A viral video showing a woman reacting furiously to a fellow passenger reclining their chair has sparked an online debate on public transport etiquette. The online clip shows a train passenger reclining their seat backwards, moving the fold-up tray attacked to the back of it.
The woman, who the clip claims is located in China, sat behind and then reacted furiously, aggressively pushing the chair forwards several times before putting her feet up to stop it reclining further. Many people agreed with the woman’s frustration, if not her reaction, arguing that chairs should not be allowed to recline. One viewer named Anthony said: “Reclining seats on budget airlines – where leg room is not that generous – should be banned.
“Reclining seats on trains in economy class should also be banned, they are a nuisance.
“If you pay extra for business class on long haul trips or for preference class on the Spanish high speed, then that is different.”
Another agreed, adding: “Seats should be made upright not able to recline.
“I was on a 12 flight and the moment we took off the person in front of me instantly reclined the chair, only putting it up to eat, I had to sit with the seat back nearly touching my face it was awful.
“The problem is, people can be so unreasonable you couldn’t request they sit up out of decency and consideration for others.”
In response to a suggestion by one person that the seats were designed to be reclined, one person going under the name Reduce your anger, said: “You clearly haven’t sat behind someone who has done this to you. You can’t function.
“People next to you can’t get out. As a 6 foot 2 person it basically traps you in your seat. Get some consideration.”
Other users sided with the seat-recliner, arguing that they had done nothing wrong and the fault lay with the person sat behind.
One said: “It reclines for a reason if it can then you’re entitled to recline it so deal with it.
“If you want space pay for it and stop being a diva, if you have enough room to put your feet on the back then there is enough room for it to recline.
“Flying used to be fine now its full of divas and big ‘I ams’.”
Another agreed: “She needs to be banned for life damaging train property. She has plenty of space even with the tray table down. Self-entitled idiot.”