I was on a bus today with my younger son he was in a buggy as I had to be quick to get back for my daughter (school run) anyway I went to the bank and then popped into the supermarket to pick up a few things. I went to the bus stop to catch the bus to go home and I had to fold the buggy down, the bus was packed and I only had the space to put the buggy away I had to carry my shopping to the back of the bus and hold it hunched because I thought there were no seats. anyway there was a sixteen year old sitting on a seat next to me and after about 10 mins of me hunching over with this heavy shopping he moves to let someone else sit down on the EMPTY seat next to him which I couldn't see. when I saw him move and let someone else sit down I said, how could you let me struggle like that and not tell me there was a seat next to you, when I said this his mom said don't talk to my son like that, I replied if you taught you son some manners I wouldn't have to. now people was I in the wrong.

have to be careful about how you answer this one
the question you are asking is: does a universal code of conduct exist?

are all people held accountable for good manners?

mmmm there are cultural differences to take into consideration ..what constitutes rudeness in say Italy or Spain may not be considered so here in the United States

In this global world we now live in..I would have to say..that the values and morals we raise our own children with are not always the ones that our neighbors choose to install in their own children


is it still the polite thing to do to offer a lady a seat on the bus or is this an antiquated notion that is gone with wind so to speak ..with the advent of women's lib and dual income families..


see the answer is not always cut and dried

I feel old for saying this but I dont like the way things have changed people used to be nicer and a 16 year old would give you a seat If you needed it. I don't like the modern world. Lol

Sorry to hear.. he did not do the right thing...

. you would find my boys very polite..
.... not only would they hold the door open for you... and help you on the bus... they would make sure you had someplace to sit... ..

Or he would lock them in their room and throw away the key

as mother of sons ..hahaa ummm

do they open a door for me? yes they do.
they also open and hold the door for others

they bring in groceries, put their plates in sink, empty dishwasher

when we would visit their grandfather if one of them was sitting in grandpa's favorite easy chair and he walked into the room?
my boys knew with one look from me to get the heck out of that man's chair immediately and let their grandpa sit down


they hold door open for a mom pushing a baby stroller, someone who is handicapped or an elderly person and if that means you stand there for a few minutes longer than so be it


would they have offered you a seat on a bus? you damn right
in fact, mine would have stood up and given up their own seat


but then again that is just the kind of mama I am

.. damn straight...lol..
but then again we are Canadian...

. we are very polite to one another...
and courteous...oui.... it is funny they are little bastards at home..lol...
but when they are out on their own..
. left to their own devices... people say they are very well behaved....

..awww...lol

I always taught my children when you are going out with someone,you treat them so well that when you break up. The bar is so high they can't find anyone to match it or better it.
When that happens you sit back and say oh well your loss NEXT!

Here in the states seats for the elderly, handicapped, and pregnant are relinquished to those people on demand. Even the drivers will back it up.

How ever the tradition of giving up a seat to the mother with a stroller and shopping are fading. Being a Mother with a child in tow while shopping is considered a "choice" and if it is a miserable exhausting experience; which it often is.... for ALL riders because they hate to listen (and smell) out of control "kids" or deal with self righteous bossy cranky Mother's who want to dictate manners while allowing their kids to crawl all over other passengers, so that serious resentment tends to spread to all mothers/children.

If you start something (lecture) with someone on the bus you are likely to get evicted from the bus by the driver or other passengers look the other way while you get a beat down.

You DO NOT seem to be the type to bash other riders with baggage or let your kids be out of control and I am sorry someone was not more empathetic. I am considerably older than yourself but it is not uncommon for me to give my seat to a parent I see struggling. I have tried to instill that as basic manners to my children.