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Kelsey Malenchak

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Public Transportation: People at Their Worst

Posted: 05/23/2012 8:08 am

Walking the streets of a big city, you begin to notice how there is a lack of common sense around you. Or maybe it's the lack of everyday respect and kindest in our modern world. I'm not a bitter person but there are some things that have really begun to irritate me. I've noticed a significant decline in people's kindness and respect for others.

One of the rudest subway stories I have happened a few months ago. I was on the subway around 9 p.m. The train wasn't busy and I had groceries with me, so I put them on the seat beside me. I would normally take them off and make room for others if it was busy, but as it was, there were several empty seats around; I began to do some work on the ride. A few stops later a woman came and stood close to me. There were other seats available (one right in front of me) so I didn't take much notice of her. Then she leaned against me and pushed her bags into my side. I noticed this and moved her bags out of the way, so it wouldn't hit me anymore, in case she didn't realize what she was doing. But rather than apologizing she started saying how rude I was that I didn't move my bags for her.

So I pointed out several empty seats around us but she didn't move. She just stood there pushing her bags into me -- purposely! I moved my bags from the seat beside me. But she continued to be ignorant and push me with her bags. I was so frustrated. At the next stop two women got on, one sat in-front of me and the other took the seat beside. I couldn't believe how rude the first woman was! She didn't even have the common courtesy to ask me politely to move my things. Someone with common sense would have asked politely. I was so angry by the time I got home. Not a way you would choose to end an evening.

So people out there who think you are entitled to whatever you want without asking politely, all I can say is: Don't pass along your hate or your misery to others. If you can't behave in public, stay home.

Common sense that need to be re-learned:

1. Single File
When two people are walking side-by-side on the sidewalk and see someone coming towards them in the other direction, but don't move to let them pass. Single file people! It takes 2 seconds to let someone pass.

2. Wait Your Turn
When waiting for the subway people who don't let others exit the train or bus before entering. You won't be able to get on if people can't get off. Common sense!

3. Take Off The Sunglasses
If you're outside or on public transit, it's acceptable to wear your sunglasses. But if you're at an event or gathering inside, it's just plain rude! You're not Anna Wintour or Karl Lagerfeld, take off the shades and stop being pretentious!

I'm sure all you reading this have similar stories to mine, so I invite you to vent about them here in the comments section rather than being rude to others. It's tough but if we keep passing along the hate and rudeness, things will not improve.

 

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Walking the streets of a big city, you begin to notice how there is a lack of common sense around you. Or maybe it's the lack of everyday respect and kindest in our modern world. I'm not a bitter pers...
Walking the streets of a big city, you begin to notice how there is a lack of common sense around you. Or maybe it's the lack of everyday respect and kindest in our modern world. I'm not a bitter pers...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Pondering panda
10:59 AM on 05/29/2012
i had a rude bus driver. I was six months prego with my second and had my one year old in a stroller. The bus that came to a stop to pick up passangers was a kneeling bus, i let everyone get on before me including an elderly lady. the bus driver lowered the bus for the lady which is great, but before i could get on he raised it again and looked at me expectantly. what an a hole!!
09:33 PM on 05/24/2012
OK I want to hear opinions on escalators please. The escalators at my subway station are single ones, so they only fit one person at a time. If someone chooses to stay put everybody has to stay put. Every time I feel like staying put as I am tired or my legs hurt I cant as there is always someone behind me putting pressure to move and climb. Is it wrong of me to stay put or should they be using the stairs if they want to climb instead of waiting on the escalators?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Pondering panda
10:56 AM on 05/29/2012
if they want to walk they can take the stairs.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
All Seeing Guy
Center of the storm
03:13 PM on 05/24/2012
"3. Take Off The Sunglasses
If you're outside or on public transit, it's acceptable to wear your sunglasses. But if you're at an event or gathering inside, it's just plain rude!"

Not really. Spares me the headache from being bathed in fluorescent light all day.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
FearlessFreep
A radical leftist with a JS Woodsworth avatar.
03:10 PM on 05/24/2012
I'd rather have people being rude on the subway than well-behaved in gas-guzzling cars.
03:51 PM on 05/23/2012
I completely agree with you Kelsey! A lot of people have entitlement issues on the subway. I've had several strange encounters with people on the subway, mainly really rude people who just feel the need to project their negativity on others around them, or just strange characters!

On one occasion, a man was convinced I was a cheerleader for the Toronto Argonauts. Trying to convince him that I wasn't, he proceeded to make a scene during rush hour. Many patrons took out their iPhones and Blackberry's to take pictures of me, and at that time I had to assure everyone that I was not infact the person this man thought I was.

On a more serious note, there have been several incidents where people have threatened passengers' lives on the subway. This has been the utmost scariest part of riding the subway. You never know who, or what is stepping on to the train you're on.
11:08 AM on 05/23/2012
That single-file thing always gets me. Where do they think I'm going to go - up on the grass, into the gutter, just to accommodate them? They're oblivious, and in my mature years I have made a point of standing squarely on my half of the sidewalk. I kid you not - several women have walked right into me, not believing that I wouldn't step aside at the last moment. As they disappear behind, I have heard the following: "Can you believe how rude THAT GUY was?"
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Kelsey Malenchak
03:42 PM on 05/23/2012
Some people just don't get it. It's common courtesy to share the sidewalk... and the escalators.. but that's a different story.
05:10 PM on 05/23/2012
I do that too. I just plow through, if they don't have the sense to move over then that's their problem. I am so tired of making way for others. My other favorite thing? when 3-4 people decide that they are going to stand in the middle of the sidewalk and chat. If i am walking with my husband I will drop behind him and let people pass as that is how I was raised to be courteous and polite.