Note: This story, originally reported in November 2018, is being republished.
A young boy on the New York City subway received a lesson in manners after he refused to give up two seats and a stranger intervened. The incident took place when the boy, who was resting against his mother, stretched out and propped his feet on the seat in front of him. Despite three adults wanting to sit, the boy did not move.
A frustrated man took action by sitting directly on the boy’s feet. Last fall, Isabel Kim documented the event with a series of photos and posted them on Twitter.
The boy’s behavior was seen as both rude and a breach of subway etiquette. Though subway seats aren’t individually separated, it’s generally understood that three people can fit on a bench. However, the boy was occupying two seats and seemed indifferent to the situation.
When the man sat on the boy’s feet, the boy quickly tried to move, but one foot remained under the man. In the final photo, the boy gives the man a disapproving look, apparently believing that the man was wrong for sitting on him.
Isabel also posted a video showing the aftermath, where the boy’s mother is seen scolding him. Interestingly, she seems to be upset with the boy, Joe, for missing their stop rather than addressing his rude behavior.
The man received widespread praise, with over 136,000 likes on the post. Reactions included comments like, “Not all heroes wear capes,” and “He has 0 s***s left to give, and he is my blood brother.” Another commenter noted, “Subway etiquette is best taught nonverbally with force,” and someone else added, “The subway is the great equalizer.”
In conclusion, this incident highlights how some children may not learn proper manners from their parents and might need to be taught by others. The man who sat on the boy’s feet might not have had a cape, but to many subway riders, he was a hero. This serves as a reminder to be mindful of our behavior in public and considerate of others around us.
Sources: New York Post
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