How close is too close?
I just had a minor train rage incident. Well I wouldn’t really call it rage, really it was more of a train humph incident – and it involved quite a lot of tutting.
I was standing on the platform waiting. That’s all. I got there early so I picked the spot that is usually good for the doors as I normally do when it is available. Simple enough. So I was waiting, just about half a foot back from the yellow safety line.
Then a woman comes along, clearly thinking that I was in her space. I was on a later train than noral, so I guess I was standing where she usually likes to stand. I was in her perfect spot. So instead of standing next to me, as she easily could have, she stands just in front of me, in front of the safety line. No one does that – do they?
Platform etiquette is a simple enough thing to remember isn’t it? So she came and stood really close to me and just in front, even though she clearly could see me. I was mildly vexed by this invasion of my space and lack of manners, but the event was not over yet.
Less than a minute later, a man who knew her came over and stood with her, not only directly in front of me but actually pushing into me. There was not enough space for him, so he just squeezed in and pushed me backwards – directly in front of me, though there was loads of space around us on the platform – I was past vexed.
I voiced my feelings along the lines of “Well, that’s both of you…” and allowed the severity of my very British outburst, to do its thing.
It worked, the man sort of realised that he was way too deep into my space and moved away, but the woman – well now she just sort of stood there and smiled. She clearly just thought she was in the right and that I was just simply a stressed commuter – which I wasn’t until she came along.
Any way – the incident and the sheer amount of tutting and huffing I’ve had to do so early in the morning, has left me feeling fairly narked and in desperate need of a cup of tea.
So how close is too close? I don’t mean when the platform is packed and people HAVE to squeeze in, but when it isn’t packed at all, but they squeeze in anyway, because you just happen to be standing in what they think is ‘the perfect spot’ ?
8 comments:
Damn that is cold...did you ever just for a wee second think about pushing them both off the platform?
I would have..
So she came and stood really close to me and just in front, even though she clearly could see me.
The question I cannot help but ask is was she hot?
Probably not or this would have been a completely different story altogether!
Sausage - oh yes - most certainly
Beach - unfortunately she was a full six pinter
Jo - you know me too well x
Its that the beach is empty I want to sit on the pebbles and throw them occassionally into the sea... then along comes an enitire family who park their granny, their life at your feet syndrome.
I learnt my lesson on speaking in outburts to strangers as a female swerved aggresively in front of me to get to parking space, when I had been patiently waiting. I opened my window and did that British thing... rant. She came over and spat in my face. Since then I have erred on the side of caution on ranting at strangers.
Oh by the way, the wrong side of that line. No no no ... surely not.
Deary me, that all sounds very un-british.
You should have pushed them off, it's the only to do for people like that. Mind you, if we'd been there, my two would have given them a stern telling off for standing on the wrong side of the safely line which would have been fairly amusing (albeit embarrassing for me).
These Space Invaders need to be dealt with. Louder tutts, I say old chap!
My brother has learned the ins and outs of platforms and transit spots...I just act like a tourist and smile at people when I go to NY.
I wouldn't have taken your space, however...
Post a Comment