To having someone sit next to me on the train? [i know i am but im very :S about it]

[BritFish]

first of all, i know i'm being unreasonable, but i had a horrible experience a couple of months back that i was thinking about on the train today.

i was on a fairly empty train and a few people had got on, i hadnt bothered to move my bag because id judged there to be just enough seats, which there were, just.
this doddery old bloke comes up and asks me to move my bag so he can sit down. i thought fair enough, and just went back to my book.

needless to say, this old bloke started whispering awful sexual advances in my ear and letching down my top, and after the next stop loads of people got on so i was unable to move to even stand up without disturbing a group of ladies with their pushchairs

i had to squeeze past him as i got to my stop and he put his hand on my arse.

so now, i put my bag on the seat beside me and it bloody stays there.
the only people i will let sit down are people who ask me with a smile and look like they arent going to me to much bother.
pregnant women and students mostly!

im being very unreasonable i know, but would like to hear any other experiences so i can at least feel im not the only one being unreasonable and overly nervy!

@ Fanjo

Haven't read whole thread but why don't you sit in the outside seat in future. That way if someone wants to sit you can stand to let them into window seat. If they then make you uncomfortable it is eay to move away.

Problem solved!

What a horrible experience. You poor thing.

I have been flashed at several times on the tube, usually late at night when few other people around.

I know it is shocking when this sort of thing happens and can leave you feeling stunned and intimidated, but the best way to deal with it I have found is to confront the behaviour immediately and very loudly e.g. get up, move away while saying very loudly 'how dare you expose your penis to me!'.

The police should also be called. This sort of man is offensive at best, dangerous at worst.

oh yes, it was in the time when mobile phones were the stuff of science fiction i was only young, if someone did that to me now i would probably walk up to him and flick it as hard as i could!! well, thats what i would LIkE to think i would do - probably do the same as i did back then. I did get flashed at once when i was on my bike, i shouted "little dick" and cycled off hell for leather - i went to the police though - they laughed

Britfish - if you know you are being unreasonable (and rude), why do you persist in doing it?

People should not have to ask (nicely) for the sit. It is not yours to give.

seat, not sit. Obv.

The OP is NBU in my opinion, but then I'm used to pretty empty trains and I can't stand being on a busy train or bus, full stop. I hate anyone sitting next to me and will avoid it at all costs. If I see it filling up I will move my bag, but pretty reluctantly. I couldn't cope with London commuting now, no way.