This picture of a young lady occupying a reserved seat on the MRT and toying with her handphone has been making its rounds online.
Many netizens have criticised her for not giving up her seat to the elderly lady standing beside her, or the girl sitting on the floor to her right.
The online attack has turned pretty savage, with some calling her derogatory names.
But the lady at the heart of the incident says there’s more to this picture than meets the eye.
In a Facebook post, Pingping Li said that she had boarded the train and sat on the reserved seat.
Subsequently, the elderly lady boarded the train together with the girl.
A woman who was seated opposite her asked the elderly lady if she would like to have a her seat, but the elderly lady refused.
Pinping Li says she too offered the elderly lady her seat but the offer was rejected, with the elderly lady saying she would be getting off the train soon.
She says the young girl also refused her offer of the reserved seat.
Pingping Li says she tried to engage the person who posted the picture online, but the poster wouldn’t reply to her.
The online shame game when it comes to MRT reserved seats has been rampant.
Netizens have also criticised those who who merely snap pictures of “offenders” for not stepping forward to request that they vacate the reserved seats for those who need it more.
Anonymous
July 31, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Sometimes..people are really quick to judge others..with out knowing the story behind…some elderly people are also like to reject ..when you offer them your sit…com’s said they will get down to the next station..for me even if I never sit a reserved I offer my sir to those she needed it more…you don’t need to be on the reserve sit….to offer your sit…
TT
August 1, 2015 at 1:54 pm
My advice for those who do not need the privilege of the reserved seats is to not even sit on it and to leave it for those who truly need such reserved seats.