I caught a later than usual commuter train tonight and boy, am I sorry I did. I was sitting in a crowded double decker car-- every seat was taken. A black young woman asked me politely if the seat next to me was taken. I said no and she sat down. I read my book. Other people were talking softly or reading the paper or listening to the iPods or on their cell phones. An ordinary, peaceful Friday evening commute, with the sun streaming in and everyone looking forward to the weekend. We’re a mixed bag–young, old, both genders, black and white, Asian and Hispanic.
The (black, young) conductor comes around bellowing (in that way that conductors have) for “Tickets! All tickets, please!”. There is some fumbling around of those who are not regular commuters. There are slots for the upper deck to place their tickets so that the conductor only has to look up and reach up slightly to click their tickets. He does so, making comments and replying to casual remarks by the passengers. I’ve ridden with this conductor before and he’s very nice and gregarious. Nothing is happening.
Until Mr Conductor Man gets to Ridiculous Asshole White Man Passenger. I was sitting less than 10 feet from RAWMP and I know nothing was said or done by MCM. And yet, RAWMP says loudly, “You talking to me?” :rolleyes: “Hey! Hey! Hey–You!” (by now MCM has gone to other passengers and hadn’t realized that RAWMP was addressing him). RAWMP continues on his tirade, claiming that he must have MCM’s badge number etc.
We are all looking at one another, completely flabbergasted. NOTHING happened and yet RAWMP is acting like MCM threatened his life or raped his wife (who is reading the paper and glaring at everyone–but not at MCM). MCM attempts to communicate with RAWMP to no avail and goes out of the car. He comes back shortly with Head Mr Conductor Man who asks RAWMP to come down to talk to him and MCM. They all go into the vestibule to talk, whilst we are all commenting about how nothing was said or done, so why the drama? etc. There is another black passenger in the vestibule (standing room only)-who must have gotten an earful.
HMCM is in our car when he calls for MORE back up–either the commuter line police or a Chicago cop. :eek: Sure enough, at the next station, we stop and there’s a commuter line cop–both MCM and RAWMP get off. Wife stays on, reading the NY Times. Both of them are middle aged, btw–and neither of them looked inebriated or “altered”.
I get to talking to my seat mate about all this when I feel like I’m being watched. We are mildly mocking the RAWMP’s actions aloud, but not loudly, but mostly we are expressing complete confusion over what just occurred. I look up to see RAWMP’s wife glaring at me. I just looked at her with (I hope) an expression of the contempt I felt (and feel) for this nonsense. But here there’s thing: the only people (besides me) who spoke up for MCM (in a general sense of remarks said aloud to the HMCM) were all black. 
I can’t read minds, but the look on RAWMP’s wife’s face was “how dare you not take his side”.
I then hear from that other black passenger in the vestibule (on our way off the train) that RAWMP claims that MCM hit his arm. Um, NO.
Now, no doubt people were tired or just didn’t want to get involved or whatever, but seriously, this was a no brainer. White guy was way out of line–and he never once accused MCM of anything out loud. He just kept saying he wanted his badge and he wanted to report MCM, but never said for what. There can’t be any “what” because nothing happened. Whether it’s customer service or a racial issue (IMO it is both), it comes down to Asshole Passenger Makes Job Difficult for Conductor.
We are a strange species, but this incident really opened my eyes.
You make me laugh. Thanks–I needed that. I have a horrid sinus headache today and I needed something absurd to get my mind off it. Bless you.