The "laughing crazies" and "staring crazies"
In case you missed these yesterday, I'm reposting a two Tattler Tales submitted by Rexblade. Hilarious! (Submit your own tales here.)
Somehow I keep running into the laughing crazies. Last night, while riding the #77 Belmont bus, there was a guy at the back who was snickering gleefully while tapping his feet. He nodded to me as I took one of the inward-facing seats. I nodded back then drew my attention to the front of the bus.
Next thing I knew, the guy had gone from mumbling to himself in Spanish, to calling out every stop on the route. He'd call out the next stop, then say "poop". He did this from Campbell to the Red/Brown line stop. I couldn't control my snickering as the man incessantly ranted, "Ashland..Poop!!... Southport...Poop!! Lakeview...Poop!! Racine....Poop!! Seminary...Poop!!!"
When the bus reached the "L" station, he stood up, gave everyone a "Howdy" and a nod as he made his way from the back of the bus to the front, then exited.
And one more from Rexblade:
Aside from the "laughing crazy" in the previous post, I'd like to add that I have run into a problem with the "staring crazies" on many occasions.
Last night, I was in a simple pair of jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. Nevertheless, there was a guy on the red line, about half a car away from me, who would NOT stop glaring at me. He had an expression that made me wonder if I did him some terrible injustice in a past life; it was one of those "I've finally found you, you rat bastard!" looks. He stared at me like this from Belmont until he got off the train at 69th.
Correction: When he wasn't sleeping, he was glaring at me. I'd glance nervously at him from time to time, and see him either with his face buried in the window, fast asleep, or sitting straight up and burning a hole in my forehead with his "stank-eye". Really kinda creepy. Has anyone else ever run into a "staring crazy" like this?
The first guy sounds like he could be Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers' cousin...
Posted by: Dmac | July 29, 2005 at 10:40 AM
A "staring crazy" glared at my friend Anna, the owner of the sunglasses kiosk on Oak Street Beach. He *stabbed her in the back* the very next morning (this was in the news for several days!!) I'm happy to report that she's doing okay but it serves as a warning to all. Never underestimate someone glaring at you for no good reason and acting oddly. Always keep your wits about you because you never know what can happen. Sorry for the bummer comment.
Posted by: Vendela | August 01, 2005 at 11:12 PM
Thanks for the update on your friend Vendela. Just yesterday I was wondering what happened to her. I'm glad she's doing okay.
Posted by: Matt | August 02, 2005 at 09:25 AM
Wow. I certainly don't often let my guard down when it comes to "staring crazies." The simple fact that they're creepin me out is reason enough to watch my own back. The day after that guy stared at me on the red line, I switched up and took the green line home. Cant say the passengers were much more sane on that line, but at least I was less likely to run into that guy again.
Posted by: rexblade | August 02, 2005 at 11:54 AM
I was on a train one evening riding home on the red line when a woman sitting across the aisle from me yelled at a man to stop staring at her. She said it was creeping her out and she got up and moved to stand near the doors. She got off the train at Addison and everyone near where she was sitting burst out laughing. I don't think the guy was staring at her just in her general direction. I can't say that I wouldn't have been creeped out but sometimes people are just zoning out into space and not looking at you!
Posted by: Liz | August 03, 2005 at 04:51 PM
Oh no, I'm sure that particular guy was staring at me. I had a sneaking suspicion that he may have been just looking in my direction, so I gave him a nervous nod to see if he'd respond (which is a good rule of thumb to check if someone is actually staring at you: Nod to see if they respond), and he did...he narrowed his glare at me. The dude was just crazy!
Posted by: rexblade | August 04, 2005 at 12:56 AM
I once was riding the green line home from work, and i was sitting in the seats that face into the car (next to the doors) reading the newspaper. There was a young girl sitting across from me who kept glancing in my direction. Finally she tapped my shoe with her shoe and when I looked up at her, she smiled at me and asked me why I was ignoring her. Confused I was asked "Do I know you?" She then INSISTED that I had met her on the train the previous evening and that I was chatting her up on the train as we rode home. I explained that I wasnt on the train last night and that she must have me confused with someone else. But she was SURE that it was me and there was nothing I could do to convince her otherwise. Needless to say it was a bit of uncomfortable ride until she got off.
Posted by: ChicagoTom | August 05, 2005 at 12:31 PM