(no subject)

[waterspyder]

So I need to figure out another way to respond to asshats on the bus.

This morning I got on the bus and, as it was pretty full, I showed my Priority Seating Pass (which means both my doctor and OC Transpo agree it is difficult for me to remain standing while a bus is in motion), and asked if there was anyone able to give up their seat.

This can be like pulling teeth as there are many high school students involved, but it was a 40-year-old man who said "Why? Because you're fat."

I went off as this is a trigger issue, and I believe he vacated the seat more out of fear at that point than anything at that point.


So, I want to know how other people would handle this situation and preferably turn it into a positive one (i.e. not using the words "bigot" and "asshole" in the process; I've got that system down pat and I want to learn a new one).

Comments

[waterspyder.livejournal.com]

That's what the priority seating pass that I show him is supposed to indicate, and unfortunately in my experience, even when you ask for the bus driver to wait or help, fewer than 10% of drivers actually wait long enough for you to get a seat, even on an empty bus. In a couple of cases I injured myself (bounced my head off a pole, skinned my knee) at which point they become suddenly apologetic. Sometimes they don't, in fact I once had a fellow bus rider go apeshit on the bus driver because I had fallen down and he wouldn't stop the bus so I could get up. I've also been denied help from a bus driver to get a seat even with my pass (and a cane at the time) and a woman who was 8 month pregnant woman cleared out the front half of a packed accordian bus so that I could have a seat (she said she didn't need one as pregnancy treated her well).

There's a lot of ignorant people out there, especially when it comes to non-visible disabilities, unfortunately, they are also the bus drivers sometimes.

[ironphoenix.livejournal.com]

I should perhaps have said that you should tell the driver loudly and clearly that you can't stand safely and that could he please wait until you're seated.

But no, there are no guarantees that any given tactic will work, given sufficient ignorami.