I saw this debate in a Chinese forum–
On the 3rd of August in Hebei Province, at the Shijiazhuang Ring Road Bus No. 1, a 70-year old grandfather with a cane stepped inside to take the public transport. At that time, the bus is already full of people. Many were already standing.
Two youngsters in front stood up to give their sit to the elderly. Who would have thought–the old man just waved no thanks to them and walked straight to the back. He saw a seat which was occupied by a little girl and requested her to let him sit instead. The girl was wearing headphones and apparently was listening to music.
Seeing the girl made no response whatsoever, the old man pushed the girl and reacted loudly, “What bad manners! An old person is in front of you, and you do not automatically understand that you should give up your seat. What kind of upbringing is this?!”
After being pushed, the girl removed her headphones and realized what just happened. “What did you push me for?! Can you not say it a nice and proper way? Besides, were there not some people who gave up their seats for you in front?”
Unnerved at the girl’s tough attitude, the old man sat down on the girls legs instead. The girl was taken aback that she pushed the old man away angrily and took out her cellphone ready to dial 110.
Fortunately, the passenger beside her was able to hold on to the old man; so he did not fall to the ground. At that point, the driver stopped the bus at the curb while many of the passengers scurried out. Then that was the time the argument between the old man and the young girl stopped.
Reactions online–
The old man did not mean what he did. But this is just plain exaggerated!
Obviously they are a bunch of rogues. The Public Security Bureau should punish this sort of people.
Don’t know what they’re thinking–it’s all very silly.
So far, it seems that many agree that the old man was wrong–
Little Girl vs Old Man
But it does get a little frustrating when people do not give up their seat to those in need. The rule is (as it is repeatedly reminded in the bus and metro) to let those in need seat first. By “in need”, it means the elderly, the weak, and the pregnant.
Not wanting to sound self-righteous, admittedly, it is not in China that I “learned” that sometimes you should be “selfish” when it comes to taking the public transport. Though it is in China that I first used the phrase “fight for your seat”. So childish of me, I know. People really push you around, so I justify “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
What are your views on this?
If the girl was completely clued out in the first place, how did she know that the old man had been offered a seat up front? Similarly, who at the back of a crowded Chinese bus can see more than 2 inches, never mind all the way to the front of the bus — especially if seated.
As for who’s right, giving up your seat to someone in need is a choice, 100%. It’s encouraged, and I think it should be done, but it’s still completely a choice, as the bus is a paid service, and everyone pays the same. Being physically aggressive with someone unprovoked is, IMO, the bigger ethical faux pas of the two. Elderly or not, the old man should never have touched the girl.