Etiquettes of Traveling on Public Transport
When you’re on the road as a driver, you mind your surroundings and make sure that your actions do not cause harm to those around you, whether they are in their own vehicles or on foot. If driving laws are abided by, the chances of mishaps decline significantly. However, much would be different if you don’t have your own vehicle and you rely upon public transport.
A vast majority is dependent on public transport to get to work and come back home safely. These people are already stressed after a long day of work, and it’s not wise to test their patience at rush hour. This woman, however, learned this lesson the hard way.
End of Another Busy Day
It all starts as Jessica Huit is in a hurry of catching her train after a long stressful day at work. It was peak rush hour and we all know how crowded New York’s public train can get. Although she was now used to traveling in public transport, she had never experienced what she was to experience this day.
Jessica had been traveling on this train for years now. The overcrowded station was nothing new for her. Just like any other day, she got on the train and decided to get on with her hunt for a vacant seat.
New Day for a New Yorker
Now New York’s congested trains are known all over the globe. Opting for the train in a busy city like NY comes with fully jam-packed stations. It’s a blessing if you can keep your personal space ‘personal’ for more than a minute.
It can get extremely difficult some days to find yourself a seat. The ‘first come first get’ rule is being implemented strictly and you’ll have to stand all the way home if you’re a late bee. Furthermore, it is an unwritten rule to always occupy one seat in a crowded place. We don’t need to talk more about the importance of an already established etiquette.
The Hunt for a Seat
Jessica was drained of most of her energy when she entered the train. Perhaps this was because of the tiring day at work, but it’s no lie that the sight of a jammed train station from NY can drain your energy and motivation too. Her search for a place to sit continued as she moved from aisle to aisle.
Now the journey was over an hour-long, standing until the next stop was an option that none of us would take; especially after a stressful day at work. So, Jessica’s hunt for a seat finally ended when she came across a vacant one.
Call for Trouble
Jessica’s search ended at the last carriage of the train when her eyes caught a vacant seat right next to a seat occupied by a lady. Although it was surprising how nobody had gotten to the seat before her, she didn’t pay much attention to it. There was, however, a purse that probably belonged to the lady sitting on the seat.
Upon coming close to the seat and asking the young lady about the bag, it was confirmed that it belonged to her. Jessica was all set to be seated until she asked the woman to take her bag off from the vacant seat. Now, this is where it gets interesting.
Not Following the General Etiquette
It’s no surprise to see people busy with their own stuff in a crowded place. Some would be busy scrolling their socials, some would be talking loudly on phone, some would be sleeping, and some would be filling their bellies with snacks.
However, the stress of a tiring day at work also leads people to make questionable actions. We know that the mental burden from offices is anything that should be underestimated, but taking it out on other people is simply a big NO. The answer that the young lady gave to Jessica might be the result of a tough day, but that’s not justified at all.
Egomaniac
Jessica politely asked whether she can sit on the seat or not. Note how she didn’t demand the lady that she moves her bag, instead, she respectfully requested to sit at the seat. Occupying two seats at once, the lady seemed to be annoyed with the thought of doing the right thing.
It was apparent that this young woman was not in the mood of complying with Jessica’s request. Her looks and body language made it clear before she even responded to Jessica.
A Calamity in the Making
She had headphones in her ears as she was using her phone. Her eyes were fixed on the phone’s screen. As expected, she first pretended that she did not hear Jessica’s request and went on using her phone.
Jessica awaited the lady’s response but did not get anything. The train suddenly stops at this moment as it had reached another stop. Security officers boarded the train and one stopped beside Jessica as she saw the lady becoming visibly annoyed by Jessica not leaving her alone.
Officer Steps In
It was apparent that Jessica was not the first person to ask this lady whether she could sit on the seat occupied by a Luis Vuitton bag. Perhaps the lady refused to comply with someone else too and they reported it to the authorities. That is why the officer was now present at the scene.
Jessica thought it would be best to take a step back and let the officer sort it out. Meanwhile, the woman kept playing the pretending game despite knowing that she’s in for some trouble.
So It Begins
The officer approaches the lady and orders her to remove her bag from the seat. She shouts: “No! Don’t touch my stuff!” while pushing the officer’s hand away. Jessica stood beside the officer watching the woman explode with irritation.
As soon as it got physical, the officer knew the lady is not to be taken lightly. So, he added more harshness into his tone and demanded her to get rid of the bag or she’s going to have to leave the train.
One More Shot at Politeness
Once again, the officer reached for the bag and got his hand pushed away by the woman. She shouted not to touch her stuff once again while removing her earphones. Both Jessica and the officer looked at the rageful expression she gave in her supposed death stare under the shade of her hat.
The officer once again decided to be polite and asked her if anyone else can sit right next to her. As expected, the lady replied: “No! I don’t want someone sitting next to me. There are more seats available!”
Public’s Attention
By now, everyone’s attention was caught by the woman’s rude behavior with the authorities. It was clear that it would take a while for her to budge the bag and it won’t be an easily won victory. The entire train was on hold because of one mean woman who was straight up being impudent.
The guy seated next to the lady had enough of her rude behavior and decided to step into the action. He said: “It’s already a late train, you’re stopping everyone.” Despite his interference, the woman simply gave him a blistering look and continued to disobey the cop’s command.
Intense Backlash
Passengers of the train had taken enough of the lady. They started shouting at her so she would do the right thing and the train would finally set off. The entire carriage’s atmosphere was starting to heat up as the passengers were calling out the woman for wasting their time.
“There isn’t space, No, there isn’t space, there is just standing room!” could be heard loud and clear. Jessica now knew that the lady had refused similar requests from other passengers before her. That is why the crowd was on Jessica’s side.
It Gets Worse
The passengers were on the verge of taking matters into their own hands, and we don’t blame them. Imagine you had a long hard day at work and get stuck in a delayed train because one lady wouldn’t budge her purse from a vacant seat. Thankfully, the officer had gotten there on time.
“Ma’am, take off the bag or I’ll take you off the train right now,” said the officer. Another passenger was heard shouting “If you take her out, we’ll have one more seat,” from the back. This statement ignited the lady’s anger even more.
The Audacity
She responded with: “You’re not disabled, you’re not pregnant.” I don’t like bed bugs. I’m not interested in your odor. You’re revolting.” These mean comments can set even the most compassionate people on fire.
This woman thought so low of others, it shows how desperately some people need a lesson in courtesy. Jessica was shocked by this woman’s audacity. She claimed to be above the rest of the passengers, yet she didn’t have the means to travel alone in her own vehicle.
Personal Space?
The young woman shouted that it is her personal space and she has the right to do whatever she wants with it. However, the rest of the passengers were firm upon refuting her egotistical claim. In the midst of these intense verbal exchanges, Jessica noticed that the officer was about to go off.
“I don’t care if I’m 90 pounds, 50 pounds, or 300 pounds; this is my personal room!” said the woman. It was at this time that the officer’s patience had completely gone down the drain. So, what happened next?
Command of The Authority
You guessed it right. All of the passengers were delighted to see the green signal from the officer’s side. Fueled with anger, the cop ordered that the woman is to be kicked out of the train. “I want her off the train. Get her off the train.”
It was shocking for the woman to hear these words from the officer. She wasn’t expecting to be forced but quite frankly, both the people and the officer had enough of her arrogance. “You’ll get your personal space outside,” said the man in black.
Victory?
Unfortunately, the passengers were yet to face more of the stubbornness of the woman. As soon as hearing the command of the enraged officer, she gave him a look of surprise. With no intentions of backing away from her motives, she decided to disobey the command of the one in charge.
By now, around half an hour had been wasted of all of the passengers in the train. The delay seemed to be extending more and more, while both the officer and the woman were adamant in their demands.
The Good Ending
It would have been troublesome for the officer if he had physically forced the lady to move. Therefore, when he saw that she’s not in the mood to comply, he called for a backup. In no time, a couple of officers were seen coming towards the differed-upon seat.
As they approached the woman, she gave them one of her irritating stares and finally decided to back down. She got up and was escorted off of the train with officers while the passengers rejoiced. Jessica still couldn’t believe how someone can be so full of themselves.
Public’s Reaction
This entire scenario was filmed and saved on the phone of a passenger. It made its way to the internet and in no time, the video went viral. The public’s response to the woman’s behavior was very similar to the passengers’ response.
Everyone applauded the officers for doing the right thing and the lady’s selfishness became a viral sensation. “When a whole lot of people ask you to leave, you should know something is wrong,” commented a person on the video. We are in full agreement with this comment.
An Expected Disapproval
It’s common sense for an individual to not take more than a single seat in a jam-packed train. The public’s response was as expected, nobody defended the lady’s actions. Instead, valid points were raised by all those who viewed the video.
One user made a funny suggestion for the lady: “Girl…. buy yourself a car or a helicopter where you can choose who gets in or out, lol.” “‘You’re not impaired,’ you say… lots of people have invisible disorders! What a disgusting woman,” said another user.
New Jersey Transit’s Take
After the video went viral, New Jersey Transit also jumped on the trending bandwagon and gave out an official statement through their spokeswoman:
In response to this statement, the woman who originally posted the video said that nobody blamed NJ Transit for the delay. Instead, their anger was directed towards the woman who refused to vacate the seat. This backlash was entirely valid and aimed at the right party.
The Seat Hunt Ends
For Jessica, all of this was a memorable experience. From the woman’s refusal in the first place to the ending we all hoped for, Jessica was glad that the woman learned her lesson. After the drama had ended, the officers gave the train the green signal which all the passengers were so desperately waiting for.
The passenger standing next to Jessica gave her the proposal to have the now-vacant seat. This simple gesture was enough to move Jessica’s heart. She was delighted to be reminded that compassionate people still exist, after witnessing the self-centered nature of the woman.
New Yorker’s Life
Fortunately, no such event was ever witnessed again by Jessica. Though she does get reminded of her experience whenever she’s looking for a seat after work. That’s something that she has gotten used to. Her perspective has changed about people. She knows there’s good and bad in every place now better than ever.
“It’s the cost of life in a big city like New York. Everywhere we look, there are examples of both positive and poor acts. That’s what makes us human, right? Seeing something wrong and getting things right.”
Traveling in Public Transport
Daily journeys on public transport are not easy. If you can afford to have your own vehicle, trust us, it is a blessing that most would die for. Considering the number of weird people you come across on public transport from time to time, there’s no lie that people who travel on their own actually enjoy traveling more.
Unfortunately, not everyone who can get on a public bus or train has basic good manners. That is why most of us have to put up with questionable acts from other passengers, which brings us to another story. Last time it was a woman, but this time, it is a kid. He learned a lesson too and we’re just as happy about it as those who witnessed this scenario live.
Taking Up Thrice the Space That You Deserve
The life of a commuter is tough. You have to travel long distances every day to get to school or work. Moreover, you have a hard time looking for a vacant seat where you can be comfortable. Since it’s a guaranteed backache for the rest of the day if you stand all the way to your destination.
As mentioned previously, it is common sense, a basic manner, to only occupy one seat. When it’s not that crowded, it makes sense to get comfortable. This kid, however, thought everyone would be fine with him spreading his legs across two seats. Thankfully, an individual schooled this child and made everyone happy.
Brainless Passengers
We all know that not everyone can afford to have their own car, that’s why public transport exists in the first place, to reduce traffic on roads and to provide a cheaper commute. This doesn’t mean that you should look down upon people who rely upon public transportation.
Most people tend to forget the “public” in public transportation. What does that imply? That you’re going to be sharing the vehicle with other people. This means that you comply with others and make sure you don’t bother them to make your own self comfortable.
The Worst Part of Public Transport
While public transport does get you to your destination at cheap rates, you have to share your journey with other people as well. Don’t forget though that this public transport is viewed by some as a challenge. A challenge to how worse their behavior can get. Seriously though, some people act like they’re in a competition of shitty behavior when they’re traveling with the rest of the public.
The importance of manners has taken the back seat and you’ll find people doing the most absurd, embarrassing, disgusting, questionable stuff in trains and buses. If you’re someone who relies on public transportation, you can relate to what we’re getting at here.
Offended? I Don’t Care!
Coming across people who are dedicated to proving how mannerless they are, has now become the norm. In often situations, you’ll notice that people care less and less about how others would be affected by their acts. All they care about is themselves, and that’s where conflict arises.
Yes, you have booked a seat here, but that doesn’t mean you got a license to invade the personal space of other passengers or to vape till the carriage is full of smoke. People also tend to forget that there are children on board as well sometimes.
Common Blunders
You’ll often see passengers fighting over a seat. Some think it’s okay to pile their stuff on a seat while they sit next to it, others believe traveling in just their undergarments is fine. Well, the list doesn’t exactly stop here.
People would either play music too loud, snore too loud, or drool all over their seat cushion while taking a mid-journey nap. Note that most of these gaffes come from fully grown-up individuals. Not only is that sad, but it also shows how deeply we need to change our society for the better.
Arrogance
Passengers who believe they are owed two seats in a crowded place really need to check up on their mental disabilities. How selfish can one get, honestly? We regularly see baggage occupying seats while the elderly stand throughout the journey. There’s something seriously wrong with people who are fine with this.
Do you know what is the worst act of these all? To spread your legs and take up two-three seats where someone else could have sat on. You don’t need to have a degree in ethics to know whether this is an acceptable move or not.
Will You Have Peace or War?
When people show how mannerless they are in public, not everyone responds to them in the same way. Some are keen on making things better in a peaceful manner, others would cross all lines to teach these people a lesson.
Now we know that some brainless passengers should be taught lessons that they’ll never forget, but making peace should be our top priority. Slandering, cursing, fighting won’t really make us any better than the defaulter. It is always advised to do things the easy way first.
Isabel’s Story
An example of such objectionable behavior was witnessed by Isabel when she was heading to her destination on a train. She took to Twitter and showed the world what had happened. The tweet went viral of course.
With over 140,000 likes and 50,000 retweets, the tweet was applauded by people all over the world. So, what was in the tweet? Well, Isabel had summed up a short story that many found intriguing. This kid on the train with her would not allow anyone to sit next to him because he had to spread his legs while gaming on his phone.
Fame for Doing the Right Thing
Her tweet’s comment section was filled with praise for a certain individual. The world was apparently in love with the hero of the tweet, which wasn’t Isabel by the way. Some of those comments are as follows: “As a new yorker, this GIVES ME LIFE.” “My faith in humanity has been restored.” “It’s the only way kids will learn!”
Curious to know who this individual was? We’ll get to that soon. But we also have to give Isabel the credit for getting this scenario the popularity it deserved.
Way to Go Isabel!
In all honesty, it’s people like Isabel who we have to thank too. Without these people, much of the drama that happens within carriages would go unnoticed by the world. So, kudos to Isabel for capturing the moment at the right time and reviving our faith in humanity.
Isabel is well-known on Twitter. She has a large following and regularly shares entertaining posts. This tweet she posted though probably got her the most of her popularity. Now we believe it’s time to get rid of your curiosity and let you in on what happened with the boy who couldn’t keep his legs folded.
Another Day
It was just another day for Isabel as it was for Jessica. However, today her eyes caught something uncommon take place on the train. Due to the nature of the event, Isabel thought it would be best to snap some photos and let the world see what she saw.
Was Isabel the only one to notice this strange occurrence? Probably not. However, she was most likely the only one to take pictures. It’s a good habit though. Taking pictures of such odd events can be very helpful in the future.
The Context
Before we start with the story, it’s important to let you in on some background first. You see, metro trains don’t have allotted separate seats in their interior bodies. Instead, they have long benches with divisions made on them through visual design.
This makes it an understood rule that you’re supposed to sit in one section of the bench. The divisions are equal and the separations are not made through handlebars or anything. All that needs to be understood is that the space mandated for a single person is clearly visible.
Young and Wild
Now that you know the types of benches these trains have, we suppose you already have gotten an idea of what we’re talking about. That’s right, a young boy, probably in his early teens was seen by Isabel occupying more space than he should.
The kid had extended his legs on the bench and was covering space for a total of three people. As irritating as that may sound, there’s no denying that kids doing stuff like this is worse than a grown-up doing something similar.
Mr. Let Me Get Comfortable
People who usually go in public buses and trains are well aware of the ‘Mr. Let Me Get Comfortable’. We don’t need to explain what this individual is famous for but they can be either in the form of a man or a woman. In this case, it is a kid whose eyes are glued to a phone’s screen.
This young man thought his comfort is more valuable than those who are on the hunt for a seat. The worst part? His mother seemed to be fine with her kid taking this much space.
Self-Obsession
The child was busy playing games on his mother’s phone. We’re not even sure if it was his mother’s phone but let’s hope she didn’t make the mistake of giving him his own cell at this age. Deep down we know that we’re deluded by assuming her mother didn’t mess up this parenting regulation either.
Anyways, the kid seems to be completely careless about his surroundings. We’re sure he wouldn’t budge even if the train crashed. That’s how harmful obsession with phones can be for young ones. They make children’s brains as soft as cheese.
Basic Moral Obligations
There’s no differing amongst the vast majority of people on the fact that the elderly, the disabled, and the expecting women deserve a seat more than someone who is not one of these. Why? We don’t have to comment on that. It’s a general obligation that all of us are to fulfill, even when we don’t want to.
Furthermore, not doing what the public expects you to do is like asking for more trouble. We’re not asking you to become a sheep. We’re simply asking that some basic human decency is a must-have.
Awful Parenting
Despite being asked by three people to move, the kid did not budge, and his mom did absolutely nothing about it. He simply ignored their request and went on to stare at his screen as if all that’s important in life is the virtual world.
The fact that the mother was okay with her son being this rude is enough to make any sane person’s blood boil. You can tell a lot about a parent’s success at parenting just by looking at their children’s upbringing. And be mistaken no more, this kid is the perfect product of awful parenting.
Like Mother Like Son
If you think the boy was the only one lost in his own world, you’re wrong. As much as we hate to report this, but the mother was just as unresponsive as her child. She had headphones on and couldn’t care about a single thing that was happening around her.
We’re sure several people must have asked her to make the kid move, but the mother was too busy listening to music. So, it was a pair of mannerless passengers who were pissing everyone off around them.
Can’t Just Sit and Watch No More
As time passed, the situation started to heat up. We mentioned before that not everyone responds to such people with a soft tone. Decline an intolerant person’s right to be seated and watch them respond harshly. The mother and son were just waiting for the conflict to arise, and it did later on.
People were starting to get annoyed and we don’t blame them. It’s hard to watch an undisciplined kid do whatever they want. Since we know that they are going to grow up to likely be an upgraded version of their current self, it’s not wise to just sit back and watch.
Man of The Hour
After being asked by people to move, the boy suspected he’s under watch. So, he decided to move his legs just a tiny little bit to make space for a single person. This wasn’t enough obviously and contributed nothing to cooling off his heat.
Even if someone sat on the now available space, the boy’s shoes would most likely touch them, and nobody wants to be bugged like that. Everyone thought that convincing this kid is pointless since his mom was on his side, until this hero stepped up.
Save the Day
A man with messy blonde hair and a stylish pair of sunglasses is seen approaching the boy and his mother. He gives the kid a deadly stare from behind the dark lenses of his shades. It was now apparent that this man would be the hero we all needed.
His outfit made him look quite mysterious. Despite wearing such peculiar clothes, his intentions were known by almost everyone as soon as he stepped into the scenario. Many have noticed his style to be similar to Elton John.
Not Elton!
It’s rare for celebrities to be spotted in public trains and that’s just one reason why this individual wasn’t Elton John. What would the British star be even doing there? Did he just come there to get famous as if he lacks fame?
As funny as these questions may sound, we’re sure that whoever this man was, he rekindled the sense of gallantry in most. The guy had the guts to step up and teach the kid a lesson. He could have made a scene but he didn’t care, which makes us love him even more.
Move It, Kid
The Elton John look-alike stood beside the bench where the boy was playing his games, hoping he’d notice and make room for him. Similar to the ones who came before him, the blonde man had no luck and was ignored by the spoiled little brat.
However, unlike other people, our hero didn’t back away and kept standing. He was visibly annoyed by the boy’s lack of courtesy and manners. So, he decided to do that which nobody before him had done.
Time for the Lesson
The boy’s carelessness, eyes glued at the screen, and unresponsiveness was fueling the anger in the man. He had the right to be offended, not just because he didn’t get a seat, but because of the kid’s disrespectful behavior. Just like the previous few times, the mother was too mentally absent to even care.
Our hero who came without a cape decided to teach the spoiled one a lesson he’ll never forget; A lesson in discipline that we believe this kid was in dire need of. So, what was on the mind of Mysterio here?
Get Rekt
After being left on seen by the kid, the man thought enough is enough. He simply turned around and sat on the kid’s legs. Yes, that’s right! How long can someone even be patient in a situation like this? This was very unexpected for the rest of the passengers but we’re sure they were glad to see this happen.
You can’t blame the guy in any case. He had waited for far too long for a space that was owed to him. Doesn’t matter if the kid had his legs spread on that space.
Moment of Victory
Fortunately, Isabel captured the exact second our hero sat on the boy’s legs. His reaction was hilarious. With the mouth wide open, the kid couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. Never had he ever thought someone would step up to this arrogance.
His surprise was definitely the highlight of Isabel’s tweet. We cannot thank Isabel enough for clicking the picture at the right time. As for the boy, well, let’s just say he learned the lesson we all wanted him to learn.
Discipline
A refusal from a boy, who’s occupying more space than he should, does not mean the requesting person does not have a right on the seat. Our mysterious man wished to show Joe (the kid) how his actions can have consequences.
Although these lessons should be taught by the parents, there’s no blame on others if they’re the ones to teach the kid first. Instead, it is recommended to teach children etiquettes, even if they’re not yours. Even when the man sat on the boy’s legs, the mother paid no heed to the matter.
A Missed Stop
After the man had gotten comfortable in his new seat and the boy folded his legs, the mother suddenly took notice, not of what happened with her son, but of the fact that they missed their stop. Apparently, she expected her son to pay attention and keep up so their stop doesn’t pass.
The son failed to do the job, obviously because he was as lost in the screen as his mother was. We do believe that it was absurd of the mother to put this responsibility on her child then blame him for being negligent.
The Aftermath
Isabel didn’t stop using her phone’s camera to capture what was going on with the mother and son. The mother was scolding her child for not being attentive to their stop which had passed while being awestruck by music herself. Talk about awful parenting.
It’s as if the wrong people get to have children. Honestly, if you’re someone like this lady, we beg you to think thrice before reproducing. This planet has had its share of idiots. We don’t need any more of you guys.
Time to Leave
The entire situation became a hilarious mess as the rest of the passengers witnessed the mother go off on her son as she picked up the baggage. They were about to head out of the train as soon as possible.
As for the guy who taught the boy a lesson, he sat calmly on the space he deserved right from the start. Meanwhile, the boy was having a hard time getting cursed at by his mother and everyone was enjoying this drama. However, this was not the end.
Mannerless Children
When the mother and son were about to leave, the boy approached the stranger who sat on his legs and said something to him. This wasn’t exactly something that you would be proud to hear, but the kid cursed our man of mystery.
You must be wondering why the man didn’t teach him another lesson, well, probably because they were just leaving anyway and it would not be the wisest thing to do. The ending was totally unpredictable but we seriously hope this kid does not grow up without changing his ways.
Legends of Subway
The man will be remembered as a subway hero by everyone for a good while. He’s the man who revived our faith in humanity and showed us how we should deal with douchebags on public transport.
Although the man’s decision to sit on the kid’s legs was applauded by most, some criticized it and said that it shouldn’t have been like this. We don’t agree with this minority. The kid had his chance and decided to be a brat then got mad for getting what he deserved.
The Public’s Reaction
However, this opinion was held only by a small number of people. They probably missed one of the key elements of the story such as the mother’s presence or the kid being asked to move by other passengers before.
Some even went as far as saying that the man assaulted the boy. Firstly, these people should learn what assault actually is, then they should spend ten minutes in a train standing because a boy doesn’t want to fold his legs. Maybe that would make them reconsider their opinion. Nonetheless, the story made rounds over the internet and people loved it.
What Most Say Is What Matters
Anyways, the majority appreciated the blonde man’s actions and that’s what matters. Although we still don’t know who the stranger was or where he came from, the guy got a standing ovation on the internet. We hope he knows that.
What about you? Do you think what happened was right? Do you support the actions of the stranger here? In light of this context, this interesting tweet by @famousactress caught our attention: “Subway etiquette is best taught nonverbally with force”. Do you agree with this statement?