The saying goes that there’s always a first time for everything, and this rings particularly true when it comes to travelling.
For one American TikTok creator, Kjordyyy, his visit to London was an eye-opener. He shares his experiences of living in the UK on social media, and recently he encountered what he describes as a significant “culture shock” in England’s bustling capital.
In a candid video, he expressed his astonishment at the cultural differences he observed. He said: “The bar for manners here in London is at an all time low.”
He continued: “I’m drinking coffee at a Pret, which is like a pretty, popular coffee shop here in London. It’s peak time so, super, super busy. All the seats are taken. An elderly woman is standing up because she can’t find a seat, but no one moves, but she’s looking around. I’m like, ok, I’m just going to get up.
“So I get up, I wipe my table off, my crumbs, and I give her the seat. And she looks so shook and so stunned. And then she goes ‘oh my gosh, God bless you’, and I’m like kind of confused, and she goes ‘not too many people would do that here’.”
Reflecting on the incident, he shared how the woman thanked him profusely, prompting him to call on young men to offer their seats to the elderly in crowded coffee shops or on public transport. The video sparked a heated debate, with some arguing that the lack of consideration for elderly passengers is purely a “London thing”.
One commenter said: “My sister and I moved to London from the USA a month ago, and we’re always giving our seats up to elderly/pregnant on the bus/train. It shocks us that young people just don’t here… at all.”
Others chimed in, saying that in other parts of the UK, such as the North, it’s common for people to give up their seats to elderly passengers as a matter of course. However, not everyone agreed, with one person stubbornly insisting: “Yeah, that’s my seat. I got here and secured it. It’s not my problem if they can’t get one.”