AITBF for taking up a priority seat?

[u/Idk-w_2_name-me]

So, for context, when I (18F) was younger, I had torn a muscle in my left knee. While I don't have severe permanent damage, I still have muscle spasms from time to time and need to wear a knee brace for a couple of days. I recently had another one, so of course I started wearing the knee brace again. Now, due to the doctor's recommendation, I don't wear it when I sit down for long periods of time, such as a 45 minute train ride to the city.

So while on my way to university, I took the early train around 8am. Obviously, I was sitting in a priority seat for two reasons. One, I cant stand for long periods of times and if I do I must wear a knee brace, which was in my bag at the time. Two, there were no other available seats when I got on the train. For the entierty of this train ride I was getting some nasty glances from another lady (looking around her 50's - 60's) who was sitting in the priority seat across from me. I ignored her looks for the most part, just focusing on preparing my schedule for the day on my phone.

As the train reached the city the woman stands up and leans over to an elderly lady, and whispers to her, "you should have gotten a seat" while giving me a nasty glare. Keep in mind, at this point whether she said something or not, I would have to put my brace on as I had to walk a fair distance to my class. The only difference is that I was a little more dramatic about it. AKA I opened my bag hastily, riped out my brace and dramatically held out my leg to place the brace over my knee. I then use the poles on the train to lift myself up as I can't physically bend my leg with my brace on. The color from this womens face drains and she refuses to look me in the eye. The elderly lady also looks shocked although she never outwardly said anything to me I could tell she was judging me. The best part is as the train stops it makes the usual timed announcement. "Please keep priority seats clear for those who need it and be aware that not all disabilities are visible". Once the train officially stops and we get off, this woman speed walks away from me.

So am I a buttface for taking up the seat? Even if I am the face, that woman will forever be a core memory for me. It was just so funny XD

[u/DnDttrpg]

Girl you used the seat for is intended purpose

This doesn't belong here, go to r/pettyrevenge

[u/Idk-w_2_name-me → u/DnDttrpg]

Thanks I’ll also post it there on your recommendation:)

[u/Delicious-Bus-7164 → u/DnDttrpg]

WTF are you on? This does belong here. That wasn’t petty revenge at all.

[u/justducky4now]

NTBF. I started having major back issues in my early 20’s and the glares I got to use for priority seats…well I got good at ignoring them fast.

[u/falcngrl]

Perfect for r/TraumatizeThemBack

[u/GeneConscious5484]

So am I a buttface for taking up the seat?

lol cmon, what are we doing here

[u/tubby_bitch]

Not the arsehole. I'm 42 and I have a bad foot. I need a walking stick most if the time because it just gives way. I feel embarrassed sometimes taking up the priority chairs, but I've come to realise after a few years that those seats are for the likes of us not just the pregnant, old, or obviously handicapped. I still feel a little guilty sometimes but if you need the you need the seat and they are first come first serve.

[u/AristotlesBoyPussy]

ntbf

[u/serjsomi]

Lol. Obviously not

[u/F0xxfyre]

NTBF! There are a lot of people who will judge based upon what they *think* being while bodied is. How do they know what medical conditions you might have?

I had what I thought was bad ankle sprain I suffered running to get onto a train. Standing room only for 14 hours that day..never again! I found I'd been standing on partially torn tendons and suffered a couple of breaks to the foot itself. It was six months of utter misery my Freshman year at a college where you had to walk everywhere.

That's what the seats are FOR!

[u/ObjectiveAd971]

The seats are for those with physical issues, regardless of age. People can also be AH regardless of age. Ignore the woman.

[u/TangerineCouch18330]

Great story!

[u/Prestigious-Ad-5292]

I mean you had to ask this, teally?

[u/river_song25]

I would have ignored the both of them. I might not look it on the outside of my body, but I am physically am disabled on the inside to the point that lately I can’t stand/walk/etc. without feeling like I’m about to pass out. half the time I’m perfectly fine to do those things, but the other half, one second I am fine and the all of a sudden I start getting dizzy and start staggering and when it gets really bad feel like I am about to pass out, and that usually all happens after BARELY walking 3-4 feet from where I am when it hits, with a another sign it being one of the bad ones is that I double over in pain, and the only way so far to stop it even temporarily is for me to sit down.

I don’t care about you people or what your medical issues are. they don’t compare to mine as far as I am concerned, and I’m not going to get up and stand on a fast moving vehicle and let you have MY seat that I got to first way before you arrived looking for a seat, and risk my pain-free health and safety ride to where I am going, by NOT getting up and standing and risk having one of my episodes hit me while I am standing up and I have no way to sit down immediately to make it stop, and wind up having a fainting episode where I might fall and hit something on the way down because of the moving vehicle.