Crazies on the Subway

[ceebeegee]

Have to say, my nerves are being stretched verrrry thin nowadays by crazy subway people. I've found ever since this summer, I have MUCH less tolerance for The Crazy, even less than I did before. The Fungus was obviously fucking batshit, but she knew exactly what she was doing and was therefore fully responsible, notwithstanding her "Iiiiii'm the victum heah" whining. The Crazies (and their partners, the Loud Ones) seem to be multiplying like tribbles, although tribbles are much cuter and make a nice sound, UNLIKE The Crazies. As much as I love that 59th Street to 125th Street is express, it also puts us as the mercy of these freaks. Last week, I get on at Columbus Circle and there's a preacher. Now most of these guys are hideously annoying, but some at least can speak--they modulate their voices a little, have a preacher cadence. This one had no public speaking skills whatsoever--his voice went UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN, with a heavy accent. I wanted to scream. I glared at him, put on my iPod and turned the sound up--it was pretty high before he was drowned out.

This seems to be happening more and more. The next day, after UP and DOWN preacher guy, came aboard a singer. And yep, it was at Columbus Circle. This guy announced he was there to sing for us, he wasn't going to charge us (gee, thanks) but we could "show him a little love." He plants himself two feet away and starts to sing a capella, quite loudly. The leg from 59th to 125th is a little under 10 minutes, so he gets through several songs--eventually he's walking through the car, sticking his hat into people's faces and rattling it. HATE. Seriously, I just want to smack that thing out of his hand. It's JUST SO RUDE, it really is a form of extortion. Let us ride in peace.

Saturday night, one annoying guitar player (I will say, his playing and singing were pretty good and at least he didn't demand money, it was just too LOUD and more to the point, it was forced on us) and this morning, two annoying Mexican salsa players--again with the LOUD and the hat in the face. The worst was when Mom and I were coming back from JFK airport after our London trip. Something like 5-6 preachers, panhandlers, musicians, one right after the other. And the shtick is so rehearsed and lame.

Thank goodness for iPods. I don't know why but it's really getting to me lately. Personal space and the right to ignore someone--the right to be in my own thoughts and not be forced to interact--is a huge deal with me.

Comments

[nswakko15.livejournal.com]

When did the A train become the 7 train?

[defy-gravity99.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's bad enough on the platform. But, at least there, there is some possibility of escape. On the train itself, there is nowhere to go...... You cannot escape. You are trapped and have to listen to what 4 out of 5 times is crap. Ugh! My subway adventures lately consist of the E, R or N (obviously, lol), and they're usually a bit more quiet, but still annoying.

However, I do take a lot of buses throughout the week, and the one pet peeve I have is the goddamn cell phone and people who have no concept of their volume. This just happened last night on my way back from rehearsal. I sat on the bus, in the back. Was reading while on line, walked onto the bus reading, and sat down comfy and continued reading. Girly-laugh-and-on-his-cell-phone guy gets on, sits not two feet away from me, can clearly see that I'm reading and continues his loud conversation and high girlish laughter. OK, no one else on the bus is using their cell phone at 10:30 at night. Why you gotta be loud? Oh, is it cause you're sitting in the back of the bus where there are loud noises from the exhaust? Oh, maybe you shouldn't have sat there so you'd no you were screaming. Plus, I'm reading, you can't have any consideration for me. ARGH!

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's bad enough on the platform. But, at least there, there is some possibility of escape.

Exactly. If musicians on the platform are any good, I will sometimes give them money (panhandlers, never. And preachers, I will make a point of moving away). But when you force me to listen to you, you get nothing. Even if they're good, I will give them nothing, I think it's so rude to force me to listen to you, to trap me.

What were you reading?

[king-duncan.livejournal.com]

Oh, when I lived in Inwood, I hated that leg from 125th to 59th; more often than not, I'd be trapped there with a musician or loud-ass preacher.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

When I rode the 1 regularly, there were these two guys, older black guys, who used to hit the train in the evening, and sing the same stupid song every single time. Evey. Single. Time. And then say together their stupid, practiced shticky line afterwards and then, regular as rain, walk up and down the aisle with the hat, rattling it for money. You just dreaded it when you heard the door open and saw them.

[son-of-ottie.livejournal.com]

I almost got KICKED IN THE HEAD last week getting on the bus to go home from work! Teenage Mutant Ninja ACROBATS! With an eardrum shattering, aural-nerve-slicing boom box.
I feel your pain.

[son-of-ottie.livejournal.com]

Not the BUS! Stupid me!!! The E train.

[nswakko15.livejournal.com]

haha! That happened to me when a group of us went to the bronx zoo!

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the urban subway acrobats hit the A as well. I'm telling you, they target that 59th to 125th Street stretch.

[son-of-ottie.livejournal.com]

AND! What IS IT with the Jesus people OWNING the area at the top of the 7 stairs under the Port Authority?!?!?! Seriously....a table with tracts and NUMEROUS pleaders, some homeless, telling me I'm going to hell for being gay or WHATEVER.
They should be handing out free condoms or something USEFUL up there.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

Oh, I cannot stand those guys. I just want to sweep past their tables and knock everything off.

[minstrel70.livejournal.com]

In proper Jesus-and-the-money-changers fashion.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

:)