# "HI--I'M ON THE TRAIN. NOTHIN' WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902 "2003-06-05T19:03:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/101 "2003-06-09T19:10:50Z")
I _knew_ I should have specified the nail polish thing - I have only done that if the carriage is completely empty. This happens quite a lot. I guess the smell could linger though. I’ll bear that in mind in future. However, I’d be amazed if you could smell my sandwiches! I think some trains ban eating on board because a lot of people would probably leave their rubbish behind. With regard to the make-up question: I cycle to the station. There’s not really a lot of point in my putting the make-up on before I cycle. The main train I use (a commuter train in to London, 45-minute journey) has a fairly decent toilet, so usually I can expect to do my make-up in there. However, occasionally it’s been vandalised and the sliding door doesn’t shut (either that or someone has urinated all over the floor :(), and so I have to go in the carriage by default. Even then, like I said, I travel off-peak, so no-one’s sitting right next to me. It’s not the same as shaving (of course), as it doesn’t leave any nasty hairs on the seat. What a horrible thought! Hadn’t occurred to me that putting make-up on in (semi-)public is bad for the image of professional women. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/102 "2003-06-09T19:12:35Z")
Wow—thanks to whomever re-capped my title! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/103 "2003-06-09T19:15:08Z")
**SciFiSam** , can you put your makeup on in the ladies’ room at work? It really does create a bad impression to do it in public—one of those things that should _always_ be done out of others’ sight. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/104 "2003-06-09T19:19:39Z")
See, I’ve never thought that about makeup. I mean, not full on application or anything, but I don’t see a problem with quick touchups (a little powder and some lipgloss). I used to do that when I took the train. I jumped on the shuttle at the station and that took me to school, so about 10 minutes before the train got to the station, I’d powder my nose and reapply my gloss. Not a big deal, as long as you’re subtle about it. And **SciFiSam** , yeah, the smell of polish lingers a _long_ time. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/105 "2003-06-09T19:30:45Z")
**Eve** - no, it’s on the way to nights out, not work. I can’t get to the toilets without my friends seeing me first. And trust me, you don’t want to see me sans make-up. I’m one of those people who was born with black circles under their eyes! ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902/106 "2003-06-09T22:36:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\*{italics mine} > **porkypine** , I don’t think that word means what you think it means. “Dearth” actually means “scarcity.” {/grammar Nazi hijack} > \*\* Must’ve been wishful thinking. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hi-im-on-the-train-nothin-what-are-you-doing/179902.md?page=5)