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Reserved seating signs not needed in civilised society

I refer to the letter “Offer more priority seats instead of giving the needy their own cabins” (April 19).

I refer to the letter “Offer more priority seats instead of giving the needy their own cabins” (April 19).

Lately, we may have seen a photograph, posted by the Singapore Kindness Movement, of a man sleeping on a reserved train seat, a pregnant woman standing before him and a lady beside him holding her phone.

The poster encourages people to wake him up instead of taking a photo to put online. There have been numerous discussions in the newspapers, on television, et cetera, of this issue and of bringing about a gracious society.

I think, however, that anyone of any age, and not only pregnant women or the elderly, can be tired and in need of a rest. Not only corner seats, but all seats, should be offered, by anyone, to people who need them.

Kindness should not be forced; it should come from the heart, regardless of where one sits. But because of the stickers that say “reserved seating”, people avoid those seats out of concern that they will be criticised online. The seats are then wasted.

Those stickers are unnecessary for a mature, civilised society.

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