoring the blind MNer who posted on this thread saying they have to beg for a seat a couple of times a week?

WorraLiberty · 21/12/2015 00:08

I really do think that if the OP's DC had taken a nano second longer to stand up, someone else would definitely have done so.

That's based on about 35 years of tube travel experience.

WorraLiberty · 21/12/2015 00:09

cleaty who is ignoring her?

I'm quite sure what she posted has been read and digested.

But it's still not going to change the regular experiences of everyone else travelling on the tube, is it?

cleaty · 21/12/2015 00:12

I think someone who is blind would have a better idea of the reality of tube travel and seats for blind people, than everyone commenting who is not blind.

Original poster
teeththief · 21/12/2015 00:17

Worra, we travelled from Moorfields closest tube so obviously the same/similar route as you...Hence the irony of me travelling on the same tube as an ignored blind traveller. To the other PP, my Dd was further down the compartment than me...I was stood by a door with our suitcase so I didn't block the aisle. Her decision to give up her seat was her own decision because nobody else at that time seemed to hear or understand

OP posts:
SilentlyScreamingAgain · 21/12/2015 00:20

It wasn't my intention to dismiss anyone's experience, simply to mention not everyone with a similar impairment has identical needs.

WorraLiberty · 21/12/2015 00:22

cleaty the experience of one blind person really isn't going to decide the overall reality of everyday tube travel in London.

It is one person's experience of being blind on the tube.

Of course her experience is just as valid as everyone else's though.

WorraLiberty · 21/12/2015 00:24

OK teeththief but does one experience of anything, really make you question the behaviour of literally thousands of people?

I could understand you questioning it if this was a daily commute and it regularly happened, but that doesn't seem to be the case here?

BackInTheRealWorld · 21/12/2015 00:26

Right I hate myself for asking this, but how did the blind mn know she had to beg for a seat?

saltlakecity · 21/12/2015 00:41

I've seen the good and the bad. The worst was an elderly lady on crutches (probably about 80 years old) and no one offered her a seat (I was standing so couldn't). I got talking to her and she said she'd been robbed the day before. People could hear us talking but still didn't give up their seat. Back then I wasn't strong enough to ask people to move. I would now.

However I've seen dozens of people help with pushchairs etc at tube stations.

cleaty · 21/12/2015 01:06

I have seen people helped with pushchairs. I have seen plenty of very elderly people standing.

kittypaws · 21/12/2015 01:12

It really does depend but i have seen people ignore a woman carrying a baby, a pregnant woman or elderly. I am usually always standing on the tube unless its empty so I notice. I always offer my seat.
Even seen people fighting for seats.

Laquitar · 21/12/2015 02:07

I will be flamed for this but i think your dd should have got up straight away instead of looking around first to see if any of the tired commuters will do. They could have just finished their shift (nurses, shop assistants, carers) . An 8 yr old who has a fun day out can stand. I say the same thing to my own dcs before you ask.

After this post i am officially an old woman - and an old fashioned one.

MitzyLeFrouf · 21/12/2015 02:25

Oh come on. The 8 year old did hop up to offer her seat, it's a bit much to be chastising her for not hopping up quick enough. I'm sure plenty of the seated adults had had a fun day too.