What about the other people doing the same thing as me?
This doesn't happen every day, but once in a while an old (I'm guessing 70ish +) feels compelled to tell me that I'm being rude.
My offenses so far have been crossing my legs while sitting on the train; having my cell phone on in the train; sitting in the section for pregnant ladies, old people or injured people.
Today, my back was KILLING me. I didn't have a broken leg but I usually opt to not sit in that section just out of respect. But I actually kind of felt like I was going to barf and I decided I would sit instead of feel naseaous. Really, people should applaud my consideration here. It's very nasty when someone barfs on the train during rush hour.
Anyway, I sit down. This old lady sits beside me. Fine. I'm listening to my ipod. She taps me on the shoulder and points to the sign. I told her it wasn't a keitai, but turned down my music. In fact I turned it off. She taps me again. She points to the sign again and tells me I can't sit there.
Me? I guess because I have the bad luck to sit beside her. I tell her my back is bad and she replies, "oh" like she doesn't believe it. That part I really don't care. But what I care about is why she decides to pursue the issue with me. There is a guy sitting on the other side of me. He is probably my age but I look younger. There are two other people younger than me across the aisle but she never says a peep to them. Lots of people do this all the time. In fact a common arguement with my husband and I is my refusal to sit in that section of the train. He couldn't care less 90% of the time, but when someone needs it we give seats up. He even helps people with their bags.
What I want to know is why she thinks she can judge me? If she has some super-human ability to diagnose the dying and pregnant people of the world, then why is she on the train? And I don't particularly believe it was "to do me a favor."
I looked around at other people on the train. No frail old people. In fact my father in law who is 65 gets pissed if younger people give him their seat. Whatever.
The other thing that bugs me is that I will give my seat up to someone who looks like they need it. Even if it's not in a designated section. Today I needed that seat. I wish I hadn't taken it and had gotten sick and barfed on that lady. It's such a nasty thought but I am so pissed at her. I managed to call her "nosy" and then she left me alone.
I feel that if you're going to scold someone, you gotta go for everyone doing it not just the easy looking target.
I feel like I got judged for my surface appearance. I wish I had better language skills to ask why she felt I was the only one needing talking to. Because at my age, I can understand the pictures that accompany the words. Welcome to living overseas.