There's a reason why I don't like to help people on the subway. Not that helping people on the subway is a bad thing, I often am grateful to many a kind stranger. It's just that when I "help" people out, it usually ends up doing nothing helpful at all. I'll give up my seat to a pregant woman, only to have her husband take the seat. I'll give up my seat to a woman with an infant, only to have her hyperactive 5 year old take the seat ... and then proceed to seeth as I watch said kid stand in or on the seat for the rest of my train ride. I'll hold open a door for someone, only for that person to realize after getting aboard that they are on the wrong train. Today was a classic example. I was sitting in a two seat unit, across from me is another lady in a two seat unit. On board comes lady with small 4 year old child and a stroller. She, after great deliberation, apparently decides to seat small child in free chair in opposite two seat unit, and she will stand. I, to be helpful, give up my seat so she and child can have my two seat unit all to themselves. Child can either sit and nap or look out window. Mom gets to sit. There's room to tuck away the stroller, sort of. What does she do? She sits in my seat, puts child on lap, places wet umbrella on spare seat ruining said seat, before removing umbrella onto stroller, which she then proceeds to place in middle of the car so that it blocks everybody trying to enter or exit. And this is why I should not try to be "helpful" on the subway.