This is a "Reserved seat" sign implemented in Singapore a few years back. Has it made Singapore a better place since?
Let's start by talking about how things used to be like, before this sign came about. In the past, anyone could sit on any seat in the train. If an elderly or someone who need the seat more enters the train, people can choose to, or not to, give up their seats for them. This is an act of courtesy and goodwill. Though the risk that no one will stand up and offer up their seats remains.
After this sign was introduced, the often scenario is this, everyone rushes to the seats around. Sometimes pushing their way through when there are greater crowd. Not letting the people alight first, just so that they can get to the empty seats that are not with the reserved seat signs. These reserved seats are located on both sides of every entrance.
When all the other seats are filled, people reluctantly sit on those reserved seats, as they do not want to be the one expected to give up their seats or to be 'judged' by others. When someone who need the seats more enters the train, the first reaction is for everyone to be staring at the person on the reserved seat. It is like an eye-signaling to the person that they should be the one who give up their seat. In the event if they do not, people will stare at them and give unpleasant look like it was an obligation that they should have done so. Some times I see people who sit on the reserved seat and pretend to be soundly asleep.
While on the other hand, there are some older people who got offended and felt insulted when the priority seats are offered to them. Some lady who are a little bigger sized, mistaken to be pregnant and are offended by the kind gesture of giving up the seat to them. How do we gauge when to, and when not to offer up our seats?
Then I have witness this 3rd kind of situations where it is the other way round. The people who need the seat more, entered the train and demands their way. Personally it happened to me once. I was on the reserved seat as I have looked around and see that no one else is in need of the seat. An elderly uncle entered the train and immediately, he slammed the glass panel beside me and raised his voice shouting "EXCUSE ME!" And gestured for me to get out of my seat. I was shocked and hastily stood up that he could have the seat. But I guess I would have willingly and gladly stood up for him if I saw him entering the train?
A while back I was on a bus. Reserved seating are less obvious and noticable on buses as they are indicated by the color of the seat, and people are often less aware. This bus is a very crowded bus and often it will be so packed that it has to turn people away due to its full capacity. So it is no doubt that someone is definitely sitting on the reserved seats. An elderly man boarded the bus and at the instant he set foot on the bus, he shouted loudly at the lady on the reserved seat. "HEY YOU DONT KNOW THIS IS A RESERVED SEAT AR? YOU STILL DARE TO SIT! GET UP LA!" The lady was dumbfounded and embarrassed by the situation. She made her way out quickly, but the man did not stop scolding her with unpleasant words, till he sat down.
Has this "Reserved seat" sign made us better people? Or worse? Are the priorities given a privilege or prestige? How is this helping if people of greater needs are putting those who are sitting on these priority seats, in display of public embarrassment? Is this about courtesy or an obligation?
Should we then simply leave all the "Reserved seats" empty? Is it going to solve the problem? Who determines who need a seat more than another? If the reserved seat is already taken by elderly and a pregnant lady enters, how then can anyone say who deserve the seat more? Or another elderly enter, are they suppose to compare to see who is older, to determine who gets the seat?
We should move towards building our character and values of courtesy, than just the priority seating. There are so much more in the areas we can build and develop courtesy. While this seating issue is just 1 out of the many, of course, being the most common around us.
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