Where's the grace in graciousness?

i think we've been through this warning section quite a few times.
if you're going to be one of those adults who are going to scream and holler in indignity at my - excuse me - ignorant, idiotic and completely out of point words, please do not click the 'continue' button, thank you.
you have been warned.
i'm just going to tell you what i'll probably cover, just in case you boldly ask
"but if i don't know what you're talking about, how would i know if i'd be offended?"

i'm just going to cover this part of respect and giving up seats on public transports- are young people culprits of rude behaviour on public transports? (loooooneh)

so there.
you have been warned (again!)



"Your tiredness stems from a day's work. Their tiredness stems from a lifetime's work."

So, a member of the public, happily -and perhaps cowardly- anonymous, wrote in to our school (ohohoho, a prestigious school, oh yes we are all prim and proper and perfect.).

In the letter, he/she/it claimed that he/she/it saw that a girl from our school not giving up her seat to an elderly. Oh my goodness! How improper! Look at all that dishonour! Oh my, what is this world coming to? How could she be so selfish? I would like a proper apology letter from her and her parents and the school and of course, there must be punishment, oh yes! 

How old should a person be to be called an 'elderly'? 65? 60? Or maybe ages don't matter. Perhaps fat? Slick forehead? Balding men? People who rely on canes? How about those that can't even stand? What about-?

First things first. Were you right next to the girl? Did you hear - or see - her blatantly ignore the 'elderly'? Did she pretend to fall asleep? My point, however defensive, is that some of us actually do care to give up our seats but the person always does refuse and smile. So how can you make assumptions? How can you assume that 'worried' tone and write in to complain about this? Perhaps the 'elderly' in question did not want to sit? Do you mean that we should insist vehemently and bundle the 'elderly' into the seat? Then maybe, all the 'energetic teenagers' don't have to sit! What's the point of a 'reserved seat' anyway when you can enforce laws for 'energetic, happy youths' to not sit on buses? Admittedly though, this is a weak point. 

However, couldn't you have- I don't know- given your seat up to the 'elderly'? Why, of course, your astonishment, horror, terror, shock, disapproval of the girl's actions must have caused you to fidget uncomfortably in your seat-! Oh, or was it such a headache -of what would happen to the future generation because of your one-sided story of what you saw happen- that you couldn't bear to watch on, but rest your little head against the window? 

Oh, but you could have shouted at the girl, instead of complaining to the school a few days later to express your concern for our future generation! You could have done something. If you saw everything happen, you could have done something.

And of course, at the start of this biased rant, the lovely and wise quote is from my lovely and wise teacher. Of course, you'd accumulate your 'tiredness' every single day! Of course, with each day, your muscles would ache and you'd start to die! (I am not denying, that with old age, sickness follows) but seriously? You'd only feel tired because it's all in your mind! Because you've experienced whatever that's happened. I mean, you'd feel tired because of all the negative emotions you've experienced. 

But still. Every single problem is important. (Hence there is no such thing as their problems being greater than ours. Because from our own logic bubble, every single one of those problems is important. They've caused us damage, taught us, helped us, threw us down the cliff and pulled us up in the end) Every single person is important. And we are obliged to give up our seats because we're younger than them? No. We're giving up our seats, because we're gracious.

Because we actually care.

So please don't give me that crap, please. 

And teacher, the way that you say it, your lips all pursed and your face all screwed up, you did look like death on both legs. The way you say it- it all boils down-

On the surface, we're giving you a choice. 
But deep down, we're not. 

We're persuading you, encouraging you. Oh, of course you'll have a choice but then the respected members of society will all write in, their pens shaking and the ink all spilling and it's all your fault.
And we will ask you! We will very gently ask you,

"Why didn't you give up your seat?"

And when you answer that you haven't been feeling well,

"Oh, yes, SURE."