Scenario:

You're on some form of public transpo. Bus, train, ferry, zeppelin, whatever.

It's not very busy and there are a lot of seats. (you see where this is going, i'm sure)

You're sitting there, minding your own business, headphones on and nose in a book, lots of open seats all around you -

- and someone squeezes into your seat, right next to you.

What do you do? Do you:

* not care, because this kind of thing doesn't vex you in the least?
* get up and move to another seat in hopes that they'll realize you want a seat to yourself?
* mention to them that there are plenty of seats all around (because there's no reason you should have to move)?
* look at them like they're a crazy person and very calmly say, "can I offer you a beverage?"
* not do anything but silently fume and hope it's a quick ride?

I opted for the last choice today.

I guess it doesn't really bother me that someone was sitting next to me. I mean, I would RATHER have sat by myself but the bus is always crowded so I just expect to share my seat and it's a treat when I don't have to.

It just baffled me as to WHY they made that choice.

It's not like she was being flirty or cuddly or in any way cruisy with me. And I guess my vexation wasn't so much annoyance as it was a big "WTF???" I really wanted to know why sitting with me was preferable to having a whole seat to herself. Did I make her feel safe? ME???

MY FEAR: Sometimes I think people have a flock mentality and would rather huddle in a throng of complete strangers than have the ability to stretch their legs when in public places. If that's true, that shit needs to stop NOW.

So what do you do in these wacko situations? Or are you someone who sits with strangers? Why???

Steadwood said:

DAMN it, why didn't i think of that?

and i even had chipotle for dinner last night!!!

Steadwood said:

Thats where that woopie cushion widget on ones computer would come in handy. After that they would move out of embarrassment in other people not knowing if it was you or the person next to you.

Anxiety said:

:gasmask:

horatio said:

I keep my legs wide apart on the bus

FunAndJames said:

easy access?

LOL

I take it you didnt have a backpack to sit next to you or something.
Thats happened to me before. Some old dude sat next to me. But I think he sat next to me because the seat was closest to the door (just like the other 3 seats next to the door )

That's why I prefer to walk

ThreadCula said:

yeah, i had a backpack - i had my damn GYM BAG in fact - i'm conditioned to rest it on my lap because i have some freakin home training, i guess.

i think my takeaway from today is: if the bus is sparsely populated, put my bag on the seat next to me. it's not rude: it's an acceptable piece of my urban armor.

Steadwood said:

I want to beat the fuck out of these people. Where I live this happens all the time and it is one type of person, I won't say because people will say it's stereotyping but it is always that same type, and there will be shitloads of seats all around and these people will ask me to remove my things from the seat next to me so they can sit down. It makes me want to become a sociopath

I dont really care.

If u dont wanna move then just start slapping urself.
Then they'll move and u'll be back to sitting alone.

But if they start slapping themselves too, get the fuck up and mooooove!

When riding public transportation, pretend (with a suitably stricken look on your face) to be reading a pamphlet entitled "SO YOU HAVE SCABIES", while scratching a lot.

This plan does have risks, however, as someone might plop down beside you and exclaim, "Oh, you have that too? Thank goodness we can sit together!"

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

stereotyping aside, why do you think they do it? what do you think they have to gain? what comfort does it bring them? i think THAT is what gripes my ass more than having some schmoe's carcass invading my space.

DanceWme said:

DanceWme said:

I usually don't care, but there was a time when I took the bus regularly and there was this one dude that would always try to sit with me and he'd squish my little ass in the seat to the point where I could hardly move. Sooooo, I started sitting in the aisle and putting my purse in the other seat so that he couldn't sit with me

DanceWme said:

WillyWonka said:

DanceWme said:

horatio said:

oh yeah, you can fit a sail barge up the gap

Anxiety said:

It HAS TO BE about control. Lots of times they are elderly and I still want to beat their fuking stupid old ass It's one thing if the bus is crowded but when 98% of the seats are personless I want to fucking snap. My stupid ass just usually glares and says nothing though Depends if I foresee trouble.

I do sometimes say nothing, ignore or tell them I aint moving shit since there are open seats all around.


.
[Edited 6/20/08 15:34pm]

Steadwood said:

That or start rocking back and forth saying over and over "No No No not again..why does this always happen to MEEEEE. No No No!"

FunAndJames said:

d the homeless enjoy the benefits too?

I would ride with my back to the side of the bus and my legs spread across the seat.

What I hate is when some girls forget their bathroom stall etiquette. If you walk into a bathroom with all but one stall empty, you DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT pick the stall next to the one being used. Space it out.

Anx~ Do u sit by the door? Seats by the door is an automatic draw. This is nasty, but you might try coughing or sneezing at the person without covering your mouth, and do it more than worse. Or turn up the volume with some rap, and take one earphone out.

funkyslsistah said:

i did switch the music on my iPod to diamanda galas' "O DEATH" and i kinda tilted my iPod toward her so she could see the scary shit i was listening to, in hopes that it'd scare her off.

JuliePurplehead said:

men do that nonsense too. like i really want to be 3 feet away from you while you're squonking one out. MOVE ALONG.

Actually I did fart on someone btw usually I'd get up and move (especially if they stink or have bad breath, nobody wants to smell cotto salami or shit the whole bus ride) or if I'm really frustrated I'd suggest that they take another seat it there art so many.