Happypaphy7
Paphlover
Yesterday afternoon, I was riding a rather crowded subway to downtown.
This woman, a white (I put this to help understand cultural background as different ethnic groups within the same country can have different culture or public etiquette.) woman in her mid 60 at least, just stepped into the busy subway car carrying three bags on her shoulders. One of the bags was quite big.
A young latino girl in her late teens or early twenties looked at this woman and seemed she thought nothing of the situation.
In Korea, someone would have immediately stood up and offered the seat.
However, I think the common sense regardless of cultural background, is to offer seats to the elderly, pregnant, handicapped, or persons with heavy loads.
Maybe the young girl had a very long day, or just one of those rude NY brats. lol
At a next stop, someone stood up and got off, and this now fresh empty seat was gladly taken up by the older white woman.
At the next stop, this young mom, a white woman in her late 20s to early 30s with her child of about 5 yo, came in with no other baggages with her.
The older white woman offered her seat, and the young white mom without an instant of hesitation, happily shouted "Oh, thank you!" and seated her little one.
This second episode is what really struck me in two regards.
One, why would an elderly woman carrying three big bags offer her seat to a little kid? I mean it was not like she was a toddler who could barely walk, either.
Two, the young white mom who took the seat. Maybe to her, her little child is the most important thing in the world? Or maybe her little one had a bad ankle? then why are they out? Actually, no, I saw them both running into the subway car as the doors were closing.
What do you guys all think of this?
I asked a few of my friends whose cultural backgrounds range from Germany, Sweden, Italy, and America, a New Yorker at that, and all had the same answer: The younger mom should have at least kindly refused the offer once.
To me, this thoughtless young mom not only had poor sense of public etiquette, but missed a great opportunity to teach her little one about respect for others.
This woman, a white (I put this to help understand cultural background as different ethnic groups within the same country can have different culture or public etiquette.) woman in her mid 60 at least, just stepped into the busy subway car carrying three bags on her shoulders. One of the bags was quite big.
A young latino girl in her late teens or early twenties looked at this woman and seemed she thought nothing of the situation.
In Korea, someone would have immediately stood up and offered the seat.
However, I think the common sense regardless of cultural background, is to offer seats to the elderly, pregnant, handicapped, or persons with heavy loads.
Maybe the young girl had a very long day, or just one of those rude NY brats. lol
At a next stop, someone stood up and got off, and this now fresh empty seat was gladly taken up by the older white woman.
At the next stop, this young mom, a white woman in her late 20s to early 30s with her child of about 5 yo, came in with no other baggages with her.
The older white woman offered her seat, and the young white mom without an instant of hesitation, happily shouted "Oh, thank you!" and seated her little one.
This second episode is what really struck me in two regards.
One, why would an elderly woman carrying three big bags offer her seat to a little kid? I mean it was not like she was a toddler who could barely walk, either.
Two, the young white mom who took the seat. Maybe to her, her little child is the most important thing in the world? Or maybe her little one had a bad ankle? then why are they out? Actually, no, I saw them both running into the subway car as the doors were closing.
What do you guys all think of this?
I asked a few of my friends whose cultural backgrounds range from Germany, Sweden, Italy, and America, a New Yorker at that, and all had the same answer: The younger mom should have at least kindly refused the offer once.
To me, this thoughtless young mom not only had poor sense of public etiquette, but missed a great opportunity to teach her little one about respect for others.