When commuting on public transport, it’s pretty much the social norm to give up our seats to an elderly person.
However, a recent incident on the metro in Shenyang, China, has proven that some younger folks need a seat as much as the elderly.
The clip showed a young man having a massive meltdown that was reportedly triggered by an elderly man who forced him to give up his seat.
An argument between the two ensued, and train station staff were brought in to deal with the situation.
The young man, who was visibly under a lot of stress, was heard shouting: “I need to earn money! Give me money!”
The elderly man instantly bit back. “Me? Give you money?” he said before he was pulled aside by a staff member.
The young man then thrashed about in his seat as he burst into a heartbreaking wail. “[You’re] all bullying me!” he cried.
One station staff then placed his hand on the man’s shoulder to comfort him.
In the later part of the clip, the young man, who had yet to calm down, was heard telling the elderly man: “I’ll sit here as I please. What’s wrong with me fighting for this seat?”
He was eventually escorted out of the train.
While some netizens judged the young man for his disruptive outburst, many felt sympathy for him. They believed his reaction was caused by pent-up stress, and being heckled by the old man was his last straw.
“Honestly, young people these days need to take a break and sit down more than the elderly do,” wrote one netizen.
Others guessed that he “must have been having a hard time at work”, and that “life must not have been easy for him”.
A popular comment defending the man read: “Despite the pressure he was clearly dealing with, the young guy never cursed once. He’s likely tired from work, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to sit down and get some rest.”
The biggest takeaway from this incident? If anything, the young man’s meltdown illustrates the immense stress some young people may be facing today, and it’ll definitely help if we choose to be more forgiving and understanding of others.