• Thelsim@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    They: “Hey, can you move your bag? I’d like to sit there.”
    Passenger: “Sure, no problem”
    Or, in my case…
    They: Stand still and give the smallest glance in my direction
    Me: Put my bag on my lap in record time, glance up, smile awkwardly :)

    Seriously, I’m guilty as hell of putting my bag next to me in the train. Mainly because I’m not putting it on the floor together with who knows what kind dirt is lying down there. And It’s awkward to keep it on my lap if it’s not necessary. Of course it’s different when it’s a busy train.

    • li10@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      I mean, I straight up put the bag there so people don’t sit next to me, but if I notice that the place is getting busy enough that someone’s gonna need the seat I’ll move it.

      • Thelsim@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        You should do the exact opposite if you don’t want anyone to sit next to you though. Keep your bag on your lap and pat the seat next to you invitingly while maintaining eye contact at all time. :)

    • beetus@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      And It’s awkward to keep it on my lap if it’s not necessary.

      I’d like to challenge you on that. Who is it awkward to? Do you look at someone on the train holding their bag and think negatively of them? Are people in your life judging you for how you sit on the train?

      Not trying to suggest you need to change, but it’s not awkward to hold ones belongings.

      It would be awkward if you were gripping it tightly and straining to hold on, sure, but are you doing that?

      • Thelsim@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        I see what you’re trying to say here. I usually take the train when commuting to work, and my work bag contains my laptop, power brick, notebook, etc. It’s a quite a weight to carry around. So when I have to put it on my lap, it can be physically awkward because I’m limited in how I can place my legs while balancing this weight.

        What I was trying to say with awkward, is a physical awkwardness. Though I guess when I look back at it, inconvenient or uncomfortable might have been a better choice of words. English is not my first language and I sometimes choose the wrong words :)

        Anyway, I don’t really care about what people think of me if I have my bag on my lap.

    • ParsnipWitch@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      If it’s awkward enough between you and your backpack to not wanting it to sit on top of you something is seriously wrong with your relationship. Do you allow other people to hold your backpack on their lap or do you only touch it when it’s on your back?

  • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
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    1 year ago

    i mean have you tried politely asking people to move their bags? i’m not gonna sit there with the bag in my lap if there’s a spare seat next to me.

    • oce 🐆@jlai.lu
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      1 year ago

      In some cultures, people will never ask because they estimate the cost of interacting is higher than standing up, so if the train is packed, they’ll just silently think you’re an asshole.

    • Damdy@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      If people leave there bag to block a seat as they see people are having to stand they are an asshole. I’m not going to engage with an asshole on my commute for a minor annoyance.

  • dingus@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    There’s nothing wrong with this if there are a bunch of empty seats open. If it’s crowded then it’s a dick move, but if there’s plenty of seats available then there’s zero issue.

    • BigT54@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      For sure, people do this in airports everywhere I’ve been. Some of the most crowded terminals with hundreds of people standing around because people are just blindly taking up 3 seats for 1 person…so selfish.

  • kaotic@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Lol, I’ll be honest I do this if there are mostly free seats around, the second they start filling up the bag goes between my legs on the floor.

  • thepiguy@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    I put my bag on the seats next to me all the time. Decency is knowing when you need to pick it up and put it on your lap.

    • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The fifth slide of that meme pic should have been the guy putting the bag on the floor next to him, so that his partner could give into bed.

  • ParsnipWitch@feddit.de
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    1 year ago

    I don’t put my backpack next to me. It sits on my lap and I hug it. Because I love it. We are one.

    • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It sits on my lap and I hug it. Because I love it. We are one.

      I guess you’re assuming the bag feels the same way about you?

      Otherwise that would be a bit cringy.

  • HerbalGamer@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    I often ride the bus but am also quite tall.

    I hate it when people force me to sit straight because I simply can’t fit my legs in between the seats and it hurts my already bad knee :(

  • Albbi@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Need to print these out and hand them out when someone is doing this on a busy bus ride.

  • Lowlee Kun@feddit.de
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    1 year ago

    Well last time i did this with my daki out in the open i got weird looks so of course i gotta put it into my backpack smh