CTA Tattler

Oh, my goodness. That's insane. It's also got the potential to be very funny--Improv Everywhere, the group behind "No-Pants Day" on the L, could have a whole lot of fun with something like that.

Felonious? Gee. I never thought I was a willful lawbreaker! All those times I've asked someone to move over -- I feel much more dangerous today than yesterday. :)

Muhaha...that guy had some good comebacks. I would have been too shy to reply with anything.

Feloniuus, huh? I'd have given her felonious by hauling her assup and off the train. What a bitch!

Why would I want to sit down where I am not wanted?

To answer Chicago AVenger's question: Spite. That's the only reason you'd want to sit there.

I can't stand people like that. I'd make her move her bag and sit there just to make the point.

Dear Guy in His Late 20s,

You are my hero.

Love,
Mike

I always take great pleasure in making people move their bags, especially if they look like they're just trying to hog the whole seat. I completely understand having to take up more room because you're on your way to the airport with multiple bags, but a single bag centered on a seat coupled with a scowling face pretty guarantees I'll come and sit next to you.

In his 20's? able bodied young man should ne ashamend of himself. It wouldn't hurt him to stand up for a few stops.

As I am an able-bodied male in my early 40's, should I also be ashamed of myself for wanting to sit down on a passenger seat, or should I have more respect for worn messenger bags?

Perhaps if the messenger bag was in better condition, it could have moved over to it's owner's lap.

I myself am in my 40's, 48 too be exact. I still am in good health, and yes, being able bodied, there is no exuse for me not to stand up. I have my pride.

Of course, the woman "protecting the aisle seat beside her with the worn, jam-packed messenger bag" and wearing "a huge head scarf wrapped around her scowling face" might not simply be obnoxious. Picking up a vibe of someone with legitimate problems upstairs.

Mom always taught me not to argue with crazy people. Mr. late 20s maybe got the same advice.

I however do not have any pride, and will happily sit down in a seat that is empty, or if I get in a car where exactly half of the seats are filled with passengers and half of the seats are filled with passenger's bags, will politely ask for the bag to be moved(of course after giving it's owner some time to realize this for themselves).

I also use the excuse of seats being on a train as a reason to sit, also to get out of the way of others as they move through the aisle and in and out of doors, and have always wondered why people seem to not be more understanding of passenger movement in a train car. I had previously thought it was self-absorbtion, but can now see that pridefulness is another excuse.

To each his own. I will now be more understanding of those who choose to stand and will politely go around them as I choose to sit when boarding and also will politely go around them as I disembark the train.

"Chicago Avenger," fine, you're a troll who doesn't really have a point; just your handle is a huge head scarf drawn around your scowling face. But to make John T's point a little simpler so even you can understand it: Yes, if you smugly stand in the aisle unnecessarily, you're blocking the way for everyone in that car, and maybe you should consider being reasonable, sitting your butt down, and letting people move about instead of going around you. (Or are you just standing next to the door, blocking it instead -- not just inconveniencing everyone on the train but slowing service down too?)

As to the antagonist in Kevin's story, I have in the past used two techniques successfully: 1. Sit down anyway, on whatever sliver is available to me, and slowly push my way into the rest of the seat; and 2. Say "Well, I'm sitting there; you're welcome to move your bag before my ass hits it." There is no bluff there for them to call; they'd have to coax me to move once I'm down, but it's never been an issue; they have snatched it away at the last minute.

And, you know, when those people need to get out? Is there any incentive for me to make it easy for them? I love making them squirm and climb and squeeze. Why make them wait for karma?

"Lady, I paid my $2, and your bag didn't, so your bag doesn't get to ride in that seat for free."

Even though it didn't work with this particular crazy lady, that's a great quote. There are a lot of thoughtless people out there who are, well, thoughtless. If they hear that quote often enough, some of them may actually get a clue.

Okay... Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I really do believe that there's a lot of anti-social behavior going on out there because those kind of thoughts weren't implanted in people's brains by their parents when they were growing up. It may take longer to train someone once they're an adult, but it can be done.

Sure, some people may think it's rude to speak so bluntly like that. I don't think speaking up like that is rude at all, but even if it is, in a battle of comperable rudeness, taking up 2 seats on a crowded train trumps a blunt comeback any day.

I think that the new CTA slogan should be "Lady, I paid my $2, and your bag didn't, so your bag doesn't get to ride in that seat for free." It just has such a nice ring to it. ;)

That lady needs more than one bag to haul her crazy around. She could easily fill multiple bags....

All the more reason to go to the aisle facing arrangement. Between those who insist on sitting on the aisle and blocking the window seat, and those who plop their belongings on the ajoining seat, the present arrangement just does not work.

Perhaps the CTA should not only have transit cops, but shrinks who can administer medication for obviously psychotic riders such as this nutjob!

Sad as it is, CTA riders are a real microcosm of society....you just see it all.

Sorry Maureen:
Nutjobs like her will then take up three or more seats!
Which is an excellent reason to stay with the current seating arrangement.

i hate sitting next to anyone but beautiful women. if you want, you can have the empty seat next to me; but i will then stand.

I agree.

Mommy?

Bob S.: I so agree with your comment. Sometimes I just want to tell people that, if there are empty seats on the bus, but they're standing in the aisle or, even worse, in front of the door, they're IN THE WAY!! It amazes me how many people are so self-absorbed that they can't figure this out for themselves.

If I'm ever confronted with an obnoxious seat hog, I try to rip a silent but deadly fart. It sends a message that words cannot. Nothing like seeing the seat hog's eyes water.

OMG, Ralph that is so friggin' funny!

Whooo--

Nice one, Ralph. That's awesome.

What Ivory-billed Woodpecker said: definite signs the "bag lady" wasn't quite right upstairs. I agree, one of those situations where it's probably best to pick your seating battles, especially if your gut says you're dealing with someone not just rude, but probably crazy.