Cast a critical eye around a London tube carriage at rush hour. As a 54 year old male with some alpha tendencies I have that eye! There is a lot of psychology around seats. Some women have badges now that say either ‘baby on board’ or ‘please offer me a seat’. Women very obviously pregnant, feel they have to wear a badge to identify as pregnant. But the latter badge is necessary (at least partially) due to the type of ‘older’ woman I’ve seen, who is deeply offended and in some cases verbally abusive, to a man that feels he should offer her his seat! So some of these women wearing the latter badge are making it clear they will graciously and humbly accept a chivalrous act. God bless their example! I have given my non-priority seat to an obviously pregnant young woman who told me not many people offer their seat, even those seated in the priority seat. I’ve seen it. Camden Town bound Northern Line tube, 18/19 year old neutral-gender man-child in the priority seat, Kenny Dalglish perm, flared slacks, phat headphones. A Jewish woman with four children from toddler to young teen gets on and stands there rocking back and forth with her toddler bratting in the opposite priority seat given to her while mum and older sister try to distract her. I’m standing watching this unfold. The cool kid in the other priority seat opposite has the most blank innocent stare you can imagine, seemingly oblivious to the needs literally right in front of him. About 30 seconds later a Turkish man half way down the row stands up and politely offers ‘would you like a seat?’. Mum declines. Not sure what that was about. The seat might have been too far away from her toddler. Neutral-boy gets up two stops later and swanks off into Camden Town to pose the day away. One of the Jewish teens takes the priority seat. I’m disgusted with the whole thing. I go straight to the Turkish man and shake his hand. He graciously accepts my compliment.
The tube is a mess of entitlement. My greatest fear of sitting down in a priority seat now is that is someone gets on and looks even 5% more entitled to my seat than I do. I fear I will feel the hatred of those seated in the other non-priority seats. This Includes those customers in the seat three centimeters to my right or left because the occupant of that seat (non-designated priority) has no social responsibility to give up their seat before I do.
What did Jesus say about all this?

Matthew 23:2,6 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.. they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

Jesus recognised entitlement in those who should have know better.

Brothers, what kind of a man are you on the tube. I want my brothers to be exceptional!
Brothers distinguish yourself from the world around you. Join me in this.

Malachi 3:18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

1. Only sit in a priority seat to keep it for the next person you see who needs it and offer it to the right person. Remain vigilant for that person.
2. Designate ANY seat you sit in a Priority Seat! Do not conform to the low standards of the world. Sit ready to stand.
3. Make a point of letting your light shine and make eye contact with those around you when you give up a seat and to those that are friendly and approving, where possible, say things like – ‘it’s against my religion to remain seated in these situations.’ or ‘I designate any seat that I sit in a priority seat’ or if you are talking to a man’s man, a bit of banter like ‘you know why I never sit in the priority seat… I wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m pregnant’ (timing is everything to crack a joke right).
4. Quietly compliment people you see giving up their seat. Smile. Eye contact. Words if possible.

100 men in London can have a big impact. We all go to the gym right? Make your gym the tube. Stand up. Be a man about it. Look after the weaker members of society all around you and show chivalry to women who often have a hard life. Never miss an opportunity to give up your seat. Be a man of distinction!