Public Seating - A Call for Equality!

As a student, I have to say that I sometimes feel like I am always on the losing end of the stick when it comes to public transport. Even if I were to look at it from another point of view, not just as a student – there’s really just something wrong with how our system works. Of course, I’m not saying that the situation is so serious that we would have to pick up our wooden signs and pitch-folks and revolt. However, I just believe that some change is required.

Example of the "Entitlement" group

Yes, I agree that the elderly deserve seats. In fact, more often than not, we rarely have a problem giving up our seats for such commuters. But then we have another component of commuters’ altogether. More specifically, I refer to a rather unfortunate group made up of people who do not actually need these seats - but still feel more or less entitled to them.

I find that some people have the tendency of assuming that we younger people do nothing but have fun the whole day with our everlasting enthusiasm and energy. Likewise, many workers dressed in their suits or uniforms are looked over and considered ‘energetic’ and ‘youthful’ enough to give up their seats to others. Yes, I agree that us younger people might be more ‘energetic’ than others. However, it definitely can’t be said that we have nothing to do with ourselves the whole day. With our education system, most of us barely have any time leftover for sleep! Adding on to that, work-life isn’t just a piece of cake either – most workers face enormous stress and undertake huge responsibilities throughout the day. They start early and end late, and the demands put on them can be ridiculously overbearing.

Please don't make this a reality. Really, some students here don't even enjoy cheap ticketing!

Now, consider the distance – some of us are put through hour-long train rides everyday. Students are expected to lug heavy books, stationery – and in my case, even a laptop – to our schools or to home. Workers aren’t much more fortunate either – they have their own briefcases or equipment that must be brought to work. Then think about these other commuters – yes, there will be those who actually have somewhere important to get to and something heavy to lug around. However, some of them really rarely have anything important to do with their time. They spend their days going out without any stress or pressure, and they transit to and from home in complete ease and comfort. Of course, some of these commuters might be having some problems of their own. Yes, more often than not, they are given the benefit of the doubt and the seat. However, younger people do have difficulties too. Like I mentioned before – we spend our days studying and working – quite honestly, it can’t be denied that one day we’d be the ones counted on to bring our economy forward. Either that, or we, as workers, can already be considered to be the ones carrying the burden of the economy!

Of course, I can’t contest the fact that many of these older citizens have contributed greatly to the economy back in their day. They were instrumental pieces in getting us where we are now. Of course we wouldn’t hesitate to give up our seats to these commuters when they need them. However, what I really meant to bring across is the need to abolish the mindset amongst the older generations that they, by default, are absolutely entitled to these seats.

This, I support!

I apologize if I have come off as too harsh or too critical. I understand that there will always be commuters who will need those seats more than us. However, I would just like to point out that us students and those in the working population deserve these seats as much as anybody else. I highly doubt that any of us would be unwilling to give up our seats if we know that it is the right thing to do. However, I just feel that it isn’t right for any particular group of commuters to believe these seats are automatically entitled to them. Every one of us has problems of our own, and we shouldn’t feel guilty about taking a seat when we need them. So I would like you, dear reader, to consider a system where nobody is perpetually expected to stand on the losing side of the field!

Thank you for your time, dear reader. 

*When it is really the right thing to do.

Please do not hesitate to send in any of your own thoughts or feedback to Ordinarysgkid@hotmail.com or to follow me on twitter at @NatKathXo :) Comments on the article itself is welcomed too! Please share the article if you happen to find it interesting! :)

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