Madam, - On a recent holiday to Boston, my husband and I (both pensioners) were struck by the friendliness and good manners of the people we encountered every day, and most of all by the way we were always given seats on the train. As soon as we boarded someone would stand up and offer us their seat - and usually more than one person would do this. When our daughter and our grandchildren were with us, the same went for them.
This morning I took the Luas from Dundrum into town at around 10.30am. It was packed - not a seat to be found. Thankfully, I am well able to stand, but just before we left Dundrum one vacant seat suddenly spotted by a young girl who had got on at the same time as myself - and she just walked straight to it without a backward glance.
I could not but think of the difference between the good manners in Boston and happens here in Dublin. Almost everyone has their nose stuck in a paper or a book, or has earphones on, and no one even thinks to look around and see if perhaps someone older or less able might need a seat. Have we lost the plot in this regard? - Yours, etc,