Local people behavior in bus and MTR

[Natfixit]

TBH, OP, It most likely is not you, your skin colour or how sweaty you are because I have sat next to a lot of sweaty people of all different racial identities and plenty of them Asian/ local.I feel that it has a lot to do with personal space. Younger people prefer their own space than being crammed up next to someone they do not know.

I'm white and yes, I like a seat to myself also, namely as I don't like people standing or sitting too close to me regardless of skin colour or race. I've had young city boys fall asleep early mornings and late evenings on my shoulder while on the MTR, add to that the snoring...But having lived and travelled in other countries, Asian and not, the personal space thing and age does ring true. Older people are not so concerned but younger people are, for some reason. I am just speaking on my own experience - even here in Sweden, people will go out of their way to avoid other people, even those they know if they can. So OP, don't take it personally. It is not you, it is them.

[Sage]

TBH, OP, It most likely is not you, your skin colour or how sweaty you are because I have sat next to a lot of sweaty people of all different racial identities and plenty of them Asian/ local.I feel that it has a lot to do with personal space. Younger people prefer their own space than being crammed up next to someone they do not know.

I'm white and yes, I like a seat to myself also, namely as I don't like people standing or sitting too close to me regardless of skin colour or race. I've had young city boys fall asleep early mornings and late evenings on my shoulder while on the MTR, add to that the snoring...But having lived and travelled in other countries, Asian and not, the personal space thing and age does ring true. Older people are not so concerned but younger people are, for some reason. I am just speaking on my own experience - even here in Sweden, people will go out of their way to avoid other people, even those they know if they can. So OP, don't take it personally. It is not you, it is them.

Personal space in HK, that’s kinda hilarious, you may well be right that the young want more than the old, but everything else, literally EVERYTHING else points to the fact that HK people are widely racist and have zero respect for personal space.

It’s cos he’s
1) brown
2) not chinese

Nothing else

If you also look working class (which by being brown Wil be assumed anyway) that will ensure he gets more space than most - Rejoice!

[Skyhook]

Never really thought about the spare seat avoidance phenomenon that affects some but not others. I think it has most to do with how bulky you are, as even I don't want to be sitting next to a ' Gigantor, ' especially on a hot day!.

As I've said in the past, I've never noticed a problem with locals not wanting to sit next to me, so I suspect it is more likely how hefty you look, which puts the locals off.
Plus I've noticed with Brits, they do tend to suffer the BO a bit in the heat, which again might put folks off if they get a good whiff of BO as they approach. Ive heard locals say that Brits smell like stale milk Hot!

Hot weather never really bothered me much, being used to a hotter climate than Hong Kong, heat be it, The Middle East, Central and Northern Australian summer, doesn't faze me, although HK's inclement 98% relative humidity can be irritating in unventilated spaces.

[Coolboy]

Ha, wait till you guys try the public transport in mainland China or India...

[Cegaiga]

I tend to never sit down unless the end is free. Who wants to sit in the middle? Not that comfortable if you ask me.

Standing is a safer option, as I won't be eye level with someones junk if it is a busy train.

[Sage]

Never really thought about the spare seat avoidance phenomenon that affects some but not others. I think it has most to do with how bulky you are, as even I don't want to be sitting next to a ' Gigantor, ' especially on a hot day!.

As I've said in the past, I've never noticed a problem with locals not wanting to sit next to me, so I suspect it is more likely how hefty you look, which puts the locals off.
Plus I've noticed with Brits, they do tend to suffer the BO a bit in the heat, which again might put folks off if they get a good whiff of BO as they approach. Ive heard locals say that Brits smell like stale milk Hot!

Hot weather never really bothered me much, being used to a hotter climate than Hong Kong, heat be it, The Middle East, Central and Northern Australian summer, doesn't faze me, although HK's inclement 98% relative humidity can be irritating in unventilated spaces.

If you've never really thought about it nor spent many years observing it in action, then you may well come to the conclusion you just drew.

Of course fat gits get avoided too, regardless of race, but race plays an equally or perhaps even bigger role in seat selection by locals.

It's well understood, no need to try and soften the message.

[hannah01]

In short, it is feel not good.

On the contrary, I'm always wishing that no one else comes to seat beside me.

[Baklava]

I am not brown but my daughter's favourite doll is and many years ago, when she used to carry it with her everywhere, I got a tiny glimpse of the level of rejects some folks here report. Once the mum of a classmate looked at my daughter’s doll and made an exaggerated disgusted face, one that lasted awkwardly long, like in a bad cartoon. She kept on averting her disgusted gaze and then bringing it back again, asking “Why? Why?!” She just couldn’t conceive of a brown doll nor comprehend why somebody might like it. It was eye opening.
Of course that person is not in our circle anymore…. the doll still is

[FrancisX]

happens to me all the time and I'm white so can only imagine how worse it is for brown and black folk.

It's one of HK's more welcome odd (racist?) behaviours though. Nothing better than a double seat. On the flip side, the joy of climbing to the super deck of a crowded bus where only a few seats are free. Looking at the face as I zero in on the seat I will be taking. Even better if they have their bags on the seat. Maximum points if they are occupying the aisle seat and have to move out to let me in.

The joy of small things.

have to say, lived in China for seven years, taking the bus every day, and never experienced the same. Would have been great given the state of most public transport.

[jayinhongkong]

[FONT="]I am not brown but my daughter's favourite doll is and many years ago, when she used to carry it with her everywhere, I got a tiny glimpse of the level of rejects some folks here report. Once the mum of a classmate looked at my daughter’s doll and made an exaggerated disgusted face, one that lasted awkwardly long, like in a bad cartoon. She kept on averting her disgusted gaze and then bringing it back again, asking “Why? Why?!” She just couldn’t conceive of a brown doll nor comprehend why somebody might like it. It was eye opening. [/FONT]
Of course that person is not in our circle anymore…. the doll still is

When I was a kid I was in a Mannings or Watsons up on the Peak, back when those shops still sold toys. I was looking at Ghostbusters action figures, and realized pretty much only the black Ghostbuster's action figures were still left. I teared up immediately.