Bus seat deference to a nun

[Relightmy]

On holiday overseas recently DH gave up his seat on the bus for a nun who got on at a later bus stop.

The nun wasn’t particularly elderly, didn’t look infirm, and DH is very much an atheist from a non-religious family.

When I asked why her given up his seat he had no explanation beyond “Well, she’s a nun”.

AIBU to think this was a curious move by DH?

I am guessing the OP was on holiday in a country with a higher population of religious sisters such as Italy or Malta? It was a polite thing for the DH to do and was good manners. He didn't tell the OP to give up her seat so why is she bothered?

Wasn’t particularly elderly, so was elderly?

Random acts of kindness are a lovely thing in this day and age.

I would probably do the same despite being atheist. Not sure why though. A sign of respect maybe?

You should be so proud of your DH. Chivalry and good manners are not very prevalent these days. Who knows, his action may encourage others to do the same!

She was an older person - maybe 60s - but there were women on the bus of a similar age that he didn’t stand for.

I'm an atheist and I would have done the same 🤷‍♀️

Not really In Thailand for example monks are given priority on public transport. Nobody would dream of plonking themselves down and leaving them to stand.

And surely it's good manners for a man to give up his seat for a lady ( which the nun def was)

I’d probably have done the same, though couldn’t really explain why. I suppose it’s something around whatever respect of faith being raised in a culturally Christian country leaves you with. Possibly also that I wouldn’t expect a nun to feel offended about being offered a seat despite not being very elderly in the way I imagine some women of the same age would feel about it if they didn’t feel or think they looked elderly.

I think youre the weird one questioning it. He just did it as a sign of respect., for someone who evidently has devoted their life to religious service. You dont have to be observant to respect that,

It's far odder that you felt the need to question him on his good manners?

Lovely of him! Well brought up boy!

I’m just old enough to remember when deferential attitudes towards nuns and clergy were the norm in Ireland. I was also educated by nuns.

I’d have been glued to that bus seat,

It can be something about seeing a woman in religious garb. I am a member of the Salvation Army and if I have been walking to an event in my city centre wearing my uniform, I have noticed that people do treat me with more curtesy. Especially ex military personnel who remember food or welfare trucks.

I wouldn’t. What makes a nun so special? If anything that would make me refuse as I despise religion

Best thread title on MN for a while

Bless your DH 😉

Years ago my friends and I dressed up as nuns for a sing a long sound of music screening and loads of people in london gave up seats for us too. It’s clearly a thing!

Your DH did the right thing. He was being an old fashioned gent. Good on him.

In a majority Catholic country I'm assuming it could well be the done thing.

If it was in the UK I'd only offer my seat if the nun was elderly or visibly disabled. And tbh I think most UK nuns are older. In fact I don't think I've ever seen one. Only in Ireland or Italy.

Remember when it was normal for a man to offer his seat to a woman, any woman ? I am at an age where I still think it is an obvious one . Have to remind myself it's no longer the way . Maybe your DH was brought up the same way .

Jealous of nuns sometimes - no men or children. No wonder they look serene 😁

Hmm. I suppose being a nun is a sign she devotes her life in service and charity and he respects that.

Lots of people who were taught by nuns might disagree that they are serene 😂

Nice thing to buy but kind of random that he did it for the nun and not the other nearly elderly women.

Serene?? Lol you didn't attend a convent school

I would too, I would consider anything I could do for their comfort or to acknowledge their sacrificial lives when out and about. They literally spend their whole lives in charity work at no financial gain to themselves.

I worked with a couple of nuns more than 30 years ago, they took prostituted women to doctors, fed addicts, ran a soup kitchen.