To ask if you would give up your seat?

[eidajbaby]

I was on the tube home and the train was busy but not overly packed. A man got onto the train with a pushchair. He asked the lady who was stood next to me if she could move so he could park his pushchair in the bay. She moved. He then walked over and asked if he could have my seat (which was next to the bay). I looked up and said “I’m sorry?” and he repeated his question. I was about taken aback because I didn’t see that he had any right to ask me to give up my seat, but then I thought I would feel a bit of a dick refusing! I’m genuinely interested in what others would do in this situation. I still don’t know whether I should have said no... I wouldn’t have expected anyone to give their seat up for me when I had my little one in a pushchair. CF? Thoughts?

I wouldn't of if no other seats, I'm fairly young but have arthritis.
If there were other seats, I'd understand him asking but if there weren't then he was being very cheeky and acting rather entitled. Unless he gave a good reason as to why he needed the seat more than you, first come first served!

It's a hard one. If I stand for any period of time in chronic pain. I more than likely would

I'm a bit flabbergasted by all this. I use the tube a lot. It is almost unheard of for someone to ask for a seat. The idea that there are lots of cheeky fuckers all over taking seats from hard-working commuters is ludicrous. If someone asks for a seat don't enter into some protracted negotiation and disability-assessment process. Just bloody well stand up.

Sorry, if a young man with a child in a buggy asks me for a seat I will say no.

It sounds like he thought he was entitled to a seat because he had a pushchair and there is a dedicated space for pushchairs. It’s pretty cheeky.

However, when I’ve asked people to move from the pushchair space so I can park up, people in the seats next to the pushchair space have often offered up their seat so I can sit next to my child. It’s a nice gesture. My child doesn’t really like travelling on the tube because it’s loud and full of strangers. She likes to hold my hand and snuggle into me which isn’t possible if I’m just standing next to her.

My DH has a 'hidden' disability it isn't actually if you look at him from the back he is slanted and cant stand up straight (bless him) and even he wouldn't of asked you to stand up for him ! Some people are so entitled 🤦🏻‍♀️

Sorry, if a young man with a child in a buggy asks me for a seat I will say no.

How do you know he was young?

I don't know if the man in the OP was young, but if a young, or youngish man with a child in a buggy asked me for a seat next to the child I will say no.

Or a woman for that mather.

I don't think anyone's ever asked me for my seat on the tube, though I have sometimes offered it. I probably would give it up, if only out of surprise at being asked. But it might depend on how I felt - I've had joint problems particularly with my ankles in the past, which occasionally flares up again and I would probably think twice then.

I don't think someone needs to be incapacitated to need a seat a little bit more than me. It's nice to be nice.