Stomper says woman tried to force him into giving up MRT seat 'exactly the way I predicted'
Welcome to Stomping Ground - a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight.
A man expressed contempt for 'self-entitled' commuters on the MRT.
He shared his experience travelling from Chinatown to Bedok Reservoir on the Downtown Line on Nov 8 at around 10.15pm.
Stomper Me said: "Has kindness became Singaporeans' soft spot?
"A young man sitting besides me gave up his priority seat to this lady who was standing in front of him when suddenly, her husband who was carrying their sleeping child and a bulky backpack passed everything to her.
"From the moment she stood in front of the young man, I could already predict what was gonna happen next.
"First, she will claim the priority seat. Next, she will definitely expand her space to make me feel uncomfortable so that I'll give up my seat, then her husband can occupy the seat I gave up.
"I wasn't caught by surprise when it happened exactly the way I'd predicted.
"Why would a mother carrying a sleeping child put the bulky backpack on her lap and lay the child on the backpack? Why was the husband who was carrying everything when they first boarded the MRT become empty-handed when both of them were seated separately?
"Too bad, I'm too used to such 'patterns' that I stayed seated all the way till I reached my destination.
"Guess what? As soon as I got up to alight, the wife call for her husband and the backpack was placed on the floor after the husband took my seat.
"I despise such self-entitled behaviour of inconveniencing others to get what you want and it causes me to detest such commuters."
Have your say on Stomping Ground! Write to us at stomp@sph.com.sg or WhatsApp 9384 3761.
