I find it kinda disturbing "**** off" was not only one category, but both ******* off categories out ranked, or were listed and thought of before, "C: Try and get a job."
EDIT:
As for the woman... I'd go w/ option E.
Part 1) Verbosely explain you were being courteous and cival and was not implicating anything towards age, but rather than fatigue that one may be experiencing. If you receive confused reactions, you can elaborate with the fact that you've been sitting on that bus comfortably longer than she knows or can understand and she has just gotten on the bus after who knows how much walking and/or standing. However, I would make sure to verbosely do this as she already begun to get verbose and got the attention of other passengers and implanted a negative image of you in their minds w/o knowing the real scenario or situation... by verbosely expressing this, those individuals (aka, the peanut gallery) may begin to understand what is going on and think: "Wow, what a *****... that kid just trying to be nice and she goes off on him like that." However, without support on your side, you're already up ***** creek.
Part 2) I'd also assure her that she is in no obligation to take the seat and you have no problem taking it back. This would only support your original explination of being courteous and cival and is backed up and represented with actions. Afterall, we all know actions speak louder than words. If everyone else see's you appologize and take back your seat, and she still keeps going off, she begins to just look like that more of a ***** to everyone else.
Part 3) (If and only if she were still going off on me) I'd appologize for catching her during "her bad week"... that implication is usually assertive enough to be translated without difficulty and other people viewing would begin to get the idea or understanding that the lady is just hard to deal with, spoiled, snooty, a *****, or combination thereof without being limited to all of the above as well.
Edit #2:
Here in the states, we also give up seats towards the front of the bus for elderly and disabled individuals. However, I've learned that as a male, you do NOT give your seat up to a female unless she's soo old that she has a hump and her boobs go down to her belly button... Reason being is when a man willingly gets up and gives his seat to a lady, she may take it one of two ways rather than the third, intended, way. Either A) Feel as tho you're commenting about her age... implying that she is old. Since most women like to be reassured how young and beautiful they look, saying they're fat, ugly and/or old is a sure one way trip to the dog house. Also, B) She may feel you're trying to get something from her... IE: A Date, Secks, maybe just a phone number, but whatever it is, if she goes off on you, she's not interested.. even if it wasn't your intent, she'll let ya know she's got no interests. This is more likely to happen with women closer to your age. In all honesty, if you had a young g/f present with you and you both gave up your seats for her, she'd probably think you two were a very cute and sweet couple. However, since it was just you, she may have felt insulted by a man implying she looks old or unattractive or may have felt you were trying to make an opportunity to begin breaking the ice and make a move. Then there's that third option, which again, is fairly neglected and overlooked... and that is that she is just a ***** or having a really bad day.
Edited, Jun 27th 2006 at 6:21pm EDT by ElvaanKrem