Was I a bus weirdo

[Buswonker]

This was prior to lockdown

I got on the bus to work, it was full so I had no choice but to sit next to someone

3 stops later and half the bus get off at a popular area.

My stop is the next one so I don't bother moving and stay sat next to a stranger

She asked if I was planning on moving now the bus has emptied. I said I was getting off next and she mumbled something under her breath

Am I a weirdo to stay sat next to a stranger when the bus emptied? Would you immediately move to an empty seat?

I've been thinking about this for 18 months 😂

She could have got up and moved if it troubled her.

If you had got up and moved it might have looked rude, as if she smelled bad or something.

I’d definitely think this was very weird if someone did it to me! Unless I had a huge amount of bags that made swapping seats very difficult I’d move myself over one seat.

Yeah I’d have moved! Maybe closer to the front.

I don’t even know why really, I just would have!

In the UK, correct action is to move away asap, because nobody enjoys being in close proximity to strangers. So, as per societal norms, yes you were a weirdo. Even if it meant moving for only one more stop.

But hey, 18months is a lifetime ago, I don't suppose you'd board a bus at all now if it was crowded.

I would have moved to an empty seat and if I’d been in her position I would have wanted you to move. However, I’m one of those anti social types.

I’d be more concerned that you’re still thinking about a bus journey that took place eighteen months ago 😉

I wouldn't have moved for one stop.

I would have been up like a shot to move away from the stranger.

I think I’d be more offended if someone moved as soon as possible tbh.

I would’ve moved to an empty seat. More comfortable for both of us.

I wouldn’t have moved either. And had I been the ‘window’ sitter, I wouldn’t have expected or asked the ‘aisle’ sitter to move.

It's an etiquette minefield. You hope nobody sits next to you, but if they walk past or move away, you're left thinking, "Oi! What's wrong with me!?"

In general though, I think that if you have to ask a question on MN, the answer is Yes. Sorry

@CaptainMyCaptain

That was precisely why I didn't move straight away, in case she thought I was offended by her!

I was internally annoyed at her for making me feel like I'd broken some social norm. If you're that antisocial don't take the bus or move yourself to an empty seat

@MonsterMunchPaws

I think I’d be more offended if someone moved as soon as possible tbh.

Funnily enough on the train I used to worry that j would offend the stranger next to me if I moved!

As someone who travels on another on trains I would have only have moved if there was a reason I wanted to go away from the person I was already sat next to. Because I have realised that if I move into an empty seat, an odd person will appear from somewhere no matter what and come sit next to me and trap me in the window seat.

I’d have moved. But that’s because I fucking hate people.

I would have moved

This happened to me too, and I still remember it! It was about 20 years ago and I was in New York for a few months. It happened on the subway. Same situation, lot's of seats became vacent and the guy beside me said; 'slide over's. I did, immediately. My thinking was that it was bad manners to move as it might imply that I didn't like sitting next to HIM. I feel now it was old fashioned thinking. I had good intentions and he set me straight on 'reality'. I know what you mean about remember it! Don't worry, we live and learn.

Yeah I think you should have moved

What do you mean by before lockdown mean? Before February 2020 or December 2020 before lockdown 3?

If you're that antisocial don't take the bus or move yourself to an empty seat

How could she have moved herself when you were sat in the aisle seat blocking her?

I would have agonised over this decision, stay put and risk bus-weirdness or move and risk offending the stranger. By the time I'd arrived at a decision it would've been nearly time to get off anyway so it would have been a moot point. Does that make me a bus weirdo? Or just really indecisive

He said; 'slide over', not over's...

I wouldn't have moved if I was getting off at the next stop anyway.

@Jackie2022

Before anyone had ever heard of COVID

I wouldn't have moved for fear of making her feel like there was something wrong with her. And it was only one stop.