People Shocked as College Student Is Praised Online for Refusing to Give Up Her Bus Seat to an Elderly Woman

Reddit is a popular platform for a variety of reasons, including the wealth of knowledge and perspective of users. As such, a popular subreddit called AITA (Am I The A**hole?) exists to help people gain a better understanding of how their actions are perceived by others. Last year, a woman shared an experience that made her question her own bus etiquette. As a result, she turned to the internet for feedback.

In previous generations throughout the U.S., people were taught the importance of respecting their elders—an unwavering sense of allowing their needs to come before our own. However, societal changes have brought about the realization that all people’s needs matter, regardless of age. Last year, this was put to the test when a 22-year-old with her own set of health complications shared that her bus etiquette was in question after she refused to let an older woman have her seat. Unsurprisingly, the internet was divided. However, most people were on the young woman’s side. Commending her for sticking up for herself; a task that nearly all people find intimidating.

Questioning Her Own Bus Etiquette

The woman wrote in a lengthy Reddit post she had refused to allow a 70-year-old woman to have her seat on the bus. Her reasoning is that she reserved the specific seat because she gets sick on the bus.”[I get] really nauseous and physically sick,” she wrote, noting that she hates taking the bus. However, she has no other option as it’s the only way to get to and from home and school. As such, she’s been forced to get creative. Trying several methods to help stave off her symptoms.

Sharing Her Experience

“For example, I always take a pill to prevent me from throwing up 30 minutes prior [to] departure. I always wear a mask, I always keep a plastic bag close in case I have to use it and I always reserve a window seat close to the door,” she shared.

“When I get to my seat, I noticed it’s occupied by a woman probably, her late 70’s. I am socially awkward so I, nice as I could be I explained to her that that was my seat, I had reserved the window, and she had the aisle. She said sorry, she thought it was hers and moved. Everything was fine after that, or so I thought,” the post continued.

It turns out that a woman, seemingly traveling with the older lady, had reprimanded the young woman for her bus etiquette, pointing out that the older woman also enjoys the window seat. In response, the student informed the woman she needed the window, but if the older woman “wanted a window seat, she should have reserved one like I did.”

It seems that this added yet another layer of confusion regarding the young woman’s bus etiquette. The older woman’s apparent companion lectured the young woman “about how young people are disrespectful toward the elderly”.

“I ignored it and proceeded to continue the trip on my seat. I don’t think I’m the wrong here because it was my seat. But I don’t believe I was disrespectful,” she concluded.

Approving Her Bus Etiquette

Nearly all Reddit users agreed with the woman, that her bus etiquette shouldn’t have been questioned. “The sense of entitlement that compels old people to say s**t like this is galling. You aren’t a young, able-bodied person depriving a frail senior citizen of the one accessible seat on a full bus.” Commented one user. “You asked someone else to vacate a window seat you paid for to avoid tossing your cookies all over a moving vehicle. That lady’s traveling companion can go to h**l.”

Meanwhile, another said: “I just love how millennials are depicted as the entitled generation when Boomers throw more public tantrums than most toddlers. You’re entitled because you want to sit in the seat you purchased and planned accordingly for. Absolutely priceless.”

“NTA and age doesn’t entitle you to other people’s stuff. Besides if the seats didn’t matter why did the woman need it.” Said another. “If seat reservations are a thing, then she was the AH for not reserving it and then just taking it.”

Although the older woman was deserving of a seat, there are no specifications for why she absolutely needed that particular seat. At the same time, the young woman questioned her own bus etiquette and expressed a physical need for a seat by the window. No person is more or less deserving than another to be treated with understanding and compassion. We all share the planet and are more considerate of others’ needs, but understanding ours is equally important, and it is one sure way to make everyone’s day a little easier.

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