Courtesy takes many forms
By Jon Busdeker on Jul. 26, 2007
Dear Emily: I went to a crowded restaurant the other day and had to sit in the waiting area for 30 minutes before being seated. I am a 35-year-old man, in relatively good shape, but recently pulled a muscle in my back. Well, an older couple came into the restaurant, perhaps in their late 40s, and they kept making comments that “back in their day” a gentleman would give his seat up for a lady. I know they were directing their very loud comments at me, and normally I would have given the woman my seat, but I was really hurting that day. Was it wrong of me to stay seated?
— Don’t Take Things Sitting Down
Dear Don’t Take Things Sitting Down: If fingers are going to be pointed in this situation, they should be directed at the older couple. If they truly were up on their manners, they would have never been so rude to you in the first place.
They had no idea why you were sitting, and they shouldn’t be so presumptuous to suggest that you stand.
Offering your seat to someone is a courtesy, and the couple obviously doesn’t have a full understanding of the word. Sure, it is always polite to give up your seat, but in your case, you had a good enough reason not to.
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