it gives me nerves...

[quietann]

When I got on the train this morning, I did my usual -- get a spot in an empty triple seat, by the window. I noticed a woman coming the other way but I got to the seat when she was at least 15 feet away. And as she went by she said something about "damn bitch stealing my seat" and so forth, but continued on (luckily.) Seriously, I didn't do anything to cause such a reaction... I didn't push her out of the way or jump right in front of her or run to get the seat so she could not or anything.

This kind of thing can rattle me all day, just not knowing if *this* person who's mad at me is going to be the crazy one. I have gotten into confrontations before over what I will call "public space possessiveness" and these days I just try not to. (One said confrontation, over a parking spot and in which I was somewhat at fault, resulted in a threatening note and a call to the campus police, who really couldn't do anything since the person who'd left the note was gone.)

OTOH I got yet another person on the T asking me if I'd made my hat. I have to say no, because Ben's mom got it for me at the store in St. J. where local ladies sell their crafts. It's the pretty green one, and I wish I had made it!

Comments

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

Oh, I *hate* that sort of conflict with a stranger. And you know odds are in your favor that you'll never see them again, but there's always that chance.... Ergh.

*hugs you reassuringly*

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

The problem with people like the lady on the train is that if you heard her and instantly stood up, giving up your seat to her, even saying "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you wanted to sit here" she'd likely still be annoyed at you for 1. pointing out that she was a b*tch and 2. she'd complain you were patronizing her. So it's a no-win.

Perhaps you could say "there's room for you here, it is a triple seat, and while you're quite overweight, I don't think that your wide girth will take up all three of these seats, so we can share it". :)

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

I've read this before--that there are regular commuters who view certain seats as "theirs", and anyone who sits in that seat is about as welcome as someone in Southie who moves a lawn chair from a parking spot after a snowstorm.

And yeah, I don't like it either. You never know if *this* is the time the other person is going to turn violent.

[whitebird.livejournal.com]

"Damn. Skank ass ho wasn't quiet enough when she was trying to mutter under her breath."