Fight for your right, y'all

[trinityvixen]

I went home to vote because I've never officially changed my residency. In less than twelve hours I managed to do the following:

-Pull a muscle in my neck on my left side while trying to crack my back
-Pull a muscle in my right shoulder trying to heft a bag onto it
-Got cursed out for hesitating as I stepped off the Metro North at 125th Street

No, really, that last one was nuts. I had a Slurpee cup to throw away and I stayed for all of a split-second in the doorway as I glanced left then right to find the nearest trash bing. I could vaguely hear (over my music; I had my earbuds in at the time) a protest I didn't bother to listen fully to as I'd since stepped out and whoever was pissed that I wasn't literally falling out the door and landing beneath their feet so they could get out faster was now out as well. Some words carried across to the effect of me "not fucking even knowing it was the right fucking stop." Something like; I paraphrase because I didn't pay much attention, but the general attitude was one of derisive hostility about my ability to know what stop I wanted (and my failure to get off at it instantaneously).

I walked to my left to toss my cup, and as I turned around to head back to the elevator, a woman grabbed and then pushed away my arm and said, "What the fuck is your problem? You got a fucking problem? Don't you fucking do that!" It was the mystery person in a desperate rush to get out a door that didn't close for a full twenty seconds after she'd left it. She was clearly insane, and I mean that in the literal, unbalanced, unmedicated sense as well as the cartoony, clothes weren't quite right, one-eye-was-off-in-its-own-orbit-from-the-other kind of way. She was obviously spoiling for a fight and ready to to scream some more at me, completely possessed as she was with the idea that she had been horribly, irreversibly wronged.

I blinked at her but didn't break my stride even after she grabbed me. I felt like I was taking a risk even making eye contact, but she did go out of her way to get in my way and touched me on purpose--two things most people in New York go out of their way not to do. I couldn't help but seek out the source of the strange, presumptively familiar touch. Otherwise, I have a strict DO NOT ENGAGE THE CRAZY POLICY. This was instituted ages ago, as any sane New Yorker learns to do almost at once upon settling in the city. I never felt threatened by her, I just walked by and left her to mumble somewhat threateningly and profanely about me. In short, nothing that hasn't happened before or won't again. Brings my total for just this year to two. (A train I was on had a crazy guy talking loudly about how people on the train disdained him and how he was going to show them; when he added words referring to how "that white girl looks down on me and she hates me for no reason, she ain't got no reason to and she's wishing I would just disappear," I knew he meant me. It was bad enough that someone must have complained because he bolted out when the train lingered at a stop for longer than a minute. The MTA arrived immediately after in pursuit, but then started to castigate the passengers for letting him get away. As opposed to what? Holding him until authorities arrived? I understand it's annoying to hold up the line and deal with this, but that's YOUR job, not that of untrained and, at this point, extremely unnerved commuters. I repeat: DO NOT ENGAGE THE CRAZY.)

My my. The things I go through to do my civic duty!

Comments

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Dude, I've seen the police shove I guy who was too drunk to stand onto a subway train and let him go. I ain't sticking my neck out for them.

The other day I got knocked into the railing on my way out of Grove St by an old lady and a homeless guy who'd gotten into a shoving match. Lovely. I was also shoved by a guy as I was getting onto a PATH train at World Trade. You know, where the trains sit for ten minutes before they leave? Clearly he just had to get to one of the completely empty seats 0.5 seconds faster.

[arcane-the-sage.livejournal.com]

Can't say that I know the experience since it seems the larger commuting community seems to be scared to say anything to me. I mean really. I wait for people to fully exit trains before trying to get on (despite a crowd behind me ready to rush in), I heard people away from certain locations using some psych tricks so I actually have personal space, etc. and no one says a word. Hell I get a quick "I'm sorry" if someone even bumps into me. Closest thing to an incident was yesterday when someone bumped the graphic novel I was reading (in a very bad way), and when the guy turned around and saw I was displeased he was quick to apologize for his rudeness (luckily the graphic novel was unharmed).

Hmmmmm... maybe one of the legal folks can correct me on this but doesn't physical contact with hostile intent technically constitute the legal definition of assault? If so couldn't you have sicced the cops on her ^_^

[gryphonrose.livejournal.com]

Wow, sorry to hear it. Too bad she touched you AFTER you'd thrown away the Slurpee or I'd say you'd found the perfect receptacle. :)

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what the hell? I mean, I realize that I'm in a hurry, but shoving people around only increases the potential for delays! And putting a drunk guy on a train is completely the wrong thing to do. In fact, I was on a train with a guy who puked all over the floor. A stop later, the MTA guys were dragging him off. THAT is what you're supposed to do.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I could have, but to what end? To sit there and make a fuss wouldn't get her the help she obviously needs, it would delay me further. It's better, when people are both confrontational and crazy, to avoid getting involved.

Whereas with people who are being pushy and rude, it's fine to to tell them to step the fuck off. They need to be made aware (and ashamed) of their inappropriate behavior.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Heh. She might have used it as a hat. I'd have inspired crazy fashion!

[arcane-the-sage.livejournal.com]

but to what end?

Well if she was as nuts you say then the cop suddenly becomes the target of fury and she get sent somewhere for an "evaluation" ^_^ Ok that's the best case scenario, but still it also lets her know that her behavior is not only unacceptable but can land her in jail if she's not careful. That way you save the next person.