# My subway rants! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 12, 2013, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703 "2013-11-12T05:49:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/101 "2013-11-13T17:49:15Z")
> [@OurLordPeace](#): > > I’m not TashaKitty, but your arguments are specious. They sound like the kind of “breeder bingoes/bingos” directed at those of us who don’t want children. Not at all. I’m responding to **TashaKitty’s** argument that people taking the subway to/from work somehow outrank people taking their children on the subway. Complain about giant strollers that take up half a car? Sure. Complain that the kids are there at all? Ridiculous. If you don’t want to have kids, then don’t. Not a problem. But don’t turn around and claim that kids are some kind of luxury item, like a boat or something. If everyone on Earth stopped having kids tomorrow, we’d all be royally fucked starting 20-30 years from now. Like it or not, your well-being **will** depend on the children other people are having right now, so don’t be contemptuous of them. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/102 "2013-11-13T19:39:04Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > That’s because in America everybody has fart radar, so if you happen to make the tiniest and cutest of poots in a deserted aisle in a store somebody IMMEDIATELY has to run up and stand right next to you. It’s a national curse. I saw a birthday card that said something like, “Someone farted in the card aisle, and I grabbed this one and ran!” 😃 > [@Clothahump](#): > > My never-ending rant about Houston Metro, where the pinheads that run it think that > > 1. Houston is really suitable for a toy train to carry people around, and > 2. They built the goddam thing at street level, instead of building a monorail. > > The train hits cars, pedestrians, bikers…hell, it will run over [anything and everything.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwcYcedLxZc) We have trains that run on the road surface here, too, and it’s hardly the train’s fault that drivers, cyclists and pedestrians keep getting in the way of the trains when the bells are ringing, the guard arms are down, and the train is running very predictably on rails. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/103 "2013-11-13T20:02:05Z")
> [@Jesse\_Pinkman](#): > > I salute you. I mentioned this thread and my contribution to it, to my husband last night and he says I am already the crazy lady on the T. ---
**Author:** ![OurLordPeace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e8c25b/32.png) [@OurLordPeace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OurLordPeace)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/104 "2013-11-13T21:24:24Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Not at all. I’m responding to **TashaKitty’s** argument that people taking the subway to/from work somehow outrank people taking their children on the subway. Complain about giant strollers that take up half a car? Sure. Complain that the kids are there at all? Ridiculous. > > If you don’t want to have kids, then don’t. Not a problem. But don’t turn around and claim that kids are some kind of luxury item, like a boat or something. If everyone on Earth stopped having kids tomorrow, we’d all be royally fucked starting 20-30 years from now. Like it or not, your well-being **will** depend on the children other people are having right now, so don’t be contemptuous of them. I’m not aligning with TashaKitty (if TK is indeed arguing the following) or anyone else who would devalue or marginalize children and/or their caregivers on public transportation. With that said, it does seem to me that children are often/always, if not luxury goods, a bad idea. I’m tormented on a daily basis by the implications of people I know (and people I don’t) having children in the face of climate change. Even before environmental calamity loomed large, Arthur Schopenhauer made a good argument against human existence. Since life virtually guarantees suffering, and there is no guarantee that joy/pleasure/happiness will overpower the suffering, does it not make more sense not to bring more humans into the world? As the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement argues, if humanity went extinct peacefully and painlessly, how would that be bad? Note that this is not an argument for suicide. Speaking of suicide, I have no plans to live long enough to become an undignified burden on others. In reference to economics, the idea that each generation needs larger subsequent generations to support them is a pyramid scheme. ---
**Author:** ![Mclovin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@Mclovin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mclovin)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/105 "2013-11-13T21:47:21Z")
> [@OurLordPeace](#): > > I’m not aligning with TashaKitty (if TK is indeed arguing the following) or anyone else who would devalue or marginalize children and/or their caregivers on public transportation. > > With that said, it does seem to me that children are often/always, if not luxury goods, a bad idea. I’m tormented on a daily basis by the implications of people I know (and people I don’t) having children in the face of climate change. Even before environmental calamity loomed large, Arthur Schopenhauer made a good argument against human existence. Since life virtually guarantees suffering, and there is no guarantee that joy/pleasure/happiness will overpower the suffering, does it not make more sense not to bring more humans into the world? As the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement argues, if humanity went extinct peacefully and painlessly, how would that be bad? Note that this is not an argument for suicide. > > Speaking of suicide, I have no plans to live long enough to become an undignified burden on others. In reference to economics, the idea that each generation needs larger subsequent generations to support them is a pyramid scheme. …And off the rails we go! ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/106 "2013-11-13T23:15:37Z")
> [@Mclovin](#): > > …And off the rails we go! I’m a little surprised it took over 100 posts to go from “People on the subway are rude” to “Humanity should go extinct.” ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/107 "2013-11-13T23:39:30Z")
I’m a little curious about these things that I kind of want to take a subway and see for myself ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/108 "2013-11-13T23:39:43Z")
> [@OurLordPeace](#): > > \ > Speaking of suicide, I have no plans to live long enough to become an undignified burden on others. In reference to economics, the idea that each generation needs larger subsequent generations to support them is a pyramid scheme. I worked with a guy who liked to talk about his Early Check-out Plan - don’t take care of yourself, don’t live too long. 😃 As for humanity’s extinction, if we manage to extinct ourselves with the big fat brains we have, we deserve it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/109 "2013-11-13T23:40:20Z")
Well, there might be some kind of plan to make us grown-ups immortal or something. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/110 "2013-11-14T00:33:05Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > But I need to wonder why folks assume that public transit facilities are solely for the benefit of those without children. You know the sort of thing: “I’m going to work! You people with children must get out of my way! I’m doing _important stuff_, while all you’re doing is taking care of kids.” > [@DragonAsh](#): > > Ah, so only the childless should use public transportation. I see. . Interesting that it is only the parents who seem to feel they have the right to muck up public transportation by bringing a huge, completely unnecessary stroller on it, during rush hour. And then _bitching_ and exaggerating (where did anyone say that public transit is only for those without children?) when someone dares to point out how much space they are taking. I wonder if there will ever be a time when these sorts realize there are other people on this planet other than them and their kids? I’ve told the story sometime before on this board, about when I used to commute by bus in Washington, and had mommies yell at me for wanting to use the disabled seats they had folded up to put their stroller in. Despite me standing there leaning on a cane, or for a short while, sitting in a wheelchair. The bus drivers always made them move of course, and one even told one mommie that if she didn’t shut up he was going to toss her off the bus, but the pure unmitigated self centered entitlement attitude happened almost every time there was a stroller in the handicapped area. Is it any wonder I hate parents like that, who are growing in number every day? I haven’t lived in WA in over 20 years. > [@muldoonthief](#): > > OK, now you’re just a fucking nutjob. Who do you think is going to keep the planet running when you’re retired? Who is going to clean your shit-filled diaper in the home when your sphincter finally gives out after holding in all those farts for decades? The bearing and raising of children is of extreme importance to a functioning society. No child raised by your self important ass. > [@](#): > > It could be argued it’s the entire reason civilization exists. Don’t treat it as some frivolous unnecessary luxury that only exists to annoy you. Oh please. Having children these days is a luxury - there are plenty of people here, you don’t have to be a hero and create more. And there is certainly no reason why you should be blocking traffic during rush hour with your lifestyle choices. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/111 "2013-11-14T01:12:04Z")
Gosh, you seem to run into the worst of humanity wherever you go - lazy, parasitic poor people, a string of cruel, thoughtless parents - I wonder why that is? ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/112 "2013-11-14T01:19:49Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Gosh, you seem to run into the worst of humanity wherever you go - lazy, parasitic poor people, a string of cruel, thoughtless parents - I wonder why that is? Gosh, another person who wants to blame the victim and exaggerate. Nobody said this happens every day. This is a rant thread in the Pit - figure it out for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/113 "2013-11-14T04:08:00Z")
So anyway… > [@even\_sven](#): > > 1. You think your bag deserves it’s own seat on a crowded train? Or are you purposefully pretending to be asleep and slumped over the other chair? GREAT! I am going to go out of my way to sit next to you, even if there are other options. It’s not like we don’t all know your game, you know. Word! If you ever see me on the L and want me to sit next to you, put your bag on the seat on a busy train. I \*will \*sit next to you. Guaran-fucking-teed. > [@Anaamika](#): > > When we went to Chicago, everyone was extraordinarily nice, friendly, and helpful. The city was very clean and the subways were also clean and not stinky. Chicago is friendly and clean. Fucking Midwesterners don’t know what real dirt looks like. ---
**Author:** ![TashaKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TashaKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TashaKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/114 "2013-11-14T05:14:29Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Interesting that it is only the parents who seem to feel they have the right to muck up public transportation by bringing a huge, completely unnecessary stroller on it, during rush hour. And then _bitching_ and exaggerating (where did anyone say that public transit is only for those without children?) when someone dares to point out how much space they are taking. I wonder if there will ever be a time when these sorts realize there are other people on this planet other than them and their kids? > > I’ve told the story sometime before on this board, about when I used to commute by bus in Washington, and had mommies yell at me for wanting to use the disabled seats they had folded up to put their stroller in. Despite me standing there leaning on a cane, or for a short while, sitting in a wheelchair. The bus drivers always made them move of course, and one even told one mommie that if she didn’t shut up he was going to toss her off the bus, but the pure unmitigated self centered entitlement attitude happened almost every time there was a stroller in the handicapped area. > > Is it any wonder I hate parents like that, who are growing in number every day? I haven’t lived in WA in over 20 years. > > No child raised by your self important ass. > > Oh please. Having children these days is a luxury - there are plenty of people here, you don’t have to be a hero and create more. And there is certainly no reason why you should be blocking traffic during rush hour with your lifestyle choices. Curlcoat, I think I love you. ---
**Author:** ![TashaKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TashaKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TashaKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/115 "2013-11-14T05:27:19Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > But don’t turn around and claim that kids are some kind of luxury item, like a boat or something. With 8 billion people on the earth, and counting, kids _are_ a luxury item in the developed world. This isn’t the Stone Age and it isn’t some third world country like Africa where disease and famine wipe out 2/3 of the tribe’s children. In 21st Century America people have babies for three reasons: a) they’re interested in passing on THEIR genes and theirs only b) they think babies are cute and want to raise one c) they had unprotected sex and didn’t think of the consequences My own mother admitted that, after years of struggling to conceive my sister, she and my father kept trying because they were selfish and wanted their own kid instead of adopting a needy one. To be honest I would have no issues with the US following in China’s footsteps and implementing a one or two child only policy. ---
**Author:** ![TashaKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TashaKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TashaKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/116 "2013-11-14T05:32:18Z")
> [@DragonAsh](#): > > if there’s a seat available in front of me, my kids are going in it unless someone very near by is very obviously pregnant or very obviously disabled. And I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is when mom or dad are sitting in a seat and junior is sitting in his own seat, which is essentially getting two seats for the price of one and denying a paying customer that vacant seat. Either give junior the seat and you stand or you take the seat and have junior sit in your lap. ---
**Author:** ![TashaKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TashaKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TashaKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/117 "2013-11-14T05:38:38Z")
> [@DragonAsh](#): > > Go take a flying fuck you obnoxious, spoiled, self-absorbed prick. I’m the self-absorbed one? Tell me, exactly what was your reasoning for having kids? ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/118 "2013-11-14T07:59:22Z")
> [@TashaKitty](#): > > This isn’t the Stone Age and it isn’t some third world country like Africa where disease and famine wipe out 2/3 of the tribe’s children. You may want to brush up on your geography, dear. > [@](#): > > To be honest I would have no issues with the US following in China’s footsteps and implementing a one or two child only policy. Many parts of China are rolling back on the one-child policy (which actually only applies to a fraction of the country) as they are beginning to suffer economic consequences from demographic collapse. Chances are the policy will not last another five years. It has always been more about political control than demographics (China’s current reproductive rate is quite low, even without the policy), and it’s starting to get in the way of the growing economy. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/119 "2013-11-14T11:36:58Z")
> [@TashaKitty](#): > > Either give junior the seat and you stand or you take the seat and have junior sit in your lap. And I said I didn’t do this…where exactly? Senior citizens in some cities get free or reduced rates on some forms of transportation. Clearly you feel they should stand, so that the far more deserving full-fare paying citizens such as yourself, can sit down? > [@curlcoat](#): > > Interesting that it is only the parents who seem to feel they have the right to muck up public transportation by bringing a huge, completely unnecessary stroller on it, during rush hour. So your complaint is that the strollers take up too much room. Clearly you feel that fat people shouldn’t be on the train when you’re on it as well. How dare they take up so much unnecessary room! ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703/120 "2013-11-14T12:48:53Z")
> [@TashaKitty](#): > > I’m the self-absorbed one? Tell me, exactly what was your reasoning for having kids? You’re the one who wanted to [sexually assault your best friend](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16832445&postcount=1) because you want his baby. I’m pretty sure you don’t have the moral high ground anywhere. > [@I'm in love with my gay male friend](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-love-with-my-gay-male-friend/673468/1): > > I want to lose my virginity to him. I literally fantasize about it and I call his name out when I orgasm. We’re close enough to be comfortable around each other naked but obviously, since he’s gay, he probably wouldn’t want to have sex with me. We’ve talked about having a child together in the future, but I want to conceive it naturally instead of via turkey baster. > > Should I tell him or would that scare him off? Or should I go for the gusto and strip down and start playing with him and see what his reaction is? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-subway-rants/673703.md?page=7)