It is a story that has divided many of our readers today, and indeed, people all over the world, and it’s only right to hear both sides of this week’s ‘train-shaming’ story.
Celine Chia was outraged when, while travelling on a train in Singapore earlier this week, a man refused to give up his seat for a ‘struggling’ mum. While the mum herself did not ask the man to get up, Celine felt compelled to make the request after seeing the woman standing with her baby strapped to her chest.
When the man refused, insisting that it was his choice to make and he was tired after work, Celine took to Facebook to share a photo of him with an accompanying - and particularly scathing - post.
While the mum on the train saw Celine’s viral post and thanked her, she wasn’t the only person to catch the Facebook post – the man in question did too, and he has since issued a reply.
Responding to Celine’s suggestion that he was tired because he is overweight, the man took to Facebook to share his side of the story.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account,” he wrote, quoting a Vatican website post.
Reiterating his health concerns, he added: “Personally, I have not been well and tired. In fact, recently I have been feeling my heart conditions again. Previously, I have seen a heart specialist before.”
Of Celine’s reaction to the incident on the train, and the fallout in the media, he continued: “I think it is just malice reporting. People do not have X-ray eyes. I will just let it go. People have different opinions, well I have my own health to take care of.”
While opinion may be split on this incident, this man’s response proves that what you might think is the ‘right thing’ to do in the moment could have very serious implications for others.
