What happened to the men in Brisbane?
November 19th, 2008
Yesterday morning it was raining, not a good sign for the buses in Brisbane as they generally run about ten to fifteen minutes late in wet weather and of course yesterday was no exception. The other thing you can expect when it rains in Brisbane is not to get a seat on one of the express buses unless you are close to the origin of the bus line.
So when our bus arrived it was full and we prepared ourselves for a long trip into town whilst standing, despite the fact that there were about ten or so people who fall under the student banner and rightfully should have given up their seats (especially on a full fare express bus).
A bit further down the road and the bus has filled up nicely and we approach another stop where a pregnant woman flags us down. She gets on and then makes her way into the middle of the bus. I’m already standing so I’ve got no seat to offer her, but several young guys sitting do their absolute best to not make eye contact with her. No one moves to offer her a seat.
The bus driver is watching this and is furious, she finally says ‘Are you OK to stand love?’ several guys again shift uncomfortably in their seats but no one gets up. Then a man does actually get up and offer his seat.
Real men don’t let a pregnant woman stand on the bus when he has a seat. It should be noted though that no able bodied women offered their seats either and the man who did wasn’t a student.
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Courtesy the world over has gone the way of the dodo. It’s very disappointing.
Jeffs last blog post..Star Trek (2009) full trailer released
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Grrr….
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It’s not just pregnant ladies either. Old people, disabled or injured people, or even people who are carrying a lot of stuff get pushed around, jostled, ignored, avoided and generally just treated REALLY badly.
I know it’s hard for guys these days, because most of the time they don’t even get acknowledged for being courteous, (that’s why I always give a nod, smile and a thanks to any man who holds a door or such for me) but seriously, whatever your gender, if someone is more vulnerable than you, get up off your bum!
Kaths last blog post..Shop ’til You Literally Drop
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and at that point I would have been saying something to those boys shifting in their seats and telling them in no uncertain terms to move their butts.
*shakes head*
Bettinas last blog post..Pink!
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I got verbally abused once for not standing up and offering my seat to an elderly woman on the tram. I was 8 months pregnant at the time and not very impressed as I rather loudly informed everyone within hearing distance. None of the able bodied gits on the tram offered to get up.
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not offering the seat up for you could be forgive because you are a healthy man in the strong years of your life *etc ;)*
But to a pregnant woman, to elderly people or whichever category really should sit down..I wíll stand up. Last summer when I offert my seat to an elderly lady in Italy people looked at me as if I was doing something really strange..but she thanked me.
Arjans last blog post..The many different ways to say ‘comment’
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Did this bus have some seats reserved for old / disabled / injured / pregnant people? If so, that makes this so much worse.
I catch the trains in Brisbane and I see the same problem. I’ve offered my seat to old / pregent people in the past and have been given the blank stare of disbelief. Its’ a shame that good manners aren’t expected anymore.
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