CTA Tattler

Yup I've seen her. She put her bag on the seat next time on morning and proceeded to preach at the top of her lungs. I tapped her on the shoulder and pointed at her bag. Anything to ge ther to shut up. She just froze up and hissed "DO NOT LAY YOUR HANDS UPON ME!!"

She ended her lunatic rant by spaeking in tongues, rapidily firing of semtenses ending each one with a 'shzhzhzhzhzhhhhaaaaaaa' sound.

She is mmentally ill and needs professional help.

Life needs a mute button.

"Life needs a mute button."

My favorite quote of the day!

And people wonder why others stuff their ears with blasting iPods, etc. Maybe there should be some sort of public transit music player subsidy.

OK I'm not quite awake yet, but one can dream, I reckon.

Once upon a time I would complain about people with blasting iPods or blasting CD players. But taking the Red Line for ONE MORNING RUSH HOUR made me immediately purchase an MP3 player.

"Life needs a mute button."

Statements like this are one of the reasons that our society is heading towards completely ego-centric apathy.

Here's a revelation for you, Al. It won't fit into a Ziggy cartoon like you seem to prefer, but it is true: Life and the reality around you is NOT LIKE YOUR TV. Or your IPod or your laptop or your TiVo. You cannot mute life or escape from the reality around you by immersing your perception in electronic stimuli.

The sooner that people stop trying to filter out the unpleasant parts of life and start trying to make everyone else's lives better, the better and more rewarding our own lives will become.

It's posts, comments, and quotes like those posted above that uphold the stereotypes of typical "North-siders". More concerned with IPods and the latest "Nip-Tuck" episode than with the hardships of those less fortunate around us.

I listed to my iPod on the train so I can read in peace.

Nip/Tuck is awesome.

Yeah, I've seen her too. But seriously, if spreading the word of whatever is how she fills her day, I say let her speak. Seriously, for all of us who have been riding the CTA for a while, that's certainly not the worst thing we're going to hear.

Tim,

You first.

I saw her Saturday morning on the southbound side of Fullerton on the Red line about 11AM
on my way to the Northwestern Football game.

She was dishing out a ear breaking load of crazy. The out of towners on my side of the north bound track covered the ears and asked God for the train to get to the station ASAP pronto. Where is the DEVIL when you need him. Maybe he had worked out-time the day before on Friday the 13th. In the movies, the crazy ones alway go first. Because no one cares and it does not spoil the plot. FREDDY, JASON, Leatherface we need you on the CTA Red Line.
NOW......

No need for a music player, simple foam earplugs are all that's needed for peace. If you're riding in the subway, wearing earplugs could also protect your ears from hearing loss -- it gets loud down there! (if you don't have isolating earplugs and you have to turn up your music to drown out the el sounds, you are probably damaging to your hearing as well as leaking sound into the car)

yet again, why not "blast" your iPod? why should we have to hear about people less fortunate than us and their problems? how do you know shes less fortunate? maybe she was rich and decided to retire and do this all day.

i dont go on the train and tell everyone what i'm thinking, so why should we want to allow/tolerate anyone else doing it? personally, i don't really care...

but the main point here is: Ralph, whats wrong with blocking out the world around us with music/etc.? why should we have to listen to people? why not block them out with "electronic stimuli"?

i guess i am a "typical north-sider" because i do watch nip/tuck and when i'm on the train i do listen to music on my phone (has iTunes on it, but technically i guess the same as an iPod) it makes the time go quicker and then i dont have to hear crazy rantings.

maybe someday they will devise a mute button... somehow... then i can mute ralph too.

by the way, i agree with ilr, i dont "blast" my earphones ever, because it will cause hearing damage, and i'd prefer to have that possibility of muting AND un-muting should it ever arise... problem with earplugs is they really generally dont block out ALL noise, since most are designed to block out harmful noise, yet let the rest in.

Sometimes it's *pricless* to get a quiet bus or train. I remember when that used to be the norm.

But there's only so much pop-up annoyance one can take. It's not healthy. We're bombarded with obnoxious advertising everywhere, aggressive panhandlers, batty coworkers, nutty family members and somehow we should pay to hear someone ranting on public transit at the top of their lungs?

So exactly what brand of crack did you purchase sir?

I wish one of my friend's would call me at 5:40am to have me listen to that ranting....they'll get my voicemail.

Whining about iPods ruining society sounds kinda retro these days. Were you attacked by a Walkman when you were a kid?

Oh, and I use noise-reducing headphones. I've already lost enough hearing from my concert-going days to want to preserve the rest.

And Ralph, it's not that I'm unconcerned with this person's welfare -- I'm not the one who can do anything about it, you know? Either they participate in their support structure or they don't. To an extent I sympathize with the fact that they can't control themselves, but let's remember that they and their support structure are failing at that, not us.

"It's posts, comments, and quotes like those posted above that uphold the stereotypes of typical "North-siders". More concerned with IPods and the latest "Nip-Tuck" episode than with the hardships of those less fortunate around us."

I had no idea South Siders were inherently caring and philanthropic. I feel so enlightened.

I'm a native Southsider and I agree with ChgoRed.

So hey Ralph, oh wise egalitarian sage, what is your SOLUTION for situations like these when someone unleashes an aggressive lunatic tirade on people who are either just trying to pull their focus together for a long workday to come or who simply want to decompress a bit after their day is complete? Do you HAVE any solutions, or is your sole talent passing empty judgements on people online? People whose lives you have not the SLIGHTEST insight into.

Personally, I try not to do anything that I would mind someone doing to me. On the other hand, I have a really low tolerance for people who, mentally ill or not, cannot moderate their behavior towards a baseline level of civility. It's not the CTA's job to act as a rolling mental health facility nor is it the task of riders to act as counselors for the dysfunctional people who habitually make life miserable for everyone who uses transit. Anyone who is incapable of or unwilling to consider how their actions affect everyone around them needs to be ejected from CTA property with haste.

As for Nip/Tuck, where the fuck does that dig come from? Of all the mountains of crap clogging my cable box, Nip/Tuck is one of the rare exceptional examples of intelligent programming. You are probably too obsessed with your own stereotypes and narrow worldview to see that, beneath the sex and silicone, Nip/Tuck is an amazingly compelling program that delves into identity, ego, personal boundaries, shame and loss. Did you just pick on it at random because it's nominally about wealthy white people?

Ralph -
Typical 'north-siders?' I think you should listen to your own advice here......

I've ne'er heard her, but she sounds like a hoot. Then again, my motto about the Red Line: I ride the Red Line to remind myself why I don't ride the Red Line. I used to ride the tomblike Blue Line every morning. The Red Line is spicy. And it's not like anyone's paying attention anyway. Let her be. Freedom of speech and all that rot.

Uh Ralph, Northsiders aren't the only ones that have MP3 players.

Furthermore, please don't sit here and say that in your entire life you have NEVER listened to an MP3 player...or a Walkman...on the bus or train to "remove yourself" from someone ranting...or a screaming baby...need I go on?

Adam: You don't have to hear about less fortunate people. Just hope that you never become one of those less-fortunate that everyone turns a deaf ear to. Feel free to continue your self-centered existence.

Deepkid: I don't purchase crack.

Bob S: "Whining" about IPods isn't "retro", it's probably just your shrunken attention-span that makes it seem so. This country is filling up with people whose motto is "I'm not the one who can do anything about it, you know?" I'm sure that it is comfortable for you to compartmentalize this issue into the "support structure failing" but the bottom line is that if the support structure really is failing then it is up to society as a whole to pitch in and help out in any way you can.

cont'd..

Juris: If this "tirade" is would call "aggressive" then you are more insulated than I thought. And it really isn't lunacy. Perhaps the unstable presentation that framed her message upset and scared you, but she is telling the truth. I'm not passing "empty judgements" I'm just disheartened by the lack of sympathy and empathy that people have expressed. But thank you for making my point for me. No one on that train has the slightest info into that woman's life because no one cared to do anything other than call security. One more point. If someone talking loudly about a subject that you prefer to ignore is making your "life miserable" you need a reality check, my friend. As do most of us (myself included) responding to this post. You ride the train to a home. Probably a warm home that has some food in it. You probably ride it to and from a job. To assume anything more would be presumptuous, but I can imagine that there are thousands of people in this city that would trade your "miserable life" for the reality that they are confronted with on a daily basis.

Guest & Tim: I am a NorthSider. I have many friends on the SouthSide, but have never lived there. I'm not comparing the two demographics, I'm simply trying to explain why the rest of the city thinks that people who live north of Madison are oblivious and apathetic.

Everyone seems to be getting upset because I'm "passing empty judgements". I'm not. I HAVE tuned out people like that before and was embarrased when I reflected on my actions. I am guily of everything that I posted originally. I don't know what the answers are and I don't pretend to. I just know that our society is becoming more and more isolated exponentially each year. It is disheartening. It takes some sort of tragedy or natural disaster before most people feel comfortable acting selflessly and charitably. Thankfully, this isn't true for everyone. There are many generous and charitable people in this city, but they are definitely in the minority.

ralph, feel free to be a sociologist/teach a class on sociology. i'm sure some people would like to hear your thoughts. personally it is true that i have become one of the people that are very very apathetic in terms of caring about other peoples' lives. they dont matter to me.

i will gladly continue to live my self-centered life. if we didnt live in a society where we constantly judge and evaluate everyone elses problems and shortfalls, i'd be perfectly fine. because yes, i do comment on those things, yet i also dont care, because it doesnt affect me enough for me to do so.

by the way, i'm glad you at least replied. so many people puss out and dont reply after they've had so many people respond to them.

I have never seen this person who is the topic of this thread. Being a daily rider I am pretty sure I can relate anyways. I agree with both views I have read above. Yes. Somedays I am callous, uncaring and they bug the snot out of me. Other days I pray. I wish I could be a more consistent human being. But I try to remember they are human too. But...they're are people who do act sub-human on the trains and they do know better.

This really doesn't have anything to do with compassion for those less fortunate. If you are that sensitive about the issue, have you offered to take them in?

Ralph, it almost seems like you think that people have an obligation to be annoyed.

But realize that riders are not allowed to DISTURB THE PEACE, regardless of their socioeconomic or mental health condition.

Riders are entitled to a peaceful ride and it's already taxing enough to deal with the rattling, raggedy trains, over-talkative CTA announcements and other various mechanical noises.

Piling on other performances stacks the tolerance plate a little too highly. And this really goes for all forms of obnoxious behavior, not just el evangelists.

In a fascinating but also annoying way, libraries have become lively coffee shops, sans the coffee.

The positives - providing free internet access and wifi is breathing new life into the perceived relevance of libraries in today's tech-connected society ... and perhaps for bringing people together under one roof who might not have congregated otherwise.

The negatives - libaries are no longer the enriching public zen spots like in days past (even librarians loud talk today); often a daytime sanctuary for the less fortunate (mostly negative when some are hostile toward other libary patrons ... taunting, etc.), less elbow room, grappling for the 2 total power outlets that were built pre-internet/notebook age.

The CTA is not a public libary, but that doesn't mean that passengers have a green light to forcibly stage their own off, off, off, OFF Broadway productions either.

i have mentioned this before, and yes, it hasnt occurred to me ever on the L, yet maybe someone has, or it may be deemed slightly relevant to this site. almost every Amtrak ride home i encounter people who have their little portable dvd players, which i wouldnt mind having one myself, but, they somehow either dont have the earphones for them, or they choose not to use them.

so, even more for riding the Amtrak than riding the L do i have earphones for my phone to block out the sound of movies on the train.

If the alleged CTA security and or staff
(Yeah, you know the same people who have the so-called "legal authority" to stop someone from using their camera to photograph CTA operations!) can't control these types of disturbed individuals how are we to expect them to protect riders from crazed suicidal terrorist types? Am I the only one noticing a serious problem here?

Exactly how is my being preached at (as an atheist) supposed to help anyone? I will listen to my music and read my book and perform my volunteer work, and I will do so in peace.