Daughter Assaulted by Father for Refusing to Give Up Seat on Bus to Elderly Passenger in Singapore

A young woman from Singapore shared a disturbing experience on social media after her father physically assaulted her for not offering her seat to an elderly man on a bus. Posting on Reddit’s r/askSingapore on Tuesday (Dec 17), the woman recounted the incident that occurred during her bus ride.

According to the young woman, she typically offers her seat to elderly passengers on crowded public transport, but in this instance, she decided not to, as several empty seats were available at the back of the bus. She explained that while she was sitting in the middle section of the bus, directly behind an empty standing area, the elderly man, who appeared to be over 80, boarded. Initially, she assumed others at the front would give up their seats, but the elderly man walked towards the back, where she noticed at least five empty seats.

Surprised when the elderly man stopped and stood in the standing area near her, staring at her without moving further, the woman assumed he would eventually take one of the vacant seats. However, the man remained standing for the entire 30-minute ride, only sitting when another passenger vacated their seat. During the ride, the woman’s father, who was seated behind her, did not offer his seat to the elderly man either.

When the family returned home, the situation took an unexpected turn. The young woman explained that her father confronted her and physically assaulted her for not giving up her seat, claiming she was wrong. She stated that she passed out due to the beating, and the police were eventually called to the scene.

Reflecting on the incident, the woman expressed confusion, asking why the elderly man chose to stop near her instead of moving to the back, where ample seating was available. She questioned her father’s reasoning that the man, due to his age, should not have had to move to the back of the bus. She also sought feedback from the Reddit community, asking if she was in the wrong and why the elderly man acted the way he did.

Some Redditors speculated that the elderly man might have preferred sitting near the exit door, especially if the back section of the bus involved steps, which could be difficult for an older person to navigate. Others suggested a simple solution, advising the young woman to ask elderly passengers directly if they would prefer her seat, to avoid second-guessing their intentions.

While many Reddit users empathised with her and supported her decision, some were disturbed by the father’s extreme reaction. Several commentators pointed out that his violent response was completely unjustified and suggested the woman seek help from social services if this type of behaviour was a regular occurrence in their household.

Family violence remains a serious issue, and support is available for those in need. The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) offers resources, including a helpline at 1800 777 5555, and various social services can assist victims of family violence.