I can't help but join the cacophony of complaints about riding the rails in the DC area. It's hot, tourists run rampant and control the flow of everything, and some people still can't seem to think beyond themselves on the train. Yesterday I got a little frustrated with an inconsiderate passenger and decided the best way to work through my anger (because calling him a motherfucker probably wouldn't have been productive) would be to document* why he was a
don't instead of a
do.
Why is this man a metro
don't?
In a crowded metro car, he
insists on leaning his whole body on one of the few hold bars.
He takes up additional room in the car by extending his reading material in the personal space of others.
He is unable to control his personal property and keep it within check.
*Phone cameras have to be good for something.
Aw, but he's an old man. It's hard for me to hate them;)
ReplyDeleteNot that I commute on the metro, but I hate when people who don't use deoderant think holding the above-the-head rail is a good thing.
I didn't hate him. He was just annoying.
ReplyDeleteMan, I hate these people. Show a little courtesy to others.
ReplyDeleteScarlet's so wrong about the old people. The same cute little grandparents that bake cookies for their grandkids are so unaware of their surroundings that they'll cut you off in traffic without looking and run you over with a shopping cart if you're in their way.
(Of course, this was developed over 12 years of living in Florida.)
Get that job, Yusef, and I am so there : )
ReplyDeleteOh goodness. I hate people like this. BTW, that's quite the fantastic phone camera. Mine doesn't take pictures quite that nice!
ReplyDeleteOk, I am new to this "blogging thing". Hell, I did not even know what one was until about a month ago (pretty sad when hubby is a computer tech and works with them all day; but, when he talks about them my eyes start rolling)... Anyway, I am beging to hate people in general because in retail you learn most are rude and none have manners. Yet, when I go somewhere I am the worst! I act like a tourist everywhere around here (no one knows you anyway!), I insist on excellent customer service ~ that has to do with hubby working at the Ritz Carlton, and I want my personal space on top of it all. I am not as bad as old man here, but I am becoming just as rude ~ sad to say ;) As far as drivers - well I will not get started there. I call everyone up here in the north "Florida drivers in training".
ReplyDeleteLost
The metro can be sooo good and sooo bad. I used to ride it all the time, and I liked not having to drive or sit in traffic, but people can be really horrible. I can't tell you how many times people would not get up for pregnant women, or would ignore the injured and the old...
ReplyDeleteI do miss not driving though...
I second Dara's comment about old people. As as kid (not in DC), I used to rely on the public bus system. I distinctly recall that the geriatrics were the ones who would literally shove you out of the way to be the first to board that bus. Surprisingly strong, some of those 70-year-olds. The fact that they wielded canes or umbrellas sometimes made it easier for them too, of course.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Is this a rant against old people who ride Metro? I'll grant you, the guy was inconsiderate. But I've seen some 20 and 30 and 40 and 50, et.al., somethings who have been similarly inconsiderate. I think the point of the blog was that people on Metro can be inconsiderate and engage in some bad rider etiquette.
ReplyDeleteLet's face it: in D.C. and its surrounding environs, a lot of the folks are just plain rude and live with an "I'm born to be first attitude." It permeates not only Metro behavior, but driving behavior, how folks interact in retail/service settings, etc.
Bottom line: this guy was inconsiderate, but not because he's old.
The perenial question.... why don't people ever move to the back of the bus? Or away from the doors on trains. There's plenty of room. Spread out!
ReplyDeleteOh, the lean. So rude on a crowded train. I don't think he's that old, even.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a camera phone for the guy who had his nasty-ass foot propped up on one of the poles on the Blue Line the other day. Granted, it wasn't terribly crowded, but here's this guy with bracing the bottom of his sneaker on the pole, right about where a short person might hold onto it, not to mention potentially blocking the path of people who'd want to pass.
Brilliant! I love it! Please keep "Metro Don'ts" up! I hate those people also! In fact, this could be an entire blog about "Metro Don'ts"
ReplyDeleteYou know I agree with you on this one. Remember my Metro butt buddy?
ReplyDeleteMy biggest complaint about the metro is that it doesn't reach my house;)
ReplyDeletei always found the DC metro to be decidedly humane. i, however, was a student and didn't "communte" on it.
ReplyDeleteproper subway/metro etiquette should be outined in convenient little illustrations in every car. that way you can just point and advise your fellow passenger that they have violated one of the bar holding rules. humph!
I never sit on the metro personally, I find I'd rather leave seats available for other people who really want to sit. I do think I'm usually relatively good at staying out of the way of people moving around the train to get on and off though.
ReplyDeleteI think the new car layouts though should be a good thing since there should be more room for the many of us that have shorter relative trips and don't see a need to sit.
I understand your anger. Some people just don't GET how to act in public places. One has to wonder why someone like him [obviously not a tourist] still can't observe proper metro ettiquette [take up as little space as possble, hands at side or holding on to rail, eyes cast down] Today on the T I saw small children sitting on the floor of the train. Ewwww!
ReplyDeleteAlright, now that we're off of the rude old people, and refocusing on metro etiquette, check this out, if you haven't seen it already.
ReplyDeleteIck, ick, ick. Makes Sweet's butt-cheek pole guy seem almost decent.
Oooh I ate people who take up extra space with big splayed papers and books. When everyone else is cheek to cheek. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this codger has resorted to leaning on the handrail because some 22 year old intern in flipflops with an ipod screwed into her head is sitting in one of the old/disabled seats and pretending to ignore the nasty stares in her direction?
ReplyDeletePelagius, et al - I think if his issue was age, then I most definitely have sympathy and direct my scorn toward the lazy bastards who won't give up their seat. However, he seemed pretty spritely to me.
ReplyDelete