Giving up seats in train (in Italy)

[Fiddlefree]

I'm on holiday in Tuscany. On a train to Florence. I can't believe the number of people who have their bags, coats, suitcases on seats whilst others are standing.

We are 4 people in our 60/70s. Asked someone to mover her coat so the eldest of us could sit down and met with a firm no. These are not allocated paid for seats.

And it's not because we're 'foreign' I do r think as an obviously incapacitated lady (with sticks) is standing g and not one person has offered their seat or moved a bag.

I've never seen this on trains in UK. Usually someone offers or if directly asked wouldn't refuse.

AIBU to feel so annoyed? I thought the Europeans were better than us.

I thought the Europeans were better than us.

Such bizarre self-loathing from some Brits. Ironically, mostly Remainers.

I thought it was a strange comment but I'm a Remainer and I'm deeply ashamed of this country quite frankly.

Wrong on all counts. Unless you think Corsica, say, isn't in Europe? Or Ireland or Malta aren't?

We are still in 'Europe', as you call it. We are no longer in the EU.

And no, 52% of the voting population did not vote to leave the EU.

Other than that, spot on!

Since we're being pedantic and defining things which shouldn't need defining...

We left the European Union, which is a separate entity from Europe the continent. No such thing as 'Europe' in inverted commas, whatever you think that means in your post. We're Europeans whether we're on an island or not.

i would say in a loud polite voice, this dear lady needs to sit down please can someone clear a space for her

In Italian, obviously.
most of us don’t speak Italian.
speaking English in Italy to Italians in a loud voice is the hallmark of a numpty. Being loud doesn’t aid comprehension.

Just move their belongings onto the floor,or sit on them.I lived in Italy for many years,I found Italians rude in lots of ways,but they respected the elderly.They are no worse or better than any other Nationality.

Dont just stand there be proactive and get yourself seats.

I thought the Europeans were better than us.

oh dear....🙄

You need to remember that it's only been since 1st April that trains of any kind are again running on full capacity- prior to that it was reduced numbers and so people have got used to being surprised if someone wants to sit next to them. It's been 2 years since that happened.
Presuming you were wearing an FFP2 which is still obligatory on trains- maybe you just found a twat. I've never had it happen in Italy tbf, but as a pregnant woman in the UK I often had to actually ask people to let me sit down. (I was 7 months pregnant at the time, not a couple of weeks)

Very good point above - were you wearing masks like the Italians?

Hmm not my experience of Italian trains. People were falling over themselves to give me a seat when I was pregnant and when I had DD aged 8 weeks ish in a baby carrier I think the whole carriage came to say hello and make sure we were seated. 😂

I was on a train to London recently and someone sat next to me. I was horrified! Didn't say anything of course but would have much rather they'd sat anywhere else but next to me.

If it is too traumatic for you buy two seats. If you are wearing a mask not so much of an issue that someone is sitting next to you.

I was visiting London last week, people willingly gave up seats for the elderly and young children. The loud and obnoxious passengers on one journey were Italians.

We ARE Europeans. The whole of Great Britain is in Europe.

I would have in the UK but being in Italy and no language skills I felt intimidated. Plus I'd just been knocked back on my polite request for one of our group.

I'm certainly not a remainer. I just admire European culture and genuinely thought they were more cultured than 'Brits abroad'

Yes, it seems masks are the norm in Tuscany and I'm happy to comply

They aren't the "norm", they're a legal requirement and on public transport it's an FFP2.

England is a 50,300 square mile nation that together with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland makes up the United Kingdom. England, as well as the rest of the United Kingdom, is located in the continent of Europe.