'AITA for asking a disabled person to move seats on the bus for my child?'
"AITA for asking a disabled person to move seats on the bus for my child?"
I (32F) was on the bus with my 5-year-old daughter when we got on at a busy stop. There were no empty seats available, except for one near a person using a wheelchair (40M).
I asked the person if they could move their wheelchair to another spot so that my daughter and I could sit together, but the person declined, saying that they needed the space for their mobility device.
I was taken aback and frustrated by this response. I explained to them that my daughter was very young and needed to sit next to me for safety reasons, but they still refused to move. I ended up having to stand for the entire ride with my daughter in tow, which was uncomfortable and tiring for both of us.
When I told a friend about what happened, they said I was being insensitive and ableist. They pointed out that the person in the wheelchair had a right to the space they needed and that it was unfair of me to ask them to move.
Now, I'm questioning whether or not I was in the wrong for asking the person to move. AITA for asking a disabled person to move seats on the bus for my child?
Here's what people had to say to OP:
Public transit is not child friendly and you can’t expect it to be, other people shouldn’t be put out because you didn’t have the forethought to have your own car in order to transport your child in comfort.. wth yta
If it was really easy for the handicapped person to move then maybe it would be ok to ask them but it sounds like the bus was really crowded. Not easy to maneuver a wheelchair. Gonna have to go with YTA.
I agree YTA but everybody has a bad day & with the over sensitivity in the world it's hard to keep up with what is socially acceptable or that we put our better values on the back burner bc of the bad day thing I was talking about.
It's ok just reflect some & go over all the things you're grateful for in life so your reminded of how good you have it. Walking & having a daughter that you obviously love.. silver lining, you sound like a loving mom which makes you somewhat decent person at the very least..this must be a result of being tired.
You are my first 'YTA' in all the years I've been on Reddit!
You couldn’t just put the 5 year old on your lap? You both had to stand instead?
I feel for this child and the lessons they are learning. My heartbreaks for this child and the potential of this child becoming just as much of an AH as their AH parent.
Imagine being so entitled that you genuinely think standing up on your perfectly good, working legs is so awful and tiring that you ask someone who is physically unable to stand to get out of your way.