23 August 2023 , 15:32
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There's nothing worse than getting onto a train and realising there are no seats available so you find yourself standing for the journey - wishing you'd reserved one beforehand. Although there's the unwritten rule that you'd give your space up for an elderly passenger or pregnant lady, most commuters know the politics of public transport.
But one train passenger has come under fire for venting about youngsters on trains. Claiming they think children should automatically give up their seat for adults, others weren't impressed with the controversial claims and think it's an unfair expectation to make a child stand up in place of an adult.
Sharing their thoughts on Mumsnet, the train commuter wrote: "It drives me mad when I see children over six-years-old not offering train seats to adults especially older adults [who are] standing in aisles on commuter trains. I have no problem with longer journeys when people have booked seats- but several commuter options you can't. When I was brought up we were expected to stand for elders. What is wrong with the world? Am I being unreasonable?"
Asking whether they were unreasonable, it's safe to assume the disgruntled passenger wasn't expecting the response they got as hundreds of mums claimed it is definitely an unreasonable opinion as they added "it's dangerous for children to stand alone on trains" as well as others who asked why they thought they were more entitled than a child, deserving the seat more.
Sparking a debate, one Mumsnet user wrote: "I can see why you would need a seat for a child. Adults should stand before children if someone is in need of a seat. Teenagers should stand if needed as long as they don't have needs themselves," as another commented: " I'm not sure. Seven years old is still pretty young. Older than 10 maybe? I wouldn't like them standing getting knocked around on a busy train to be fair. I would probably have them on my knee or I stand and they have my seat. To be honest unless you're elderly, disabled or pregnant I don't know why you have more entitlement to a seat than a child?"
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Although there were a few in support of the view, as one mum wrote "If the child needs to sit down, their parent should sit them on their lap OR should sacrifice their seat. We're talking about a packed train here. It's not comfortable for anyone, so there's not really an excuse for a child not sitting with their parent," and another added: "Kids can stand a lot more safely than adults- lower centre of gravity, more agile, better balance, lighter and less likely to get hurt if they fall."
Do you agree? Let us know in the comments