People putting their feet on seats on public transport - what is their thought process?

[angelos02]

Sat on the back seat of a bus this morning, 3 people had their feet up on the seats in front of them! They were all on their own and in their late teens/early 20's. Do they genuinely not understand that other people have to sit there or do they know this and think 'fuck it'? Not that it makes any difference but seeing as it is Winter, the bottom of their shoes can't be spotless!

If you sit on the seat you risk getting dirty regardless of any shoes that might have been there.

Yes, but you risk getting LESS dirty if filthy shoes/boots have not been on them.

Everything goes in the washing machine at the end of the day, what's the big deal...?
Bloomin germophobes! what an uncomfortable life you must lead

Yes, I put my wool, dry clean only, coat in the washing machine at the end of every day...

My thought process would be that I have had three surgeries on my ankle and still need a fusion or an ankle replacement, and it swells if I don't put it up. So I take my shoe off, put my scarf on the seat and put my foot on it. This means I can take fewer opiates, which make me tired and fuzzy, and fewer anti inflamatories, which mess up my stomach. If someone needs the seat I move my foot. Sorry if this makes you all homicidal. Not everyone with their foot on a seat is a lout.

But mountain that is considerate and for a good reason - not some manky whotzit wiping their mucky shoes/boots on the seats because they feel like it.

I saw a guy get fined by the ticket inspectors on the train for putting his feet up on the seat in front of him. The pointed out the poster detailing the bye-laws which was displayed on the wall of the train. I desperately wanted to kiss that ticket inspector very hard

To answer your question OP, I think for some people its about taking up as much room as possible in an agressive way, but for most people its just being clueless and thoughtless and not behaving as they should do in public. And that's no excuse by the way.

People who stand in the doorway for their whole journey getting in the way of every single person who needs to get on or off the train / bus make me even more murderous than the feet-on-seats brigade

Mountain I think that's quite different though. If I saw someone like you've described there with their shoe off and a scarf or similar on the seat, it's clear that (1) there's a reason your foot's up on the seat and (2) you care enough about other people to cover the seat and take your shoe off rather than just lumping big old feet onto the seat in shoes.

Very different from some cunt who's just sitting them with their shoes on and feet on the seat.

Not everyone with their foot on a seat is a lout.

I doubt that most people with their feet up have your medical condition.

Toughasoldboots Dogs on the train are the best thing ever.

You must all travel on some very old buses as most of the newer models, the ones with WiFi connection aren't built with seats facing each other so no one can put their feet up anymore. You usually had to be sitting at the back to put your feet up.

And I have done it myself.

I can't get worked up about it. That I've done it or others do it. It's public transport and people are vile. I walk or cycle places if I can.

Toughasoldboots Amazing!!

Yes, but you risk getting LESS dirty if filthy shoes/boots have not been on them

I would have thought on balance that the amount of people with a dirty arse and the amount who put their shoe on the seat are about the same. Every person who can sit does but not everyone puts their feet up.
Or possibly less risk from feet as if all the seats are full then there is less room for shoes and more room for arses.

Haven't RTFT so apologies if someone's mentioned this before but if you put your feet up on the seat in front of you, surely the bottom part of your shoe wouldn't be touching the seat - it would be the back of the shoe I.e the back of your ankle? Don't see a problem with that..

I see people with the aolea of their shoes on the very edge of the seat.

It is a filthy habit. And if you do it when I am around, I will be the woman telling you to get your feet down as someone has to sit there.

MN is strange. People wearing shoes on carpets indoors are thought of as filthy, but putting your shoes up on bus seats is fine??

It is a filthy habit. And if you do it when I am around, I will be the woman telling you to get your feet down as someone has to sit there

And what if it gets you thumped? Would it be worth that?

There is no real thought process - they are incapable of understanding the concept of consideration for others and for property that doesn't belong to them. The result of parents who forgot to teach them basic manners usually.

So you would thump me? Or your DP?

Yes Chenjin, very good point about property that doesn't belong to them - no concept of valuing anything that isn't theirs

Shall I horrify you and say that I sit cross legged? My shoes don't actually touch the sit as I have the bottom over the edge and the one on top is on my jeans. Can only do this at the back and if it's empty though.
I hate it when people put their shoes on the sit itself.

Oh my DS does this in the car on a regular basis despite me telling him not to on a regular basis..I think he thinks it is comfy and doesn't think further..He is 8 though

No I wouldn't thump you Cleaty but someone else you tell off just might.

You'd very likely get told to get lost depending on my mood and the tone you use to tell me off.

*cleaty

I tell off people on the bus who do this. Unless they look scary and I think I might get thumped*

So you'll only approach someone who doesn't look like they won't challenge you? Are you a bully?

I don't think it's a big deal. I'm fairly sure I've done it. As others have said its not the sole of the shoe that touches the seat, it's the bit by the ankle.