No, I don’t remember it at all, but thank you for sharing this hilarious moment with me. I feel no second hand embarrassment whatsoever.
Would it have been okay if she was actually pregante? Can I just walk around and kiss pregnart belly?
pergante*
PRAGENT
I was on a packed commuter train once and in the silence this conversation happened
Seated guy (loudly): Are you pregnant?
Standing woman: Sorry?
Sg: I said are you pregnant?
Sw: No
Sg: Oh okay
The second hand cringey embarrassment of that interaction has stayed with me for about 25 years
Maybe someone on the spectrum wondering if they should give up their seat?
I think it was done with the very best of intentions, what it taught me is that you should either just go ahead and give up your seat or hang on to it, it’s the asking that makes things worse.
London transport introduced the little “baby on board” badges shortly after this, which simplified matters hugely.
Alternatively, simply asking if someone would like your seat or if they’d like to sit down works wonders. If they need it, they’ll accept. The question of whether they’re pregnant doesn’t actually matter, it’s whether they’d like to sit down that’s important. Bonus, this works for the old or infirm as well!
