Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Unruly Passenger on #54
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July 21, 2012 at 1:54 am #604066
LAPMemberI learned something interesting during my commute home on the #54 on Wednesday evening. We had an unruly, combative passenger on board with us, insulting other passengers and trying to pick a fight with one or more passengers. I was sitting at the front of the bus and could hear all his nasty hollering and abusive comments. I called out to the driver that we had an abusive passenger on board who needed to be escorted off the bus at 35th and Avalon. He apparently could not hear me over the road noise, so I called 911 myself. The calm and polite dispatcher informed me that the Driver has to phone in a request to have a passenger removed from a coach. I stepped up and informed driver of my call to 911 and asked that he call and ask for assistance to get this fellow off the bus. He hesitated for a bit but then eventually did call it in. By this time we were already at 35th and Avalon where I disembarked. I hope he got that fellow off the bus sooner rather than later.
Shame on the man in the back of the bus with a young girl who did not get up and move away from the unruly fellow. That poor little girl heard nasty things spew from the unruly man’s mouth.
Shame on the other men sitting near Mr. Unruly who did not stick up for the people being persecuted…and did not tell the fellow to keep his nasty comments to himself.
Interesting that Metro driver must call in the request. Wonder if a weapon had been displayed if the response would have been different.
July 21, 2012 at 2:11 am #764478
JiggersMemberI ride the bus fequently and see that stuff a lot. Nothing new. Other passengers pretend not to hear the idiot and look down to avoid any eye contact and pretend that they are playing games on their cell phones or texting someone.People just want to get home without being bothered.
July 21, 2012 at 2:18 am #764479
LAPMemberI have ridden the bus for 40+ years…there is no excuse for bad behavior. It makes me sad that people seem to be so afraid to do the right thing.
I was very surprised that the dispatcher could not send a car to meet us….I do hope that if a weapon was displayed and/or the driver was hurt or unable to call in to Metro Dispatch that the 911 dispatchers would have the leeway to dispatch a patrol car.
July 21, 2012 at 2:27 am #764480
kootchmanMemberI love these…
Shame on the other men sitting near Mr. Unruly who did not stick up for the people being persecuted…and did not tell the fellow to keep his nasty comments to himsel
Hey sister.. you jump up and handle it. No? why not? why is the “men” that take the shot, the stabbing? If I intervene, with a wacko.you can bet I am strapped… did it rise to that level? Were lives at risk? Cops can do disturbance calls… I ain’t provoking a Zimmerman until I see no other option.
I am woman hear me roar.. there’s threat to big to ignore.. where are the men?
July 21, 2012 at 2:56 am #764481
Genesee HillParticipantThe men “lost their baby on the midnight bus”, kootch. They are depressed with life and could care less. They have no desire to being a Rambo on Metro…
July 21, 2012 at 3:43 am #764482
LAPMemberI did get involved! I called 911….was told to refer the request to the driver and I did. Several passengers thanked me for ‘getting involved’. Seriously….why are you such a crabpot? You are mean.
July 21, 2012 at 4:05 am #764483
kootchmanMemberYes you did.. and I was being … well, not mean intentioned. I would indeed protect anyone in imminent physical danger… it would be my nature. However, there is danger in intervening… that the nastiness and loutishness would escalate. Indeed, that is often the intent of such a cad. I sincerely apologize, Please accept my apology. It’s a tough call.. I would have had an awareness, and paid close attention, but I do not believe I would escalate the affair, always a hazard.
July 21, 2012 at 4:39 am #764484
DelridgeResidentMemberSometimes people feel like the safest choice is to ignore and than to provoke. With all the shootings that have been occurring lately I have to say that I now ignore more often than confront, although LAP, I probably would have also spoke the the driver and called 911.
July 21, 2012 at 6:16 am #764485
JVMemberBullies need to be confronted. That’s the only thing that gets their attention.
I’d be hesitant only because you never know what they are packing, but I’d definitely say something. Politely at first. I’d feel better knowIng that the other riders were with me too if I had make a move. I wouldn’t assume they would have my back, especially in our uber-pacifist society.
July 21, 2012 at 12:57 pm #764486
JiggersMemberWomen want more equality. She missed her oppurtunity to be strong and take action. Us men in Seattle don’t have any ballz. They were taken away from us living here a long time ago.
July 21, 2012 at 1:21 pm #764487
EdSaneParticipantI haven’t bothered with public transport in the last 5 years for the reasons stated above. I’d rather pay for a car(insurance/parking). Rather then deal with the issues associated with public transport. A tougher stance needs to be taken to convince the majority (like myself) into mass transit.
July 21, 2012 at 1:33 pm #764488
JiggersMemberRiding the bus is like going to the zoo. You see all different kinds of animals.
July 21, 2012 at 3:39 pm #764489
grogParticipantI carry a small, pocketable can of mace.
Knowing that discharging it within the confines of a bus can be problematic if not done right, I will use my “ballz” (Jiggers word) to get well with-in arms reach of the offending A-hole and give him or her a short shot right on the bridge of the nose.
Yes, others around will likely get slightly affected however the punk at the center of the problem will quickly change his/her agenda to deal with that highly-agitating fluid attacking their eyes, nose & mouth.
July 21, 2012 at 3:52 pm #764490
LAPMemberJiggers – really?
I had decided to accept your apology, but then you chose to insult me again! For the last time – I WAS STRONG AND I TOOK ACTION! Unruly man was a much larger physical specimen than myself so I used my brains and tried to call upon law enforcement to do what my taxes pay them to do. I was also sitting at the opposite end of the coach – there was no need for me to go storming back there and confront Unruly man. I have great respect for the SPD and have friends and relatives on the Force and know they can be counted on to handle these types of situations.
I understand the mindset of people not wanting to get involved and respect that they have that choice; however, when welet the ‘unruly’ people of the world take away our right to a peaceful ride home after a long day at work or school, we are letting them have control over polite society.
The purpose of my post…and notice it was not in Rant and Raves…was to educate fellow Metro riders that should they find themselves in a similar situation that they should go immediately to the driver, inform them of the situation, and ask that they phone in and ask for assistance.
Now….truce?
July 21, 2012 at 4:28 pm #764491
JiggersMemberComplain to Metro. I’m dumbfounded after you said you ride the bus after 40 years that you never came across this type of behavior and learned something?..ook. Insult? You’ll know when I insult you.
July 21, 2012 at 5:38 pm #764492
LAPMemberJiggers, I have seen this behavior before and I don’t find it acceptable in polite society.
My point was, to any and all Metro riders….please do the right thing and ask the driver to call in and ask for assistance in situations such as this.
I have, on my very own, spoken up on several occasions and asked riders disturbing the peace to please be polite and stop “misbehaving”. I’m not afraid. I was assaulted on a bus and had the guts to stand up and holler “Stop Touching Me – Get Away from Me!” Does that sound like someone afraid to take action?
Keeping things in perspective – this was dangerous situation where the unruly man was insulting other riders and Asking Them to Fight with him. He was soliciting fights. Not cool.
I shudder to think what your opinion is of the passengers that fought back on Flight 93 on September 11.
I have taken the high road and not insulted you personally. Wish I could say the same for you. Please keep that in mind as you contribute to the discussions on this Blog.
July 21, 2012 at 7:46 pm #764493
junctiongardenergirlMemberI also drive now, after taking Metro for many years and being subject to occasional harrassment while waiting for the bus, or seeing the occasional unruly passenger on the bus.
I agree with your encouragement to other riders to do the right thing and speak to the driver or call the authorities, however I think it’s unnecessary to “shame” other riders who might be too timid or afraid to do the same thing. I personally tend to avoid direct conflict in those types of situations, as you never quite know what might be in somebody’s pocket or how they might react if they are already inviting people to fight and I suddenly stand up.
As for the man who was sitting with a child in the bus, if I was with a child on a moving bus on the freeway in that situation, I would stay put, rather than risk potential harm to the child by rising out of my seat while he is demanding a physical confrontation.
Let’s encourage positive behavior without shaming others.
July 21, 2012 at 10:45 pm #764494
LAPMemberFor the record, three or more passengers, including two of whom the majority of the insults were being directed to, got up out of their seats and moved towards the front of the bus. The speed limit along the 54’s route from downtown varies from 40 mph to 45 mph….and there were a few empty seats to move to.
My apologies….I know my own parents would have removed me from harm’s way and if I were aboard the bus in a similar situation with a child I would have done the same.
I’m done….let’s all part graciously.
July 21, 2012 at 11:22 pm #764495
kootchmanMemberWell .. my point was, and is.. LAP.. if the gentleman in question was looking for a fight… confrontation would have given him that. You specfically berated men for not standing up to him. OK then.. so, if I ride the bus.. and did confront him with what a “don’t do that’? and he escalated harassment to violence… Cause the first thrown punch?? I don’t even wait for that..a clenched fist and a half step in my direction is good enough for me. Sig Sauer. I have a hugh tolerance for verbal abuse.. I have none for violence, Zero, especially against me. He was looking for violence. Men I think, have a better sense of judgement on this.. call it instinct… but I know it exists. A barking dog puts you on alert.. avoid eye contact.. don’t provoke… but stay very very aware.. this was probably what was all around you. I am thinking action plans were already done. The parents first line of action would have been to cover the child.
Once the tripwire of violence goes off… you have no idea where it is going… mace? You piss people off with mass. Tweaked? Hell mace gives em more energy….
This is YOUR post.. and while I apologized for tangental humor…as it relates to assigned gender “roles”… when the ***t hits the fan, it becomes primal….you first chastised the “men: for lack of chivalry..then you moderated your original post.. I suspect after some reflection you did NOT do this in your original post……… that wasn’t your point at all.
“My point was, to any and all Metro riders….please do the right thing and ask the driver to call in and ask for assistance in situations such as this”
You DID post this.
Shame on the other men sitting near Mr. Unruly who did not stick up for the people being persecuted…and did not tell the fellow to keep his nasty comments to himself”
One does not sound like the other. The first post.. call it the heat of the moment… may have lead to you picking clumps of brain and bone out of your clothing that night. Call it a draw and win… no one was assaulted, no one was killed. Based on that outcome.. it was handled correctly.
Shame on Metro for allowing this polyglot of anti-socials to ride the bus. This is where metro get the tag… “loser cruiser”….. and if Metro does not alter their policy that any citizen can call 911 …they are situationally more aware than the driver who is watching the road and traffic… they can count on fewer riders.. and their “loser cruiser” status endures. 911 is in the mind of the caller… who appointed metro as the “filter”..?
July 22, 2012 at 12:00 am #764496
kootchmanMemberJV… my learned friend. If he was packing? Could you count on a feminized male population to jump up and aid you? I wouldn’t bet my life on it. Now if it was a Dallas bus…
July 22, 2012 at 2:38 am #764497
Genesee HillParticipantkootch…you are such a man…I bet if you were on the bus…never-mind…you probably haven’t been on a public bus since you were twelve…LOL
But keep fantasizing about what you would do…and all the non-feminized men would do…
LOL
July 22, 2012 at 4:18 pm #764498
DBPMemberJuly 23, 2012 at 11:50 pm #764499
BostonmanMemberI am not far off from Kootch here. I don’t ride the bus but I don’t think I would have escaleted it. The guy sounds like he was looking for a fight. I am usually packing my conceal carry firearm but getting into a scuffle on a crowded bus where I would either A have to use my firearm on a crowded bus or B take the chance this guy gets my gun from me and has the opportunity to use it is not an ideal situation for me.
I think the appropriate action was taken in this case. Sure, someone could have stood up to him and said something but in the end lots of people on that bus just want to get home safe. They don’t want to risk the chance some lunatic injures them. Be smart people, not everything is best handled by beating someone up.
If he started getting violent with people then thats a different story. He would have escalated it to that point and then all bets are off.
July 24, 2012 at 6:57 am #764500
JVMemberGenesee, did your post have a point or were you just trying to provoke Kootch into reaching through the computer screen and slapping you around a little bit?
The fact that LAP’s 911 call doesn’t qualify is ridiculous. That major flaw with Metro is the main lesson in this thread for me.
I wouldn’t want to get into an altercation but if police aren’t en route, and somebody is in danger then you have to do the right thing.
Like the 3 guys who died protecting their girlfriends in the movie theater shooting. They are good men whose stories are worth reading about.
July 26, 2012 at 6:00 am #764501
junctiongardenergirlMemberI also agree that the 911 response to LAP’s call was ridiculous, and that Metro should alter this policy.
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