Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => Your rights and redress => Topic started by: grahame on May 09, 2019, 06:53:50



Title: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: grahame on May 09, 2019, 06:53:50
From the Daily Mail (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-7007863/Lulu-70-asks-gave-old-bird-seat-Tube-stand.html)

Quote
Lulu, 70, asks why nobody gave 'this old bird' a seat on the Tube after she had to stand in a packed carriage on the way to perform at The O2

Thanks to her gruelling tour with Take That, she is still in fantastic shape.

And it’s lucky Lulu is still fit and well at 70, as she admitted that she was forced to stand in a packed tube carriage as no one offered her their seat.

The singer, who turns 71 in November, posted a photograph of herself taking the London underground on the way to perform at the O2 arena on Tuesday.

snip

Youthful: The ageless star has previously revealed the secret behind her youthful complexion, saying less is more when it comes to makeup

She also said it was important to have a proper skincare routine, ensuring you properly cleanse your face and exfoliate once a week.

Strikes me that Lulu has gone to a lot of trouble to look young ... then the article is having a grumble that no-one gave up a seat to her because she looks old. Bit of a dual standard?


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: Phil on May 09, 2019, 08:22:57
I have to confess I no longer give up my seat for any woman - old, young, pregnant or disabled. Having once received loud, public abuse for allegedly being condescending and a typical bloody man and all manner of completely inappropriate bollocks, when I in all innocence offered a woman a hand with her heavy luggage, I learned my lesson very well, thank-you. I now keep my nose down and ignore eye contact altogether.


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: Bmblbzzz on May 09, 2019, 09:12:34
I thought an "old bird" was slang for a prisoner serving a long sentence?


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: Ralph Ayres on May 09, 2019, 11:31:47
I have to confess I no longer give up my seat for any woman - old, young, pregnant or disabled. Having once received loud, public abuse for allegedly being condescending and a typical bloody man and all manner of completely inappropriate bollocks, when I in all innocence offered a woman a hand with her heavy luggage, I learned my lesson very well, thank-you. I now keep my nose down and ignore eye contact altogether.

It seems rather a shame to assume everyone will react like that based on one poor experience. Surely there have been other times when an offer of help or a seat has been gratefully accepted, or politely turned down?  I certainly see it a lot in London. I tend to offer a careful choice along the lines of - "Would you like some help or are you okay?"


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: TaplowGreen on May 09, 2019, 12:07:59
I have to confess I no longer give up my seat for any woman - old, young, pregnant or disabled. Having once received loud, public abuse for allegedly being condescending and a typical bloody man and all manner of completely inappropriate bollocks, when I in all innocence offered a woman a hand with her heavy luggage, I learned my lesson very well, thank-you. I now keep my nose down and ignore eye contact altogether.

Never lower your own standards simply because others have lowered theirs.


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: CyclingSid on May 09, 2019, 12:11:51
I understand where Phil is coming from. Have also had abuse for trying to be helpful. Does tend to make you reluctant to offer in future.


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: grahame on May 09, 2019, 15:49:42
I understand where Phil is coming from. Have also had abuse for trying to be helpful. Does tend to make you reluctant to offer in future.

Coming at it from the opposite side of the fence, I'll admit to being somewhat shocked when someone offered me their seat.   I know I'm getting on a bit and wobbly ... but I was still rather shocked, and hope I wasn't offhand or rude in my "thank you but no thank you".   But it *is* good that people ask ...


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: JayMac on May 09, 2019, 17:17:05
Non-story really.

Makes you wanna shout.


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: Clan Line on May 09, 2019, 19:57:14
I have to confess I no longer give up my seat for any woman - old, young, pregnant or disabled. Having once received loud, public abuse for allegedly being condescending and a typical bloody man and all manner of completely inappropriate bollocks, when I in all innocence offered a woman a hand with her heavy luggage, I learned my lesson very well, thank-you. I now keep my nose down and ignore eye contact altogether.

I doff my hat to militant feminists - it really annoys them !!!!!


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: Godfrey Tables on May 09, 2019, 20:21:11
That's why I think TFLs "Baby on board" badges are a great idea. I too have had abuse in the past so use caution, but if someone is wearing one of these badges you know you're safe to offer. I'll also offer a seat to those with walking aids because if they then got abusive at being offered they'd just end up making themselves look a bit silly.


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: LiskeardRich on May 09, 2019, 20:41:01
I don’t think my boss would like me giving my seat up on the bus  ;D  ::)


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: Henry on May 18, 2019, 08:13:54

 Remember catching an 'off-peak' bus from Teignmouth to Dawlish a few years back.
 Full with 'mature customers', I was quite happy to stand.
 The Driver casually remarked, ''You're the only one on the bus that's bought a ticket''.


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: LiskeardRich on May 18, 2019, 08:55:15

 Remember catching an 'off-peak' bus from Teignmouth to Dawlish a few years back.
 Full with 'mature customers', I was quite happy to stand.
 The Driver casually remarked, ''You're the only one on the bus that's bought a ticket''.

Sounds about right.


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: chuffed on May 18, 2019, 09:57:19
Would like to see grahame taking Isambird Kingdom Brunowl on a bus !


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: grahame on May 18, 2019, 10:58:03
Would like to see grahame taking Isambird Kingdom Brunowl on a bus !

He has plans  ;D


Title: Re: Giving up seat for an "old bird"
Post by: froome on May 18, 2019, 22:47:04
I understand where Phil is coming from. Have also had abuse for trying to be helpful. Does tend to make you reluctant to offer in future.

Coming at it from the opposite side of the fence, I'll admit to being somewhat shocked when someone offered me their seat.   I know I'm getting on a bit and wobbly ... but I was still rather shocked, and hope I wasn't offhand or rude in my "thank you but no thank you".   But it *is* good that people ask ...

I can remember when someone first offered me their seat, several years ago now. I was probably in my late 50s and didn't consider myself to look "that" old at all, so it was a bit of a shock.

These days it happens more often than not when standing on buses, which is the norm on my local service. But strangely, almost never on trains, even though I frequently do have to stand in any train journey I make.



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