Indulged

I could not agree more. What would have happened if somebody had walked in and needed a seat? I bet that child would have stayed where he was.

I no longer care about embarrassing people and in a hospital waiting room, I asked if that child needed the seat more than me. I was using crutches at the time and the child was moved but rather reluctantly.

Cockles?? That's a new one on me!

You've reminded me of a time I went into M&S with my Dil and grandson. The store was about to close and she announced that she needed to go to the loo to change his nappy. I hung around near the top of the escalator so the staff knew we were still in there. Eventually they emerged (unhurriedly) from the toilets and we got onto the escalator (all the lights were turned off by then, security guard standing by the door to lock it after us). We got to the ground floor, and to my utter amazement, I saw Dil pick up GS and run back upstairs, so he could "have another go" on the escalator, because he enjoyed it!!! Talk about embarrassed .

A father giving up his seat for a toddler sounds reasonable to me.

Toddlers round here happily occupy the disabled seats on buses while elderly people are left to (try to) stand. Parents too busy on their phones to notice.

Pathetic.

I have also noticed how children and teenagers no longer give up seats for older people. I think it was drummed into us as children so much so that the other day I asked an older gentleman if he would like my seat - I'm 70!

Yes, there is a definite feeling that children come first. I did read an article recently which pointed out that this resulted in the sense of entitlement. For instance, if the wage earner was not able to work then the house of cards comes falling down, so therefore the child was not the most important person in the family. That is sort of the way the argument was presented. A lot of little prince and princesses are in for a rather nasty surprise when they enter the real world!

I've noticed this too, with some of our grandchildren.
Sadly I don't see enough of them to make a difference, but I have made a few comments. Wish I'd done more, because they're good children really, just need to be prompted.

Having problems with balance I ask which child is going to stand when they're occupying seats on buses.

One day last week I entered the train and made my way to the disabled seats so that my dog would have enough room and be comfortable.
When I arrived I saw a very well dressed woman occupying the seat and using the space for her luggage, so I asked her if she could make room.
"Why do you particularly want to sit here?" she demanded curtly.
"Well its disabled seating and I'd like to use the space for myself and my assistance dog " was my response. I did get my seat,but was surprised that I was expected to justify my reasoning. Not even the school kids expect this

I did not want to sit on the seat in the tube for elderly/disabled- my AC told me it was for me!! My response someone old and disabled might need it!!!!