Passengers travelling on SMRT trains will now see signs encouraging them to be more courteous. The latest additions in the trains are posted on "priority seats". They have been put up by public transport operator SMRT, asking commuters to give up these seats to other passengers with special needs. It is part of the company's annual month-long nation-wide "Courtesy and Safety Programme". [End of report]
I dont know if there is any difference between the new signs and the old ones nor do I think that the new signs will work. I think at the end of the day, the results will still depend on whether the people are willing to change their attitude instead of putting on a new sign. I mean it doesnt matter how well the design of the signs are or whether the people are able to understand what the signs is saying because I believe everyone know the meaning of being courteous. The question is though whether the people want to be courteous because if you ask me, most of us Singaporeans are not that courteous when it comes to giving up our seats to other passengers with special needs, whether it is in the train or in the bus. I have seen a lot of time when most people will just do nothing and act ignorant whenever they saw passengers with special needs boarding the bus or the train despite all these 'Please Give Your Seat To Passenger With Special Needs' sign posted all over the bus and trains. I mean, they are not blind and Im sure they are not illiterate, so I dont understand why it is difficult for them to just stand up and give their seat to someone else who needs it more than they do. How about myself? I would definitely give my seat to someone else with special needs if I see one, in fact, I have done that a few times before. Whether you want to believe me or not, thats your problem, but I hope you will start doing the same thing if you havn't done so.
Then there is of course some people with special needs who refused to take the seat that you offered to them or they choose to stand when there are seats available. They must have some reason for doing so but I think the least you could do is to try giving up your seat to them first, I think that is a basic courtesy that everyone should have. If you are in a bus sitting alone and you are too embarrassed to ask them whether they want to sit, you could just move inside and occupy the seat that is nearer to the window, they will understand what you are trying to do. There is however one group of people that I just couldn't stand at your and these are the people who are all alone but they will occupy two seats instead of one by putting some of their things such as their bag beside them, hence preventing others the chance to sit. I really despise these group of people, old or young. What are they thinking? Does their family own the bus or the train? Im sure not. But anyway, back to the new courtesy signs, like I've said earlier, I dont think it will work unless the people are willing to change their attitude. I would also like to point out though that not all Singaporeans are not courteous, because I have seen instances where they actually gave up their seats other people and I will feel very happy and pleased everytime I see similar thing happening.
What do you think though? Will the new signs encouraging people to be courteous in trains actually work or do you think it is up to the individuals themselves to make the changes? Have you ever encountered incidents where people refused to give up their seats or are you one of those who never fail to give up your seats when necessary? Share your views.
*The report was taken from ChannelNewsAsia.
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