'I refuse to give up my train seat for the elderly, I'm young but I'm tired too'

24 October 2023 , 13:59

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He doesn't want to move from his train seat on his way to and from work (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/Image Source)

A man has sparked a debate after revealing how he refuses to give up his train seat to pregnant or elderly people. He explained how he spends eight hours a day on his feet at work - and has to travel the entire length of the train line to get to work every morning.

Confessing his 'unpopular opinion' on Reddit, he said: "There are situations where you're genuinely the one that needs the seat the most and especially if you're young, you will always be the one asked to offer. At the very least you should be allowed to say 'ask someone else' without being criticised or judged.

"I woke up at 3am, started work at 5am, worked eight hours on my feet. I got to take a 45 minute train journey that's almost the entire length of the line. Please don't make me get up just because I'm young. I guarantee you that 50 year old man reading a book can stand and is way less tired than I am."

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While he's happy to move for a disabled person, he claims to be 'just as tired' as a pregnant or elderly passenger on his way to and from work some days. He added: "I don't wanna feel like the bad guy saying no to someone when I am genuinely exhausted."

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Commenting on his post, one user said: "Feel free to refuse if you're not sitting in the priority/disabled seats. Tell them to ask someone sitting there to give up their seat. If you're sitting in that seat though, tough luck."

Another user added: "As someone with a damaged spinal disc, I've been in this situation more than a few times, especially pre-surgery. You get funny looks, but honestly, being one of the very few people less able to stand than whoever is asking you get immune to it. Not all disabilities/injuries are visible."

A third user said: "Once I was shouted to move by a pregnant (four to five months) lady who was in her 40s. I was in my 20s and actually pregnant. I was about seven weeks and had hyperemesis gravidarum. I was throwing up 20 to 30 times a day and fainting regularly. Literally too weak and exhausted to even properly defend myself but I told her I was also pregnant and really feeling unwell.

"She was still standing in front of me complaining loudly about 'the young people today' having no respect. I threw up on her. Not intentionally but she was mad." One more user added: "Just say you’re extremely tired and exhausted and if they don’t mind can you ask someone else. If you genuinely need it then that’s fair. If you want to put on a show you can sit on the ground."

Paige Freshwater