Small children taking up seats

[pigdogridesagain]

I recently attended my local walk in centre for a minor ailment, waiting time was around 3 hours. It was absolutely packed in there. I noticed that there were quite a few very ill looking adults stood as all the seats were taken. However many of the seats were taken by small children, AIBU to expect parents to put them on their laps so that adults can sit down? Another thing I noticed was people bringing 3 or 4 family members/friends with them, again taking up seats that someone who is obviously poorly could have used, AIBU?

But if the adult keeps on doing the thing they are trying to teach the child, they will never learn to do it themselves.

And I just don't understand this 'important' and 'inferior' business. It's utter nonsense, in fact. If I give up my seat for an elderly person, that isn't me saying I am 'inferior' or 'unimportant'. That's me trying to be kind or unselfish.

It explains a lot about the modern world if people think kindness is synonymous with inferiority.

@PennyGold
YABU 3 hours with a toddler on your knee is not comfortable for the adult or the child

I think you'll find three hours standing is much, much worse.

Yanbu. Recently I was at the ultrasound unit and a woman didn't bother asking her children to stand up so that obviously pregnant women could sit.

We were recently in A&E after the doctors referred us. My daughter was deathly pale and clearly unwell. I'm five months pregnant and yet no one including the "extra" adults offered us a seat so we had to sit on the floor. I wasn't impressed. I really don't understand why all these extra people need to come and then be selfish fuckers too.

If you arrive at a waiting area and require a seat... go to reception. Tell them "
"I'm so sorry, the waiting room is full of people and I really need to sit, please can you help me"

One of two things will happen.

1. a decent receptionist will go badass on the entitled bastards and shame non patients into standing.
2. a seat or chair will be got for you.

If you require a seat then FFS just ask. You have a voice, use it. If you don't have a voice you can still communicate.

Don't martyr yourself. All this "I sat on the floor pregnant" "I waited whilst heavily pregnant" moaning is bloody ridiculous. If you don't have the confidence to approach a seated man or to address the men of the room in the waiting area for maternity ultrasound then ASK FOR HELP.

Moaning after the fact will accomplish nothing at all.

Maybe but a half decent person would offer a seat. I mean how ignorant can you be as not to notice a sick child or pregnant woman. Especially when that person doesn't even need to be there.

But if the adult keeps on doing the thing they are trying to teach the child, they will never learn to do it themselves.

I believe that the person most able to do without the seat should give it up. My children are five and under. So that person is me.

Busy hospital receptionists shouldn't have to spend time rectifying a situation brought about by others' lack of consideration.

LaurieMarlow If your children are below the age where they'd learn to stand/walk properly, then fair enough.

People have become selfish.
Generally speaking I do think “well” children with no health issues should stand or sit on parents lap in waiting rooms and buses.

I’ve seen poor elderly people being left to stand on full buses and in waiting rooms while fit and healthy children sit.
Was a respect thing when I was young that you stood for someone less able

@TheMemoryLingers
Busy hospital receptionists shouldn't have to spend time rectifying a situation brought about by others' lack of consideration.

But this is where we are. Seemingly two types of people. Not just in medical facilities but in general. Entitled narcissists or those who (in the least feign being) conscious of those around them.
As a result of "don't challenge me, I might have a hidden disability" there's also a lack of the person who would stand up for others any more and the entitled behaviours go unchallenged.

@damnthatanxiety really??. You must have a lot of time on your hands yo go that much bother on a post!!

Well obviously the you must stand for adults attitude didn’t work with the current generation of adults or we would have plenty of people giving up their seats. Except so many don’t and expect children to do so instead.

If I can stand I will. Because I know I am fit enough and able to do so. Just because I’m an adult doesn’t make me any less capable of standing than a child is, infact in a lot of ways it is easier for me.

@Sparkle567 if you are that ill that you are at an urgent care facility and cannot look after your child for three hours you should have somebody else caring for your child.

A few years ago I had a appendicitis, I went to A&E with my son, he had a seat, would anyone on here sit a two year old on their lap while their appendix ruptured? If he didn’t have a seat he would have been off having a whale of a time, I was in an active hypo and eventually lost consciousness because of it.

@Lipperfromchipper maybe they should have waited in the car then or the cafe

I think people should be mindful that the person who has a seat and who you think is selfish for not standing up for you..might have firstly a disability or illness themselves....or secondly have been waiting for that seat for a few hours before you got there. If someone asked my partner to stand up for them (because he looks fine), he would gladly jump up and give you his seat because he is a pleaser and very chivalrous....he also has a brain injury, suffers with balance issues and tiredness. You just dont always know whether people are well or not.

@SpaceDinosaur - yes that’s right. It’s that easy. Why didn’t I think of that

To talky. I also don't understand why pregnant women on the tube expect a seat. I'm not pregnant right now, but I'm exhausted and suffering from a chronic illness. Pregnancy is natural.

*totally #autocorrect

I also don't understand why pregnant women on the tube expect a seat ... Pregnancy is natural

Jesus but this attitude is so depressing.

Pregnancy takes a significant toll on the body and can have significant sickness and temporary disability as side effects.

Most pregnant women are less able to stand than the non pregnant, able bodied. Why shouldn’t society cut them some slack?

I remember a pre-birth visit at the hospital I would be giving birth in.
We were shown around (not really sure what the point was...) and at the end were taken to a bigger room (waiting room like) to discuss birthing plans etc.

I was nearly 9 months pregnant and had to stand the whole time while all the dads were lounging round in the comfy seats. Considering the context, I was NOT impressed.

I was a patient in neurosurgery. At the ridiculously busy clinics, there were very unwell patients. The staff told everyone who wasn't a patient to vacate their seats so all patients could sit down. Seems a very sensible approach to me.

It's bloody entitled to expect unwell children to move so YOU can sit down.

And if you are a WELL person sitting next to an unwell child causing an unwell person to stand, you are the bloody entitled one. Put your child on your lap or stand and give your seat to someone who needs it. You don’t.