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I have literally once offered my seat to a pregnant woman on the Tube in London and it turned out that she was just overweight round the middle and not pregnant

I have literally once offered my seat to a pregnant woman on the Tube in London and it turned out that she was just overweight round the middle and not pregnant. It was extremely embarrassing for both of us. I greatly appreciate the women who wear these badges: https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/23479.aspx https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/23479.aspx because it makes it unambiguous. It can honestly be hard on a packed London underground train to tell the difference between a pregnant woman and someone who is simply overweight.

esja 10y ago
That experience is almost a rite of passage for Londoners :-)
nothrabannosir 10y ago
In your defence, offering up your seat to anyone is a respectable thing to do, regardless of pregnancy or weight.
supergreg 10y ago
That happens to me and elderly people. I never know when they are elderly enough to offer my seat.
- Cerium 10y ago
  If they are noticeably older and you can handle standing there is no harm giving up your seat.
- colanderman 10y ago
  My rule is, if they use a cane or walker, are visibly hunched, are steadying themselves with both hands, or seem to be actively looking for a seat, I get up. Otherwise no. (The older population in Boston is pretty fit; if I offered my seat to everyone with grey hair I think I'd insult quite a few perfectly hale people.) Also, pregnant women tend to hold their bellies. Overweight people don't. And if you accidentally offer your seat to someone who's chubby and has indigestion, well just tell them they looked like they had indigestion.
michaelt 10y ago
My approach is, if someone I would give my seat up to is standing near my seat, I'll get up and move without saying anything, as if I'm getting off at the next station. If they're actually just fat, or if they don't consider themselves old, or if they don't speak English, or they're upset at my presumption they're weaker than me, or they're mentally ill or whatever, no problem. Of course, if there are people between them and your seat, there's a chance someone different will take your seat. So it's not an infallible solution.
TheAnimus 10y ago
I did that too. I'd only been in London about 2 days, I jumped up like a good boy scout, conscious of the fact I was in the "priority seat" (for those outside of London our tubes have the nearest seats to the door reserved for those less able or up the duff). This lady burst into tears. I tried to apologise, then just got off and walked. Since then I've firmly put the impetus on those in need to ask.
Arizhel 10y ago
I don't see the problem here. Those rare times I'm on a crowded train (I don't normally live in a city with such things), I frequently offer my seat to women, pregnant or not. Them being pregnant isn't important, only that they're female. Sorry if that's old-fashioned, but a lot of women do still seem to appreciate such gestures from men.

esja 10y ago

That experience is almost a rite of passage for Londoners :-)

nothrabannosir 10y ago

In your defence, offering up your seat to anyone is a respectable thing to do, regardless of pregnancy or weight.

supergreg 10y ago

That happens to me and elderly people. I never know when they are elderly enough to offer my seat.

Cerium 10y ago
If they are noticeably older and you can handle standing there is no harm giving up your seat.
colanderman 10y ago
My rule is, if they use a cane or walker, are visibly hunched, are steadying themselves with both hands, or seem to be actively looking for a seat, I get up. Otherwise no. (The older population in Boston is pretty fit; if I offered my seat to everyone with grey hair I think I'd insult quite a few perfectly hale people.) Also, pregnant women tend to hold their bellies. Overweight people don't. And if you accidentally offer your seat to someone who's chubby and has indigestion, well just tell them they looked like they had indigestion.

michaelt 10y ago

My approach is, if someone I would give my seat up to is standing near my seat, I'll get up and move without saying anything, as if I'm getting off at the next station. If they're actually just fat, or if they don't consider themselves old, or if they don't speak English, or they're upset at my presumption they're weaker than me, or they're mentally ill or whatever, no problem. Of course, if there are people between them and your seat, there's a chance someone different will take your seat. So it's not an infallible solution.

TheAnimus 10y ago

I did that too. I'd only been in London about 2 days, I jumped up like a good boy scout, conscious of the fact I was in the "priority seat" (for those outside of London our tubes have the nearest seats to the door reserved for those less able or up the duff). This lady burst into tears. I tried to apologise, then just got off and walked. Since then I've firmly put the impetus on those in need to ask.

Arizhel 10y ago

I don't see the problem here. Those rare times I'm on a crowded train (I don't normally live in a city with such things), I frequently offer my seat to women, pregnant or not. Them being pregnant isn't important, only that they're female. Sorry if that's old-fashioned, but a lot of women do still seem to appreciate such gestures from men.