Comments on: Need a seat? Just ask for it!

By: Truthseeker

Truthseeker — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:26:08 +0000

If you feel that you are easily tired, prone to backaches, unable to stand on MRT/ Bus, you should plan ahead of your pregnancy and buy a car! No one is oblighed to “take care or give in” to you because you are pregnant. If someone give up his seat to you, that’s purely a gesture of goodwill not an obligation. Buy a car if you feel that you cannot commute in public transport. If you cannot afford to buy a car, then don’t get pregnant until you can afford to!

By: Monkeysee

Monkeysee — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:48:49 +0000

I do not see why it is a pregnant individual has anymore “right” to a seat than anyone else. Why would being pregnant, albeit with the associated discomfort and inconvenience, carte blanche for special treatment? No one forced you to get pregnant. Nor did they they force you to travel in your pregnant state. Any courtesy, kindness and consideration accorded to you because you’re pregnant is precisely that – courtesy, kindness and consideration. It speaks well when such behaviour is accorded, but it is by no means any pregnant woman’s “right” to experience it.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:27:57 +0000

Gerald has got it right. If you want a seat just ask for it and most likely, someone would stand up and give the seat to you. Respect is a 2-way affair, I have also seen over-bearing able-body elderly in good health rudely asking others to give up their seat to him or her.

Looking at the way they ask for the seat, it is likely I would ignore them and ask them to go away. I’d rather give up my seat to a tired young nurse/mother than to give up my seat to these elderly who think that they have the right just because of their age.

By: Weekly Roundup: Week 22 « The Singapore Daily

Weekly Roundup: Week 22 « The Singapore Daily — Sat, 29 May 2010 02:23:38 +0000

[...] Inter-Korea conflict may endanger Singapore’s investments in Northeast China – Gerald Giam: Need a seat? Just ask for it! – The Observer sleeping with Mr Depression & Mr HIV: “Human Rights” VS ‘Human’ Rights. [...]

By: Coches Deportivos

Coches Deportivos — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:32:04 +0000

Seat Leon Cupra…

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By: Gerald Giam

Gerald Giam — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:33:04 +0000

Tony – They *have* done away with ‘priority seats’. They are now called ‘reserved seats’. It is generally understood by commuters that all other seats are priority for those who need it more. Indeed, I often see people giving up their non-reserved seats for the elderly or pregnant. Those who don’t are just buat bodoh (feigning ignorance).

leesjuanpat, Lee – Thanks for your comments!

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 27 May 2010 02:20:40 +0000

I think we should do away with the priority seats system. All the seats should be treated equally and anyone who has a need for a seat can ask anyone for help. There is no need to fight for just the priority seats. People who are not at the priority seat should not feel that he has got the seat for good and needs not care about anyone who may need the seat more. If one is unable/unwilling to give up his seat, just ask the one next to it and so on, you will sure to get a seat if you really need it. So, I agree with Gerald that “Need a seat? Just ask for it!”.

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:24:09 +0000

I was traveling in London subway and was told that pregnant women in the west would feel offended if you give up your seat to them without their asking. To them, pregnancy is a normal and healthy process. Our older generation gave birth in dozen and had to slog all the way, before, during and after birth. No big deal!

By: Daily SG: 26 May 2010 « The Singapore Daily

Daily SG: 26 May 2010 « The Singapore Daily — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:14:08 +0000

By: leesjuanpat

leesjuanpat — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:23:58 +0000

Communication is a two way process. Many S’poreans are the nonchalant kind. Good pretenders. So, a direct approach to ask gentlely and as Gerald said, most of the time people will vacate the seat for the needy.

We need to understand the culture of S’porean’s self-serving character. Society will change in time as manners take precedence to selfishness and so called ‘ignorance’.

Good action and refine manners is the hallmark of individual finess and family upbring. Towards a gracious society !