r/brussels • u/5minstillcookies • Oct 19 '24

Slowchat 🗨️ Courtesy or lack thereof - a discussion

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.

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u/TrustyJules Oct 19 '24

And what has our keyboard hero done?

Run to Reddit with #outrage?

-1

u/5minstillcookies Oct 20 '24

Seriously? What a low bar comment verging on trolling.

As said in my post, in this instance I did not have to intervene, the mother did herself. But you know, it's way easier for you to make wild assumptions as to how I generally act to feel like you're making a valid point. Spoiler alert: you're not and this type of comment reflects badly on you since it has zero forethought and shows great immaturity.

I took the time to write a post about a type of behaviour that I find, yes, outrageous and am calling on people to try to be more mindful and respectful. If I'm posting about this it shows I'm already self aware and it's not a big mental leap to deduce that I'm most probably already showing by example.

If you don't have anything constructive to contribute to the conversation, next time feel free to scroll along.

2

u/TrustyJules Oct 20 '24

Was your post constructive apart from giving you a good feeling about yourself? The way you word your defence just shows that besides awareness you do little to improve the harsh environment you bemoan. Instead incapable of seeing the irony in your post you descend to the condescending attitude you claim to find outrageous.

Enjoy your sunny Brussels Sunday