Entitled Karen Demands Teenager With a Prosthetic Leg Give Up Her Train Seat For Her

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Sep 12, 2023 7:00 PM EDT

You can't assume anything about someone just by looking at them. They might look young, healthy, and happy, but looks can often be deceiving. You would think that people would internalize the message of "don't judge a book by its cover" and carry it into adulthood, but that's just not the case. 

I can't tell you guys how many videos I've seen of people harassing strangers for parking in a handicapped parking spot because they just assumed they were lying. I swear, some people think that being in a wheelchair or walking with a cane are the only disabilities in the world. Just because someone looks like they're not disabled doesn't give you free rein to yell at them. The same goes for demanding that people move from public transit seats reserved for the elderly, disabled, or pregnant. One teenage girl with a prosthetic leg had to deal with an ignorant person like this, and it's so upsetting to read about. 

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  • 01
    Font - A few years ago I (16F) lost my left leg in an accident. I've been using a prosthetic leg since then, and because my family is well of, it is a pretty advanced one to the point where it just looks like I just have two normal legs whenever I wear long trousers. Which I usually do because I'm really selfconscious about showing my prosthetic.
    via u/Swimming-Contact6122
  • 02
    Font - These days I can pretty mch do anything I like without issues, walking, running, going up stairs, etc. The main issue is keeping my balance when there are sudden changes in movement, in places like trains and busses. Which is where the topic of this post comes in.
    via u/Swimming-Contact6122
  • 03
    Font - I was riding the train and sat down in the seat reserved for disabled, elderly and pregnant women. It was pretty busy so there were no other seats available, and a few stops later a woman came up to me telling me I needed to move, because she needs that seat and I shouldn't be sitting there. I told her I was sorry, but I needed the seat myself. She got all argumentive that I just need to get up, because the seat is meant for the elderly and I'm just a lazy child who is more than capable o
    via u/Swimming-Contact6122
  • 04
    Font - I again apologised and said I really needed the seat myself. She left and got the train conductor, who also told me to get up from the seat. I was really done with being treated this way now, so I rolled up my trouser leg, showed my prosthetic and told her I wasn't going to move. She suddenly got very redfaced and mumbled something before she got off at the next station.
    via u/Swimming-Contact6122
  • 05
    Font - AITA? I could have said I have a prosthetic right away, but it's a really touchy subject for me and it makes me feel very selfconscious. That's why I always wear long trousers so nobody can see or has to know.
    via u/Swimming-Contact6122
  • 06
    Font - He_who_Is_Person • 2d Pooperintendant [61] ΝΤΑ We're all built differently. I'd have just pulled up my pant leg and been like "you t g serious?" But you did it differently and more purely than would have done. You cannot possibly be an a more graciously than most woula. ... Tor handling it Reply 20.4k
    via u/He_who_Is_Person
  • 07
    Font - greenapple_redapple • 2d Partassipant [4] The temptation to wait until they physically wanted to remove me either themself or with police and then mention it after being manhandled would've been my choice 5.1k
    via u/greenapple_redapple
  • 08
    Font - Sparklingemeralds • 2d 2 Awards I would've taken it off and swung it around whilst yelling at her. Seriously though, what's up with people thinking that young people can't possibly be disabled or in pain? I had a friend of a friend in college who had to get surgery as she's deaf in one ear. One of her professors wouldn't accommodate her. She showed up to class with her hair messy and the part that was shaved for surgery, with fresh stitches on her head and all. You could legit be dying an
    via u/Sparklingemeralds
  • 09
    Font - Ambitious Plantain209 • 2d I saw a woman on the news one time who suffered from a seizure disorder after a brain injury. Since she was prone to seizures, walking long distances was not safe for her so she got a handicap placard for her car. One day, some left a note on her car calling her a disgusting pig for using a handicap spot. Just b/c someone doesn't look disabled doesn't mean that they aren't disabled. 495
    via u/AmbitiousPlantain209
  • 10
    Font - Safe_Ad_7777 • 2d My local paper published a very snotty editorial about a Mayoral candidate who'd been "sprung" parking in a disabled bay. The next day saw a very crestfallen apology after he'd visited the office and showed them his parking permit. He was a cancer survivor who had most of his lungs removed. People forget that invisible disabilities exist, and that young people can be disabled too. 565 ...
    via u/Safe_Ad_7777
  • 11
    Font - CrimsonKnight_004 - 2d Professor Emeritass [95] NTA - No one is obligated or entitled to know your disability. You shouldn't have to "prove" that you belong in a disabled space. Some disabilities are less obvious or even invisible. This woman and especially the train conductor had no right to question you this way. It was inappropriate and unprofessional. ... Reply 7k ↓
    via u/CrimsonKnight_004
  • 12
    Product - SnarkySheep • 2d Partassipant [1] And doubly so, as the woman didn't tell you why SHE supposedly needed it. She just thought adult vs teen automatically wins, and found out otherwise the hard way. 2.5k
    via u/SnarkySheep
  • 13
    Font - NatashOverWorld • 2d Pooperintendant [51] 1 Award NTA. We don't need to reveal our disabilities or conditions to every rando. The train conductor is a proper official, so you did what is necessary. Reply ... 3.3k
    via u/NatashOverWorld
  • 14
    Font - Fairmount1955 • 2d Colo-rectal Surgeon [38] NTA. Anyone who wants to take things to that degree to try to get you in trouble needs to be put in their place. You are not required to tell the world your situation. She forced your hand. Maybe she will think twice next time. ... Reply 1.2k
    via u/Fairmount1955
  • 15
    Font - 5 Raedriann 2d Partassipant [1] NTA. I'd be fuming that either she or the conductor just assumed and INFORMED you that you don't need the seat. They aren't entitled to know your disability and should, at the most, ASK you if you can stand up, to which the answer is "no, I am unable to stand for lengthy periods on moving vehicles." The end. Reply 1k
    via u/Raedriann
  • 16
    Font - Swimming-Contact6122 OP. 2d I didn't really expect this to get so many replies. I know I likely wouldn't have any of these problems if I have the prosthetic visible all the time, but I'm honestly really uncomfortable with it. I don't even like looking at myself in the mirror wearing my prosthetic. That's why I always keep it covered and rarely mention it to anyone. That's also why I always just say that I need the disability seat myself. I always figured that saying that I need the seat w
    via u/Swimming-Contact6122

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