Gaslighting, scolding and berating: entitled elderly abuse the disabled

In a recent incident on a Citybus route in Hong Kong, a disabled young man was verbally abused by an elderly woman for sitting in a priority seat. 

The altercation, which occurred last Saturday on bus route 970 traveling between Cyberport and So Uk Estate, was captured on video and shared on a Facebook page.

According to the post, the incident took place around noon when the elderly woman, suspecting the young man of occupying the priority seat without cause, demanded he show proof of his disability. 

Despite the young man informing her of his disability, she insisted on seeing his Registration Card for People with Disabilities.

According to the video posted online, the woman was able to find a priority seat next to where the disabled teen was sitting prior to getting off the bus.

Not all heroes wear capes

A fellow passenger criticized the woman for her lack of compassion. He pointed out that young people generally avoid sitting in priority seats unless necessary, indicating that the young man must have had a valid reason.

The elderly woman, however, remained defiant and even denied having scolded the young man. She argued that giving up a seat was the right thing to do and questioned the intervening passenger if he was deaf, to which he responded affirmatively that he had heard her demand for a disability certificate.

The situation escalated when the older man argued that not all disabilities are visible and questioned whether he needed to produce a Registration Card for People with Disabilities himself.

Jury of the internet find defendant cold-hearted

Witnesses described the woman's behavior as cold-hearted, especially when she continued to use derogatory terms towards another passenger who revealed he had mobility issues and was battling cancer.

The post concluded with the original poster expressing frustration over the woman's relentless behavior and the general lack of support from other passengers. 

The incident has sparked outrage online, with many condemning the woman's demand for proof as an invasion of privacy and stressing that priority seats are meant for anyone in need, not just the elderly.

Online commenters praised the older man for speaking up, thanking him for his intervention.

(Prashan Limbu)