Why People Fight For A Seat

You probably wonder...why oh why seat on public transportation like buses or commuter line is so damn important.

Well, perhaps these pictures may give you an idea

Women on the Bus

Women, God’s creation that need to be protected as they are not strong enough to face the world..

SAID WHO?

In reality, women are fearless and tougher than men, especially on rare occasion.

Don’t believe me?

Anyway, I wrote this post with no intention of being disrespect towards women since I am one myself. Just want to share that women on the bus can be nasty towards other passengers both men and women.

So, one day like any other day when I got cramped inside heavily packed busway. And though the busway already full with so many people, there was this pregnant lady managed to get inside. The officer in charge saw her condition and here I quoted their conversation:

Seat Reservation

Are you taking a bus or an airplane? Seriously? Seat Reservation? Is it travel car between cities? Nope, just local transportation. And yet, you need to have a seat reservation?

It isn't unsual for people here have a reserved seat for their friends. You can find them during lunch time at the food court or coffee shops. But rarely on public transportation. Then again, this is Jakarta where any absurd things can happen.

Once I went with a friend of mine to watch a live show from one major television station here in Indonesia. When we were about to take a seat. a mother with her daughter told us not to sit there. They said there are people going to sit there. Yup. There were several empty seats but we coudn't sit there. So, while grumbling we took another spot and sat there. That's when we saw many people just arrived and take the reserved seats. They probably have many seats reserved for the whole neighborhood. Goodness!




Why I suddenly talk about this? On dailynews Kompas dated 14 october 2012 there was a story about a guy try to have a seat reserved for his friend. From his conversation through handphone, his friend was waiting in another busway stop. So, when he got two empty seats he quickly put the backpack on the empty seat. He then take another near empty seat. Then another passanger entered the busway. The new passenger was about to take a seat when this guy stop him. He said the seat has been taken. The new passenger was upset and persistently asked where is that person? Not here? So, why can't he sit there? After another angry passengers terrorizing this guy, he finally gave up. And even decided to gave up both his seat and the reserved one. That guy left the busway when it reached the next busway stop.

Lesson part 1

From a book about people's body language, I read that public area or public transportation are the right places to slowly but sure in learning about situation and body language of people around.

When we frequently using the bus daily (as we have to due to limited options), rather than just wondering around we start to notice every common things on the bus...

If we use the bus quite often, then we surely know that A SEAT is obviously becoming the most wanted items on the bus... So, if there is an empty seat inside a crowded bus unwanted by any passengers, then we will be able to start making a list of presumption of the obvious events :

1. The passenger sitting beside the empty seat turn out have a smelly stinking odor
Ah, I am not insulting or anything... IT'S A TRUTH! Once I just get on the bus that fairly crowded... I said fairly as I was still able to get on the bus, right? As usual, I swept the entire space inside the bus in vain hope that I would catch a passenger before me about leaving the bus... Then my eyes stumble on an empty seat and my heart were like leaping away... But wait... Why there was nobody seems interested to sit there? And not so many people want to stand near that empty seat though they have shoved over by the driver's assistant. So, surely but sure I was starting to move near the seat... YUCK... No wonder nobody want to sit there. Later on, a girl get on the bus and whoosh she straightly put herself on that HOT SEAT. It did not take long before she start shifting her sitting position. If previously she sat staring up front, now she move her entire body to the other direction... Back to back with the person sitting beside her. I notice this with concern (and smiling *vicious*). That's not all. Her hands starting to move pinching her nose (but she pretend as if she want to hold her face to start sleeping)
That's why you need to have a quick look first, Miss... Why people do not want to sit there!

2. If it is raining, those seats located at the back area of the AC bus will surely empty
Don't even try to sit there unless you already bring proper and complete tools. They are raincoat, plastic tablecloth or something like canvas.
As once the rain pouring hard outside the bus, then the AC bus will adjusted itself as per the weather out there by giving big flood to seats located in the back area.
If you happen to be on the bus BEFORE the rain, well just brace yourself...

3. There are left over of meals which have been processed inside the stomach
Obviously this one need no more further explanation right?

See, who said that people can't just study anywhere and any time? Hehehehe
See you on the next course ;)