The guy on the 7 bus who yelled at me for not giving up my seat

I was sitting in the priority seat on the 7 bus in Portland last Tuesday, but I had a bad back from moving furniture the day before. This older guy gets on and just stands over me, glaring, then says "You look healthy enough to stand, kid." I didn't move because honestly I was hurting, but I felt like a jerk the whole ride. So which side are you on - should you always give up priority seats no matter what, or is it okay to stay if you have a hidden reason?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wyatt18d ago

Honestly, I think the priority seats are meant for anyone who genuinely needs them, not just for people with visible disabilities or injuries. If your back was messed up, you had every right to stay put, and the other guy shouldn't have assumed you were fine just because you're young.

susanm5617d ago

Oh wow, I feel for you so much on this. I've been there myself - last year I had a really bad pinched nerve in my neck and looked completely fine standing there, but the pain was awful. People don't get that "invisible" stuff is still REAL and you don't owe anyone a full medical history just to sit down on a bus. You were doing what you had to do for yourself, and that's okay.

davis.ruby19d ago

I see what you're saying about having a hidden reason, but I actually think the priority seats are for people who REALLY need them, not just for anyone with a sore back. When you're sitting there, you're basically telling the whole bus "I'm the one who needs this more than anyone else who might get on." If that older guy was standing and you were hurting, maybe you could have just said "Sorry, I threw my back out yesterday" instead of just ignoring him. It's the silence that makes you look like a jerk, not the sitting.