1. The absurd lack of pleasantries. Acknowledge the people who are getting you where you need to go. "Hello", "How
are You?", and "Thank you" take half a second to say and could very well make a world
of difference to a person's mood or overall day. Especially a person that is personally
in charge of getting your ass where it needs to be. Public transit
employees work long hours and although they deal with some of the
kindest people, they also come into contact with the rudest, most
impossible, people on a daily basis. These employees have the patience
of saints, even though some are cranky, and others periodically lose
there minds. Who can blame them? Whether they say hello back, or care
how you are, take a second out of your day to acknowledge that they are
human beings. You never know, a smile and a "thank you" may stop a
bus driver from pulling over and yelling obscenities at you, and all the other bus passengers.
Worst case, it does nothing, and you wasted half a second on a few
uttered words. Big deal.
2.
PRIORITY SEATING, people. Yeesh! I shouldn't have to write this. Plan
and simple. There are signs and yet I have still witnessed a little elderly
woman swaying back and forth as she holds her shopping bags and
struggles to keep upright while standing on the swerving, curb hopping, bus. All because two 30-something year old woman, and one 40-50-something year old man have the
three blue priority seats (blue means give up the fucking seat, for non-TTC goers) in front of her, and none of them have respect
for the elderly. Or a heart. Instead a teenaged boy, yes, a teenaged boy, offered his arm to
the lady to help her keep her balance. He has three hearts. One for each
of the other lazy bastards (yeah, I said it). Even the little three-year-old I take care of has had to work hard balancing herself on the
subway because people look away instead of standing up to give her a
seat. Yet, here I am. Four knee surgeries. Terrible balance. Often holding on to numerous bags, and a child or two. Yet, I manage to get
up for anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or with young children. I also
offer my seat to people carrying numerous bags, or pets. I know the
struggle. I get it, and I do what I can to help. What happened to respecting your elders? What happened to helping out a neighbour, or being a decent human? Bottom line, if anyone
looks as though they could use a break, give them the fucking seat, and
use the working legs you were blessed with.
This is the most I have ever sworn in a blog post. Sometimes, it's the best way to show just how ridiculously shitty people can be. Oops. I did it again.
3.
Why the rush, folks? I get it. We live in a big city. Transit is
packed. People are agitated. People are late. If you are one of the late people, and you
push past everyone to be the first person off the bus and down the
stairs to the subway, you better be running. fast. Because, if I dare catch
you pushing past other people only to stop and buy a newspaper, or a
coffee, or to stroll your way to work, then I have lost all respect for
you and your disrespectful self-righteous ways. Let the people standing
the whole ride get off first. You have a comfy seat, enjoy your
blessings a little while longer. If you are standing with us mighty jammed in sardines, smelling BO, morning coffee breath, or sheepish farts, then (for the
fastest exit and the most sanity for all) PLEASE let the people in front
of you go first. We all have places to be, and people to see. And shit
to get done. Put away your self-righteous attitude for the greater good
of city rhythm. We will all get there. Deep breaths. Not too deep, you might smell more than you bargained for.
4. Stop being gross.
If you wouldn't do it in your mom's living room (with her there), don't
do it on the streetcar. This means, please don't blow your snot onto
the streetcar floor, please don't have lengthy, unbearably loud and
cuss-filled debates over the phone or with your transit neighbour, and
for fuck sakes, please don't engage in sexual activities. These things
are disgusting, rude, and just plain gross. Grow up and use your
manners.
Most
importantly, show respect, be kind, and remember the love. If everyone
can do this, transit may be a little less like getting an infected tooth
pulled twice a day. Monday to Friday.
End Rant...
With love,
Lauren
