On my way home on a half-full train, about ten or so young men, ages 12-17 entered the car. They were generally being rowdy, and then started mildly harassing other passengers (calling one woman fat, for instance). At one stop, as a gentleman left the train, one of the kids yelled, “Kick him in the ass!” And the youngest of the group did. I raised my eyebrows, but wanting no trouble, kept to myself and read my magazine.
Then they came for me. First one, then two, then a third (the little one) sat down next to me. The little one asked me if he could read my magazine. I said no, I’m getting off soon. He put his head on my shoulder, I shirked away. Then I thought I had better ignore them because they asked if I had a boyfriend, what my name was, and calling me “butterface” (whatever that means).
Thankfully, my stop was next, but as I left, the little one kicked me in the butt!
He didn’t cause any injury, but I was pissed. The train pulled away before I could tell the operator.
I called the police when I got home (I did not want to wait around the train station at night), but when they arrived, they heard my story and said I have to report it to a different precinct (the one near the train station, even though it’s only 3 blocks away).
Just the other day my roommates and I decided to get some pepper spray, but we hadn’t bought it yet. Though even if I had some handly, I’d be using it in retribution, not self-defense. And asking to get my ass whupped by ten creeps.
What the fuck am I supposed to do in a situation like that?!
Kill one as an example to the others.
Kidding of course. 
I’m glad to hear you’re OK - and for the record it sounds like you handled it well. I don’t know if pepper spray (had you possessed it at the time) would have been a good idea necessarily; I fear that pack mentality would have taken over and all ten of 'em would have attacked to defend the one.
Can you move from car to car? Is there a way to move to a car with more people?
I feel bad for saying this. Butterface means that you look good but your face is noat all that good.
Yeah that sucks, because as soon as you punch one of those fuckers you have some problems. I’ve lived in Brooklyn all my life, so I’m no stranger to your particular situation, I’d say you handled it well. Let me tell you from experience that getting aggressive with them usually brings out big brother real fast.
I don’t make comments or tell people to shut up in NYC anymore, because last time I did, my friend I was with ended up getting stabbed 13 times.
Glad to hear you’re ok.
What train was it?
I’m so sorry to hear what you went through, Ms. Fisk, that’s just awful. I’m glad you didn’t fare even worse–it sounds like a scary situation. Can you use cell phones on the subway? I don’t own one myself, but I could see where being in a situation like this it would have been helpful to be able to call the police right away. I think Slacker is right about the pack mentality–too bad the police don’t seem more concerned.
That’s horrible. What a waste of air those stupid little punks are. Pack mentality can be a scary thing. You know none of those little shits would be so brave if they weren’t with their buddies.
I’m very sorry this happened to you, I think you handled it well. Saying something or sticking up for yourself in that kind of situation would’ve put you in even more danger. How many other people were in the car with you? You said the train was half full, who were the other people in the car? Any biggish men? Not that it would matter, the dumbfucks were probably packing anyway.
It was the “C” train. My roommate thinks they are the same kids she saw slap a woman as they were leaving a train one day. Any way I could have avoided their attention completely?
I have a cellphone, but it doesn’t work in the subway system. I think getting it out would have provoked them anyhow.
Those kids need a good ass-whipping to teach them a lesson. Juvey probably wouldn’t do any good, it might make things worse. Until they get charged as an adult. But what are they learning from their parents?
I hate stupid fuckers like that.
Go get yourself some pepper spray and use it liberally.
Pepper spray is fun. Pepper foam’s a riot!
How about you walk to the next car? It’s always an option…
I am glad you are ok, even though I know you must be rattled. I would be. I would absolutely dread getting back on the train. You said your roommate may have seen this same group assaulting someone before. I would report what happened and that your roommate saw the incident she saw. If there is a pattern, maybe the police will do something. I don’t think there is a way to surely avoid their attention. But you did mention something about being thankful that you were getting off at the next stop. I would get off regardless of whether or not the next stop was the one I needed. Also, I would be sure to report the incident and follow up on the report. Find out what action was taken by the police. Especially if this was the bunch your roommate saw. These thugs are in need of some jail time.
Take Care.
Thanks you guys. Pepper spray, get off the car, get the cops to track down these fuckers. Got it.
Just out of curiosity, do the NY subway cars have intercoms so you can talk to the driver like the DC subways do? That’s a way to report it if it’s available. Otherwise, I agree, better to avoid confrontation and just get away as easily as you can, which you did.
Yeah, their all cool when there in a pack like that. Get one of them alone and they better hope they remembered the extra pair of drawers. For when I kick the shit out of them.
That happened to me once on a city bus here. Then later one of the shits tried to pick a fight with me alone in the school hallway. Bad move on his part. I think there is still a locker door in the school with a dent from his head in it.
Glad you`re OK.
A question: What would happen, if instead ignoring these little dickheads, the rest of the commuters started yelling at them to stop it etc.?
Soon as you see any sign of misconduct, immediately move to the next car and locate the driver or conductor’s intercom. Report the location and appearance of the individuals. If possible, monitor what is going on without getting involved. It is always best to recruit fellow passengers if possible. Make sure you have some good hands behind you and then (if confronted) calmly warn them of their impending mistake. If they lay a finger on you go fricking nutso on them. If you do not have people backing you up, don’t do it.
Ignoring them as they began their affronts was a sure fire signal that no one was going to protest their misdeeds. This is the best way to encourage such low lifes.
I think it would be hard to rally a group of people like that, especially since some of them had to share the car with the punks for a few more stops. Although, a woman and her friend checked to see that I was OK as we ascended the station stairs.
I could potentially see a riot ensuing had the other commuters taken jlzania’s suggestion.
:eek: WHOA!
I’m not expecting a happy ending to that story, but is your friend still alive? 
Another possible action, rather than going to the police station or calling the police when you get home, is going to the kiosk at the main entrance to the subway station, and reporting it to whoever is on duty. Every subway station has one kiosk active most/all the time (if I remember correctly). The employee on duty can call down the line and alert another station to have police ready to board the train.
I reported a couple of incidents-in-the-making in this way when I was commutting regularly on the C and the A (e.g. a drunk who was harassing people, and getting ruder and louder with each stop). Don’t know whether it really works all the time, but I’ve seen it from the other end. The police waiting at a station to escort a particular passenger or set of passengers off of a particular train.
Might be worth a try, particularly if it’s turning into a chronic problem on your line (or at particular times).
Considering the circumstances that you originally described
I’m surprised that you say this as if it would be a bad thing.
Admittedly, I now live deep in the country but when I commuted in daily in Chicago, I was forced to, as Zenster so neatly put it:
on two occasions.
It worked.