If you’re from Singapore, or have travelled to Singapore, and has rode the MRT a gazillion times, you definitely would have noticed that bright yellow sign that reads: Please give up your seat to someone who needs it more than you do.
Apparently, not everyone is being social-minded and kind-hearted, or even educated enough to understand that phrase. (If I have the picture, I will post it in the future)
Sometimes, I pity those people who are old and fragile, or young career women who are pregnant, or even mother of 10, whenever they board the MRT during the pig peak hours, from 5pm – 7pm, where literally every Singaporean workforce who travels by MRT will TRY TO SQUEEZE THEIR BLOODY ASSES into the train like a packed sardines.
Firstly, where’s our “Be Courteous” campaign that was DRILLED into my head during my primary school days? Our teachers always say: Let the passengers alight first before boarding.
Followed with the irritating announcements made every 5 mins on the MRT platform that says “Please allow passengers to alight first before boarding. Thank you.”, doesn’t even gets drilled into those “educated” Singaporeans. Talk about being courteous. Courtesy begins with YOU.
What I’m writing today is regarding the mind-set of our fellow kind Singaporeans. I know you’re tired. But you don’t deserve that seat more than the rest. You can be sleepy, you can be tired, but at least have the courtesy to TRY not to sleep, or ignore someone who definitely needs that seat you’re seating on.
It doesn’t really have to be the corner seats. Any seats will do. Don’t you guys believe in karma? What goes around comes around? You’ll never know these poor people might be cursing and swearing about you and there goes your “future”. Maybe God might listen to these people’s prayers and make your life a miserable one.
That’s the main reason why I never sit when riding the MRT. No matter how near or far, I’d rather collapse in the middle of the train, rather than having those “stray stares” that says “why don’t YOU give up your seat?”. I will only take a seat during less pig peak hours, and avoid carriages which are prone to old people or pregnant women.
Today, I saw a youth, probably in her early 20s, sitting under this yellow sign. Judging from her looks, she’s very well maintained, and she’s not even pregnant. All she does is “sleep”, and with all her hair throwing in front of her face.
A pregnant lady enters the carriage, and although she didn’t demand for the seat, someone else had given up her seat (which is not the corner seat). Well, I think this person is definitely educated, and I hope she’s rewarded by God in the future for doing such a simple good deed.
Sometimes, I’m just disappointed to be part of such a “cool community”.
