Ian On The Red Dot

Have you noticed the changed signs on our MRT trains informing us which seats are reserved? What a total waste of money.

There should not be any concept of reserved seats on the train.

All those classes of people who are supposed to get the seats near the exit should get any seat if they need it and want it.

While I understand why certain seats are specifically chosen to have the status reserved (because they are closest to the exits), designating certain seats for a special purpose excludes the other seats from fulfilling that purpose.

I get a sense each time I see someone who needs a seat enter the train that everyone NOT sitting on a reserved seat feels that it isn’t their job to offer their place. After all, they aren’t the ones occupying the reserve seat. And it isn’t like there is a sign that says they have to offer.

People pass the buck when we offer someone they can pass it to.

Not having reserved seats is the first step in developing a culture where everyone feels obliged, or rather be more willing, to give up their seat because they can, not because they have to.

Further thoughts:

I am not sure if it is because of recent STOMP shamings, but people seem more reluctant to sit on reserved seats at the earlier stops along the lines. All the non-reserved seats get filled first. This is quite different from the past where people might sit on a reserved seat even though there were empty non-reserved seats. It is like, if I sit there, then it becomes my problem to offer a seat later on. If I don’t, then I can have a peaceful trip because I am not obliged to do anything.

I don’t understand why we haven’t developed a culture where people who genuinely need something can just ask for it.

I used to be very strict on myself about the ‘no-sitting-on-reserved-seats’ rule because my mom had somehow got it into my head they were truly reserved for those people with the identified needs. They always felt like sacred spaces which my sitting would violate.

I believe it was probably around upper secondary or JC that I realized no one else cared. So I didn’t.

When I was going to church actively, I somehow got it into my head that all the ladies on a cabin should be having seats before I get to sit and if a lady entered the cabin, I should quietly leave my seat to open up 1 slot for her. I didn’t explicitly offer it to her because that would just be awkward with Singapore’s culture.

The above notion was probably dismissed after a couple of months when I realized all the other guys weren’t playing by the same rules.

The kiasu part of the Singaporean kicked in – I wasn’t going to let another guy enjoy a seat while I denied myself that right privilege. I am ashamed that I still think that way.