I live in St. Louis, Missouri and am going to study abroad in London this fall. The Fodor’s 2006 edition City Guide advised “…under pain of death do not offer your seat [on the tube] to the elderly, disabled, pregnant or faint; instead you should bury your head in a book and pretend you can’t see them.”
Why is this? I can understand strangers want to be left alone, but I want to be courteous. Is it just a cultural difference; I’m sure it’s not a deliberant act of rudeness? Will I be a blatant social outcast if I break this “rule”?
I want to be a good civil ambassador for my country, and I figure since I’m an American I’ll already have points off. Maybe I’m not giving Britons enough credit. I’m so tired of apologizing to the world for that man!!!!!
Thanks for your answers, and I promise not to stand on the left side of the escalator (I hate those people too)!
2007-05-30
10:19:24
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12 answers
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asked by
moxie107
1