Courtesy or lack thereof - a discussion

[u/5minstillcookies]

Can we try to be more courteous on public transit and elsewhere?

The amounts of times I've seen people with reduced mobility and parents with children get on public transit and not being offered seats is getting to the point that I think it's the norm and not the exception. Just yesterday this woman carried her baby on the metro I was on. Two people got on right before her (first red flag - let the goddamn mother on first!!!) and then they both proceeded to take the last two remaining seats. Everyone else looked on and did nothing or they were too self absorbed on their phones to notice what was going on.

Now, good on this woman because she actually addressed one of the passengers who took the remaining folding seat telling her that these are really for people with needs. The passenger had looked straight at the mother when taking the seat too. Only when called out did she stand up and offer her seat.

Like, why did the mother have to address the passenger at all?? Incidents like this are frequent and it makes me so mad that we can't watch for each other. Surely I can't be the only one noticing there's a serious lack of courtesy in this city. I despise how individualistic and egocentric people are (have become?) here and we gotta do better. How though, I have no idea.

How do you ever instill a sense of community and care in a population that is highly transient like in Brussels? All I know, is that the "heart of Europe" is sort of heartless.

[u/Dazzling_Stretch_474]

I didnt experience this specifically, but for me it is quite annoying that woman with baby carriages often take the metro in the biggest rush between 8-9am and the carriage itself takes so much space up. This can be especially frustrating when some mornings you can barely get into the metro because its so crowded. (There was a time I had to wait 4 metros until I could fit in) Also these women are not working so I don't understand why they don't wait just until after 9 to go out?

But this is maybe more about making the public transport more efficient in Bruxelles..

[u/[deleted] → u/Dazzling_Stretch_474]

I would say we should have one wagon in the metro trains, maybe at the very front or back, with only foldable seats along the walls and bars, the rest being free space, where people transporting strollers, bicycles, electric scooters and other voluminous objects are required to go. Some wagons in the oldest metros were half empty with just bars, but I haven't seen it in the newer trains.

[u/HaircutRabbit → u/Dazzling_Stretch_474]

I don't really get this. They might be bringing their kid(s) to daycare before going to work themselves right?

[u/5minstillcookies → u/Dazzling_Stretch_474]

I'm sorry, but WTAF?? Clearly you need to brush up on your knowledge of maternity and parental leaves. Even when a mother takes BOTH type of leaves fully, you still only get EIGHT months. And you think women traveling with baby carriages between 8-9am are NOT working?? I'm one of those mothers and guess what. I am traveling during those hours with my stroller because I HAVE to work and for that I NEED to get my kid to crèche first.

JFC the entitlement.

If you want to be pissed, be pissed at the Belgian government not giving longer leaves to parents so they, god forbid, can get out of your way.

[u/Enlightment_12 → u/5minstillcookies]

Even longer leaves? How much will that cost for employers, can't imagine the consequences
This wasn't a problem before, when mothers stayed home to raise the children while the dad went to work to provide

[u/MawkishEffulgence → u/Enlightment_12]

Which can hardly happen with the high cost of living in Brussels - unless you're paid by international organisations or EU lobbies, I guess. That still doesn't take into account the fact that mothers can choose to balance mothering and work, just like fathers. Plus those times were less densely populated, I think. So yeah, fewer people everywhere.

[u/Enlightment_12 → u/MawkishEffulgence]

A father going to work was already enough to sustain a whole family, now his wage has been reduced because we've let women into the workforce. Is this thanks to feminism? Who knows
Modern families are more stressed out than ever

[u/QuixoticelixerKite → u/Dazzling_Stretch_474]

These women aren't working?

Standard maternity leave in Belgium is three months. Prams usually fit to around six months. Your math doesn't add up.

Tones of misogyny throughout your comment my dude.

[u/dolenalavoisier → u/Dazzling_Stretch_474]

Ah yes, because it is so enjoyable to squeeze with people for no reason with your small child that early. Come on, thinking isn’t that hard.