CTA Tattler

Excellent idea Another Guest!

We'd also solve the overcrowded problem (except of course for the car with the YUP's w/iPODs group... you know how those brown liners can be (just kidding)).

Now how do we go about categorizing those people who walk between cars while the train is moving?

Sorry coolhand, I got a little hotheaded and missed the preposition.

Wow, I didn't realize how often this became a topic. I think we can all agree on a few things:

There are people who could use a seat more than most (elderly, some pregnant ladies, some small children, disabled people, etc.) In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the CTA actually advocates that you help those people out. Crazy, I know, but they do.

What the discussion comes down to is this nagging complaint that pops up every once in a while where someone either: A) Postulates that women are much, much more likely to offer a seat to someone *clearly* in need or B) While the person posting always, always gives up their seat, every person around them on 99.9% of their trips absolutely refuses to acknowledge someone who could use a seat more than them.

The first idea, the one where women are awesome creatures and men just have no clue, is what stirs up a lot of completely unnecessary crap. You ladies really need to cut that out, because it's both pointless and ridiculous.

As far as giving up your seat, it's pretty obvious when you come across a person who really needs / deserves a seat, and, oddly, I've always seen someone offer one to them. The problem here is that there are categories of people who appear to be perfectly fine standing, but would still like to have your seat, and either feel a silent sense of entitlement or harbor expectations that people should just know to get up automatically.

If someone standing looks like they're doing OK, but in actuality really needs a seat, they should ask. Otherwise, no complaining. People are very accommodating on the CTA -- no, honest, they are. I think that's most of the problem -- someone looks like they're doing fine, but they're seething inside at the absolute rudeness of people who really have no reason to notice a problem.

And, as far as the seats reserved for elderly/disabled passengers -- what's the problem with people sitting in those? What's the expectation, that those seats are going to remain empty in the off-chance that someone who truly needs them isn't going to be left out? That goes back to the main point: if someone truly needs a seat, they'll be offered one. Based on my experience, I just have a hard time believing this is such a problem..

Joe Blow: Good summation.

Unfortunately, I have witnessed when no one was willing to give up a seat to an very elderly woman on an unsteady bus.. Rare, but it does happen.

Cool Hand: "i do believe that men and women should be treated as equals" ... yes.. "'social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men.' Says women should have equal RIGHTS" ... exactly... TREATED as equals, as i said in the first place. moron, you apparently cant make the connection between the word "treated as equals" and "doctrine advocating ..... rights of women equal to those of men" then you just don't have a brain. just because i didnt use the EXACT definition doesnt mean shit.

by the way, i like how you conveniently used a DIFFERENT definition of chivalry than that of dictionary.com, although you just used it for me. also, as stated before "primary/original definition of chivalry were the qualifications of knight, which yes, included things such as courtesy and generosity, but also 'dexterity in arms' and ability to battle with swords." in other words, that word was used to describe KNIGHTS... not MEN in general. but, also, as Joe followed up: "I am speaking of the social concepts behind its inception as it relates directly to the treatment of the female sex. Not the definition we now place upon it. Nor its use in the other conducts of knighthood." what do you find so confusing, or that we're so wrong about? citing dictionary website doesnt prove shit, nor does your idea behind them.

i didnt take philosophy nor do i intend to. i dont need a philosophy teacher to teach what a history teacher already has. learn to make connections with things.

the funniest part is that i am actually a person that DOES get up for women, elderly, etc., however i also defend myself/men from the fact that women and men both apparently think that majority of men wont get up. morons.

Another Guest: i'm entertained by the fact that you think the only people w/ ipods are yups. you more than likely have an ipod, which is an even funnier part.

Joe Blow: i'm glad you could actually sum all of that up and not turn into an immature asshole when doing it. i, on the other hand, do turn into an immature asshole. but... oh well. whats the internet for anyways?

Nope, I don't own an iPod. And I'm not young any more either. I think you'll find me on car 8 -- maybe with a bicycle. Oops! Now we need another couple of cars. Time to re-construct!

What does the mother have to do with anything? Give up the seat for the child, yes, but, I'm assuming the mother is still in her child-rearing years (read: healthy). Stand lady. Lose that baby fat! j/k (kind of)

I have to say reading this, I am amazed at the number of angry people out there... which is probably where the loss of civility starts. Why are you all so mad at the world and the other people who populate it? We are all in this together folks. If standing up to let someone who could use the seat more than you makes the day a bit easier for that person, what's the big deal? Pay it forward, do something nice for someone else and the karma train will stop for you too.

karma shmarma

I think that there are a couple of differing sentiments in some of these posts that are getting a lot of people stirred up and resulting in these vitriolic comments.

First, there do seem to be some people who think that women who are mothers and have their young children with them are entitled to special treatment, and there are people who are virulently opposed to that position. I think that some people might be offended by the idea that an otherwise healthy young woman would be entitled to a seat simply because she had a child with her, and there are others who are just as offended that not all of society views it as appropriate to give a young mother a seat (or two seats). The fact that people view the miracle of childbirth and the raising of children differently should not surprise us. I would think that most of us will admit that we find some people to be uncessarily unsympathetic to the plight of a young mother traveling on the train with children, just as we might agree that at least some young mothers with children have an overactive sense of what society should do to assist and accomodate them.

Second, people have differing views on just how out of their way to go to help those they come across who are less fortunate than they are. There are plenty of old or frail or disabled people we all see around the City (including on the CTA) every day, and each of us has to make a decision about how much to go out of our way to help those people. It might offend some that an otherwise healthy young mother would expect assistance or a seat simply because she is a young mother, especially when on most train cars there will be someone who is old or frail or disabled. We can all talk about how much courtesy has left our society, but I hope that no one is expecting all sorts of assistance or special treatment when he or she has not in the past gone out of his or her way to assist others.

yeah... i dont know if anyone specifically stated YOUNG mothers... but still.

speaking of young mothers. (this is basically off-topic) why is society supposed to be feel bad for young single mothers? its not my fault you opened up your legs to some dumbass guy who just wanted a piece of ass and you were too stupid to realize it. yes, obviously, i blame both parties, the stupid guy and the stupid girl, but why should i feel bad about it?

someone has some sand in their vag.. wahh wahh

I give up my seat for pregnant women just to avoid comments and criticism from strangers. But I think that, if you get pregnant, it's your own fault/decision, and you should have to live with the unpleasantness of it. So many women here in Chicago, especially the Latinas, are popping out babies (anchor babies, anyone?) like crazy. Their inability/unwillingness to use birth control or have abortions does not mean that I should have to give up my seat. I do it just so that I can ride in peace and not be further disturbed by the clueless masses. But a woman with just a child? Sheesh! There's no way that I am giving up my seat just because a woman (or a guy, for that matter) has a kid with her/him.

Another group that pisses me off is fat people. There's no farkin' way I am giving up my seat to a fatty.

Senior citizens are different. I will gladly give up my seat. We're all going to be old someday, and that's no one's choice -- it's just how it is. Having kids or being so obese that it hurts you to stand....those are choices.

Hey BJ?

Got bigot?

Just want to add that I was on the Brown line headed downtown on Saturday and a pregnant woman with a small child (maybe 4 years old) and a woman I presumed was "grandma" got on the train and a young Hispanic (?) guy couldn't get up out of his seat fast enough for this little group.

Bravo!

This restored my faith in humanity.

wow Maureen, as if that wasnt obvious before. it just goes to show that just because YOU dont see something happen, doesnt mean that it DOESNT HAPPEN.

Adam, maybe so, but from what I was reading here this week, I was getting the feeling that people no longer behave in a civil manner toward one another and they justify their behavior with sterotypes about pregnancy (its there fault/choice), children (they misbehave and deserve to fall down), and new mothers (they are fat and should stand up as a way of losing weight). In two seconds, what I witnessed on Saturday made me think that the people who post here are not representative of all CTA riders.

Civil manner. As in defined by civilization, right? Well our civilization puts the self above anything else, so technically people not giving up seats are acting in a civil manner.

I know you mean civil as in acting in a polite and courteous manner. Thats a problem, because even in school it is not taught any longer. Its all about being the #1 student, getting the best scholarship for me, so I can succeed in the world.

So, you shouldn't really be asking people to behave in a manner reflecting the downward spiral of society, but in the polite manner of yester-year.

Or, move to a rural place, they tend to be more polite. ;)

Ok, I've got a badly sprained ankle,and it's obvious that I'm in pain standing up. Will that same woman with the kid get up and give me HER seat as I'm in distress???? Doubtful. Same reason I'll be damned if I'm going to give some Trixie Wench my seat, because I could BE DYING in front of her and she'd be so busy talking on her cell phone and farting around with her ipod, that she would'nt even notice,let alone give me HER seat, until I gasped my last breath and, in my death throes, accidently bumped the blackberry out of her "free" hand. Chivalry is not dead, it just has little place in the shcity......

Maureen: if you thought that this blog represented all CTA riders in the first place, you have something wrong. consider me; i know that the things i say on here are many times rude/crude/what i wouldnt say to my grandma, BUT many times are what i really am thinking (or i am being really sarcastic), i'm just simply too polite in person to be an asshole (usually). so, for the simple fact that on the train i WOULD get up for a pregnant woman, and the fact that i criticize this entire subject on here, which obviously dont go hand in hand, probably doesnt represent the typical CTA rider.

Alpoforlunch: once again, apparently everyone with an iPod, cellphone and/or blackberry is a trixie or "chad." i really wonder why so many people live in a city as expensive as Chicago is without having money for any of those things? oh... no.. wait, sorry, i forgot. you're one of those cool people who dont watch tv because "tv sucks" and "only fat losers watch tv"

my point being... (damn post button) you're just too cool to have cool things. damn.

Reasons for not giving up a seat.

1 - The train is crowded and stepping into the aisle is a hassle.

2 - The seated person may be sick or injured (I'm healthy, but have a back that frequently hurts, so I'm not giving my seat up for a 3 year old).

3 - It's the morning rush and people are asleep.

4 - iPods, books, newspapers.

5 - People don't revolve around their fellow commuters.

6 - Offering seats went out around 1970, I think.

My favorite part of all of this is people believing someone when they say "my child is well behaved." It's not that you're lying, but I've yet to see a parent admit their child isn't well behaved!