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New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

bbc.co.uk

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Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#11

Post by esja »

jgrahamc wrote: post #7
mnkypete wrote: post #2

Not to be that guy, but what happened to being a decent human being and just getting up for pregnant women and elderly people? Do we really need an app for that now? As a founder I really do see lot's of value in technology to drive our society forwards, but I just can't wrap my head around some stuff..

I have literally once offered my seat to a pregnant woman on the Tube in London and it turned out that she was just overweight round the middle and not pregnant. It was extremely embarrassing for both of us. I greatly appreciate the women who wear these badges: https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/23479.aspx because it makes it unambiguous. It can honestly be hard on a packed London underground train to tell the difference betwe…

That experience is almost a rite of passage for Londoners :-)

Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#12

Post by mulrian »

I don't get it. The whole concept only works if there are people who have deliberately installed the free version so that they actually get the notifications. Seems like a whole lot of work and £3.99 for a very small chance of anyone actually noticing.

If you're pregnant and want my seat then just ask me - I'll always happily give it up.

Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#13

Post by Tharre »

mnkypete wrote: post #2

Not to be that guy, but what happened to being a decent human being and just getting up for pregnant women and elderly people? Do we really need an app for that now? As a founder I really do see lot's of value in technology to drive our society forwards, but I just can't wrap my head around some stuff..

The last time I tried to offer my seat to a obviously pregnant women she responded with: "No thanks, I'm pregnant, not a cripple.". So yeah it's complicated sometimes ...

Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#14

Post by nothrabannosir »

jgrahamc wrote: post #7
mnkypete wrote: post #2

Not to be that guy, but what happened to being a decent human being and just getting up for pregnant women and elderly people? Do we really need an app for that now? As a founder I really do see lot's of value in technology to drive our society forwards, but I just can't wrap my head around some stuff..

I have literally once offered my seat to a pregnant woman on the Tube in London and it turned out that she was just overweight round the middle and not pregnant. It was extremely embarrassing for both of us. I greatly appreciate the women who wear these badges: https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/23479.aspx because it makes it unambiguous. It can honestly be hard on a packed London underground train to tell the difference betwe…

In your defence, offering up your seat to anyone is a respectable thing to do, regardless of pregnancy or weight.

Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#15

Post by chrisseaton »

Svenskunganka wrote: post #6
TulliusCicero wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To play devil's advocate, early on, pregnancy may not be visible, and even when it appears to be visible...they might just be fat. And you really don't want to make that particular mistake.

Just politely ask someone if you could have their seat because you're pregnant? Which is like, what this app is doing.

This could end up being very awkward if the person needed the seat themselves for a medical reason, or just says no for whatever other reason.

Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#16

Post by robjan »

ENTP wrote: post #4
mnkypete wrote: post #2

Not to be that guy, but what happened to being a decent human being and just getting up for pregnant women and elderly people? Do we really need an app for that now? As a founder I really do see lot's of value in technology to drive our society forwards, but I just can't wrap my head around some stuff..

Whilst I agree with you, the London Underground does not really foster an environment where people would feel comfortable with that.

I use the tube every day and rarely see a situation where people don't instinctively stand for pregnant or elderly people. People don't want to talk to one another but we locals are generally courteous.

Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#17

Post by TeMPOraL »

sjcsjc wrote: post #8
mnkypete wrote: post #2

Not to be that guy, but what happened to being a decent human being and just getting up for pregnant women and elderly people? Do we really need an app for that now? As a founder I really do see lot's of value in technology to drive our society forwards, but I just can't wrap my head around some stuff..

If I spot someone whom I think might be pregnant I just stand up without comment. I don't want to make the mistake someone made with a female relative of mine: "Oh, are you expecting? Would you like to sit down?", to which she replied with a smile "No thanks, I'm just fat".

And I thought it's nerds who are socially awkward...

I can't see such things as anything else as trying to use technology to avoid the possibility of embarrassment that comes with dealing with other people.

Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#18

Post by pyb »

robjan wrote: post #16
ENTP wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whilst I agree with you, the London Underground does not really foster an environment where people would feel comfortable with that.

I use the tube every day and rarely see a situation where people don't instinctively stand for pregnant or elderly people. People don't want to talk to one another but we locals are generally courteous.

I've often seen very elderly people left standing in the tube.

Re: New seat alert app for pregnant commuters

#20

Post by spacec0wb0y »

mulrian wrote: post #12

I don't get it. The whole concept only works if there are people who have deliberately installed the free version so that they actually get the notifications. Seems like a whole lot of work and £3.99 for a very small chance of anyone actually noticing. If you're pregnant and want my seat then just ask me - I'll always happily give it up.

Exactly, there are a lot of requirements for this to succeed, both having the app installed, bluetooth on, location services on (does it work on the tube?) and being within a short distance of each other. I think the money spent creating this app would have been more useful going straight to the charity.

Pregnant women may well pay for the app, but I think the only reason others would pay that much, for an app that will probably never actually alert them, would be to donate money to charity.

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