Why are we so b****y polite?

Of course we should politely ask people to move their bags to free up a seat , but ,...............!
People should have more consideration than put bags on seats in the first place -leaving passengers having to ask or be left standing. It beggers belief! Many people are afraid of confronting others and I understand why . I was in a fast food restaurant recently and two men sat back in their seats and put their feet on the table!!! No one including me dare speak to them , eventually the manager arrived and asked them to remove their feet. Both men did but not before mocking the manager by repeating his request over and over and laughing at him ! They were very menacing and full of self importance - I despair!

I expect you'd just give a frail elderly person your seat, maiz.

My experience in Scotland locally is that schoolkids do offer their seats to older people and people who look unsteady for whatever reason.

I'd have no hesitation in asking someone to move a bag so that I could sit down. If I had a bag on a seat beside me and someone was looking for a seat, I'd remove the bag and offer them the seat. it's good manners.

On the other hand, I wouldn't go into battle for other people. They have tongues in their heads..

Well, I might go into battle on behalf of a frail elderly person...

Asking for a seat is one thing, but challenging anyone about their behaviour (however politely) is not on these days. I've heard too many stories of people being attacked, sometimes even killed, for asking someone to stop doing something. No matter how politely they ask it makes no difference. I'm pretty sure these people are looking for an excuse to beat someone up, like Dickens's football story. I often wonder if the yobbos are deliberately provoking people in the hope someone will ask them to stop, then that will give them an excuse to beat them up. It's horrible, but safer not to engage with them at all.

Just ask them if you can use the seat, I’ve always found everyone OK, sometimes when it’s full I’ve been offered a seat, which I will accept if it’s a long trip.

I think that years of commuting to London hardened me to seats occupied by briefcases, etc. I have no trouble asking politely if they would be so kind as to move the offending article😄

This happens on buses often too. I have seen people politely ask someone to move their bag so they could sit down. The 'offender' usually looks quite surprised.

I boarded a bus recently with Mum (93) it was full mainly of school children. Not one offered her a seat. Then a man got up and offered her his seat. I said in a loud voice, 'Mum this gentleman has offered you his seat' Not a flicker from any of the other passengers as they were all engrossed on their phones. I stood all the way to town!

Sago

Yesterday at Oslo airport our flight was delayed, the seating area at the gate was rammed!
Two Norwegians sat together and each had their carry on bags on a seat next to them.
People were sat on the floor or standing.
I wanted to go and speak to them but my husband said no!
I wish I had.
Why are we so polite?
Why do staff not say something?

'We' - traditionally do not like to "cause a scene" which it's assumed will automatically ensue if you publicly challenge someone about their behaviour. Of course, sometimes - it does! And worse.

My late EX once challenged a group of young men who were kicking a football around an outside seating area of a café in our local park. They responded by attacking him physically, punching him in the face.

Do you know what the worst aspect of this was? Not so much the assault but the fact that those who witnessed it basically blamed him for "causing a fight". The 'reasoning' was the fact that this happened in front of my young son, a toddler, who was traumatised by seeing his father attacked, crying and screaming, so the people around us blamed him for "upsetting his son".

Sometimes I despair - of the self-absorption and selfishness of the people - like those two Norwegians - and the unwillingness to challenge it. On the other hand, one never knows what might follow if you do challenge it, however politely. I think it's a terrible indictment of our society.

However, some time ago I asked some young teens (politely) to "be careful" because they were larking-around on the narrow pavement outside our local shops making it difficult for people to navigate and one responded with "Ah, sorry Mrs - do you want me to carry your bags back to your car for you?". He did, and apologised again before he departed!

I think sago and husband were sitting but is pointing out the problem how no one who does need a seat says anything.

People are like that everywhere sitting on trains with bags on seats next to them. I would ask to use the seat my dh would not but then he wouldn’t tell me not to ask either.

It's perfectly possible to ask politely. I do, these days. I used to be too shy but not any more. I simply need to sit down when possible due to my back.
People like those Norwegians are very thoughtless.

I’d have said something! Politely enough, but making it clear that I wasn’t expecting arguments.

I do the same on packed buses, when people have dumped bags on the seat next to them, and are then so engrossed in their phones (or pretend to be) that they haven’t noticed people having to stand.
I do get the occasional eye-roll, but nobody’s ever refused.

I would have done if I needed to sit down. My back aches if I stand too long.

What stopped you from asking politely for them to move their bags? No need to be rude about it.