This morning, I was riding the #9 bus from South Boston to the Back Bay, when I encountered a passenger who clearly did not have a firm understanding of how you ride the bus during rush hour. I was checking my iPhone or reading my book, when all of a sudden, I encountered the following conversation take place between the woman sitting two seats down from (I was sitting in the back row) and the guy sitting kitty-corner from me.
Angry business man: STOP JOSTLING YOUR KNEE! I am trying to read the paper. (Please note, his arm was clearly well over his armrest and on top of her purse.)
Woman: Stop using my knee as your armrest.
Angry business man: I was on this bus first and picked this seat. You are the one who came on after me and picked that seat.
Woman: Are you kidding me? It’s rush hour and every seat, plus standing room is going to be taken!
A.B.M.: You could have picked any other seat, but you had to sit right there when I was already sitting here.
Woman: That’s how the bus works in the morning…you fill in the bus so everyone can get on.
A.B.M.: That’s just so f****in inconsiderate. You are such a b**ch.
The conversation clearly went even further down from there. I was tempted to move over a seat and shove my large bag into his knee every time the bus turned, but I held back as this guy clearly had anger management issues. I did not want to set him off further. When he got off, he glared back at us as he walked outside. I told the woman sitting next to me that I think the guy had ordered town car service, but had accidentally gotten on the bus instead.
-m
See Something, Say Something says
I would have encouraged that woman to report the man to MBTA police for sexual harassment. After all, using someone’s KNEE as an armrest is clearly inappropriate and could even constitute groping to some people, and not only did he refuse to stop but he even MOUTHED OFF about it.
honeybee33 says
some people forget that the operative word in the phrase “public transportation” is “public.”
apjen says
wow what a ride..
littlehoursofme says
woahh.. he’s nuts for sure.