THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Bad manners but perhaps also lack of legroom

Bad manners but perhaps also lack of legroom

Re: “Anger over ‘bad manners’ of foreign couple on train”, The Nation, February 21.

Anyone who is tall – meaning over 6 feet (183 centimetres) – sympathises with the travellers.  
Aircraft keep shrinking the space available to passengers, while trains still have plenty of room – except in Asia.
Being a tall person myself, at just under 190cm (6’2”) when last measured, planes and buses have always been tight, but trains were roomy – until I got to Asia.
A second class in Asia seat/sleeper doesn’t have room enough for me to stretch while sitting or sleeping, leaving me between a rock and a hard place: 
how to be comfortable, but not bad mannered?
So, the criticism of manners in such cases reflects directly on the Thai railway and Thailand, which wants tourists but doesn’t always provide facilities to accommodate them comfortably.
Meanwhile, people are getting taller – even in Asia.
Michael Weldon
 

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