I have a close friend who was in a hurry yesterday morning. It happened to be May 1 and when she showed her April bus pass the driver made her get off. It was first thing in the morning and she had forgotten to buy a new pass. She told him she was on her way to buy a new pass at the closest retailer. This >EXPLETIVE< bus driver made this sweet woman **who is nine months pregnant** get off the bus. The bus driver’s union says these drivers deserve our respect? This idiot doesn’t deserve anyone’s respect. This happened in Dartmouth near Alder Street.
—roxette
This article appears in Apr 30 – May 6, 2009.
She didn’t have two bucks until she could get a new one?
The pass didn’t say April-ish did it?
In some cities you get a days grace before you have to have the appropriate pass.
However, I think said rule is ridiculous. There are 30 days in April — 30 days in which she had to prepare for the beginning of May. I realize passes aren’t available until mid month, likely, but still that gave her 15 days to prepare for the 1st of May.
A LOT of people are busy and still manage to get their passes before the first of the month. Some of those people are pregnant. justsayin’s right: she didn’t have 2 bucks? May 1st isn’t “ride the bus free until you can go pick up a new pass” day — it’s “pay two bucks, put a fucking ticket in the box or show a May pass” day.
When I read this I got the impression that because she is pregnant she thinks she is a special case. Get real.
What day was it? In May? No bus for you.
uhh…she was pregnant, what the fuck did that have to do with anything? It was may 1rst, her bad, not the bus drivers.
She ‘s pregnant AND she got kicked off the bus? Ah, life is mighty sweet for this lucky lady.
FAIL.
What harm would it have caused to let the woman on the bus? I wonder where the training is for Metro employees who feel it their responsibility to “teach the people of Dartmouth a real hard lesson” How mean does a driver have to be to not let that one go for a day? Mean. Yeah. The driver must be native to the region.
My friend did not go anywhere expecting special treatment. This situation illustrates the complete lack of consistency on the part of bus drivers, who like to go on a power trip by throwing passengers off a bus when, in the case of my very pregnant friend, she forgot to pick up a new pass. It just so happens that I have another friend in Clayton Park, who got on her bus that same morning of May 1, who had also overlooked buying a new pass. Her bus driver said, no problem, you can stay on! What is wrong with people driving these Metro Transit buses? They are on a power trip when they kick a nine-months pregnant woman off a bus who forgot to buy a May pass. The Metro Transit bus driver is a loser and so is the city that employs him.
Not having a valid transit pass? No different than me showing up at the Woodside ferry tomorrow morning and wanting to get on the boat without waving a transfer at the commissionnaire.
As for the other bus driver who did let someone on that didn’t have a valid pass, that’s a problem. If I’d been another passenger I would have asked that driver for a refund on the spot…if someone else can get freebies why shouldn’t I?
if you cared so god-damn much, why weren’t you the first to pony up the toonie? “oh, I didn’t have any more money on me”… well then send a quick hat around and find out who really cares.
Sending the hat around now is not only useless to said lady, but is going to get you flamed.
BIATCH.
No roxette, he was following the rules. That is his job. The bus is not for free and that is what your friend was trying to do. For every honest person out there who has forgotten to buy their pass, there’s 10 assholes trying to use a bum transfer. Maybe the driver is tired of getting burned too many times and has decided no one gets on without valid fare. Either way, those are the rules so getting in a huge hissy fit over it is pretty stupid.
Its shitty and it has happend to me before but the fact of the matter is that it is now may you ahve a whole month to get a new pass
I’m pregnant. I’m special. What a crock. BTW does anyone have a loonie, I’m short for the bus.
I have to buy a new pass each month before the month runs out, and if I can’t, I pay full fare. I think your pregnant friend came running for the bus thinking she would get special treatment because she was pregnant. You never forget to buy a pass, simply because if you have one, you know the end of the month is coming, and you ride the bus a lot. Moral of this story is; the driver is right and your friend (preggo or not) should put it on her calender to buy a new pass. They’re available 7 days before month end. Oh, and yes, respect the drivers. They haul your ass around town safely in a vehicle you probably couldn’t begin to drive. They do that for thousands of passengers day after day. That demands respect.
i think you should be sending love out to the other driver instead of bitching that this one DID HIS JOB. transit already gives enough free rides with “FRED”. the 1st of the month is not ride free day. would be nice though.
I have a suspicion that those who are posting in support of this bus driver are Metro Transit employees or their relatives. Again, I did not say this friend who was kicked off the bus deserved or expected special treatment. It is the inconsistency of the manner in which bus drivers respond that is the issue. This bus driver behaved like a prick in
his strict enforcement of the rules. This coarseness and lack of consideration is what makes me hate some of these drivers, and yes, they obviously have their supporters who are just as hateful.
I’m not affiliated with Metro Transit at all. You friend was just wrong. Ass, grass or cash; no one rides for free.
sure roxette lets make an exception for your friend, in fact lets make an exception for everyone. No more bus fees in may because roxettes pregnant friend forgot to get a bus pass. Do you have any other pregnant friends who forgot to pay their taxes? pehaps we could be exempt from that too.
Re: “Maybe the driver is tired of getting burned too many times” How does one person not paying their fare burn a driver or anybody for that matter? It’s completely within the drivers discretion… this one felt like being a prick. Big fuckin’ surprise, eh?
For all of you who have never been nine-months pregnant… you go walk uphill all day every day for nine months and each day let that hill get a little steeper and we’ll see how fucking special you feel nearing the end of the ordeal. Women and children are “special” and the pregnant women takes the cake… literally.
rules is rules kay. perhaps the nine month pregnant lady should be given special treatment, but by those responsible to her. (like her work place paying for a taxi or her friends/lovers driving her) perhaps we should exempt pregnant women from violent crimes as well. As a woman do you want special treatment or equality? Make up your mind Kay you cannot have both.
Grow up Rafiki, you’re embarrassing yourself
Good point Kay, soild argument. Tell your friend Get a bus pass Roxette. Check mate.
There’s no point in explaining it to you… you’ll need some LIFE EXPERIENCE to gain understanding of such things… not my job. Check mate? Do you think you’ve won something? LOL
Kay- I was working 2 full time job’s (meaning on weekdays start time 9 in the morning end time 12 at night, weekends 6am till 3ish) I did this until 2 weeks before my daughter was born. Perhaps I was able to make it up a “steep hill” because I didn’t turn into a lazy ass thinking that I was some special case.
Roxette- Perhaps since the driver was being such a “prick” I can assume you or your friend weren’t the greatest to him either? Rules are rules. If he decides to not let you on the bus because you don’t have proper fair, than that is his decision and his right.
Sure, it’s his “decision and his right.” He proceeded to be a prick on both fronts.
So you would wish your hardship on others… some angel! Maybe you were a peppy 15 year old carrying that baby? Anyway, who’s is gonna hurt to treat people nicely?
When you say that it’s about the inconsistency of the bus drivers (some let you on with your april pass on may 1st, some don’t) it sounds more like your friend knew full well that she was going to try and catch the bus with her april pass, on may 1st, and hope that the driver would let it slide because she’s preggers. Well that is exactly the type of situation that metro transit wants to avoid or else everyone will do it.
And I’m pretty sure none of these regular posters are MT employees or relatives. Look up some of the older MT bitches, we all have plenty of negative things to say about MT when they are actually in the wrong, but in this case, it’s your friend who deserves the bitching.
Kay, at what point did I call it my hardship, I did say however that I wasn’t a special case, and nor is anyone else that is pregnant that isn’t on bed rest and able to go out. And if I was a peppy 15 year old, be kinda hard to work legally wouldn’t it?
How have we come to this point where the absolute worst must be thought of everyone? The posters here sound as if this was a sinister conspiracy. It was a case of a very sweet (yes there are still one or two left in this rotten world we inhabit) person getting on the bus with a pass that expired a few hours before, and being thrown off by a prick of a driver. I wasn’t with her when this happened, so I couldn’t offer her a toonie. For those of you who think this driver was within his rights; maybe you are correct. But he lost the chance to create goodwill, and opted for the “stick it to the public” power trip that many of these losers seem to be on. Let me tell you about an incident that happened to
myself and a companion two weeks ago on a Metro Transit bus. We both had a valid bus pass from two local universities. Both of these bus passes were issued in September by two local universities, and were valid until the end of April. The two universities combined would have issued at least 20,000 of these bus passes last Sept.
We got on a bus two weeks ago. I showed my pass to the female driver and she said “what is this”?. I told her it was a university ID with the bus pass stamped on it. She replied “no it isn’t”.
I told her to call and ask them. This argumentative, improperly trained power-tripping wench then looked at my companion’s university ID, which was issued in Sept. and was valid until April 30. She again refused to believe it was a valid bus bus. This power-hungry
bus driver then said “why are these different”. My companion said “call and ask them”. Clearly, this improperly trained bus driver had no idea that two of HRM’s largest universities had issued
20,000 bus passes to students. This wench then started driving the bus with one hand and calling on the phone with the other hand to ask her call dispatch
when the bus passes for students expired, trying to fish for a reason to put us off the bus. Drivers with these kinds of attitudes deserve no one’s respect. Just doing their job? Where does it say in their job description that
acting in this hostile manner is a part of their job…
I like you, Roxette! You’re a good bitch. Stick around.
This bitch is stupid. “wahwahwah my friend couldn’t ride the bus for freeeeee wah and she’s pregnant [because we all know the knocked up deserve special rights and privileges!]! wahwah metro transit drivers are all asshats for following the rules wahwahwahhhh”
Doesn’t ANYONE take any personal responsibility for themselves these days? Fuck.
I bet Roxette’s friend is one of those 15 year old welfare moms too. Probably has a kid or two already and bought one of them at Penhorn before it closed.
Maybe she’s the chick who’s stroller got stolen?
Remember her, guys? Her friend came on LTWWB to bitch about it…anyone remember the friend’s name?
Nope, roxette, we just don’t see why rules not being bent for your absentminded friend is a travesty because she’s knocked up. Your university bus pass story shows a shitty driver, yes, but you had a VALID pass.
And so you weren’t with her? So all you know is what she told you? A-duh, of course she’s going to paint herself on the positive side and the bus driver is the big meaniehead.
And just because one driver bends the rules doesn’t mean they all are required to do so. I’d throw your friend’s knocked up ass off the bus too. If I had to pay to use the services of MT so does your friend…regardless of how pregnant she is.
did you stop to think that maybe the driver is new. maybe even being evaluated on their awareness and rule following with expired passes. Roxette you are a glass half empty kind of gal. you should be happy for your other friend instead of bitching that some driver didn’t go against the rules (possible repremanded) for you ditzy preggo friend.
Kay your comments are kayotarded.
Pregnancy is a condition not a disability.
I’ve walked everywhere when preggo even uphill (Artz st) everyday just to get home.
are you a prick because you do your job?
BTW no transit connection here except I take the bus and when I feel misjustice I call the metro complaint. OH wait it was her friend in the wrong not the driver guess that option is closed.
Hey uh, Roxette, is it really that hard to remember what date it is? Or does pregnancy give you amnesia? Who cares if she was pregnant? It has absolutely no relevancy to issue at hand, which is an expired transit pass. It would have happened to anyone. Sounds like your friend does what everyone else does these days: treats pregnancy as a disability, then as the child comes out, it becomes a piece of merchandise to show off.
Kitty— I do remember that thread, and although, it’s probably not the same person, the stupidity is on the same level… Makes me wonder how these people make it past high school.
ahh…the people that make up the generation y stereotype awesome.
Well, Dr F. it doesn’t exactly take rocket scientists to procreate. Any idiot can do that. So…
You do make a good point, Kitty. I still don’t understand why people complain about they’re own stupidity and actually be serious about it. This whole thing is like someone who complains about getting wet during rainy weather, when they don’t use an umbrella or wear a raincoat.
No valid bus pass, no bus ride….it isn’t rocket science. The world does not owe your friend any favours and Metro Transit doesn’t owe her any free bus rides. Hopefully she learned a lesson from this tragic injustice and she’ll buy a pass before the first of the month next time.
fuck.
BEING 9 MONTHS PREGNANT IS 100% VOLUNTARY!!
…so all those arguing for the special treatment of ‘very pregnant women’ by trying to equate them with the INVOLUNTARILY disabled can just STFU already.
Where was her pregnancy equated with a disability? I didn’t say that. Are you saying that if she was blind and pregnant then it would be ok for the dork to let her stay on the bus? BTW pregnancy is not always 100 percent voluntary.
It is if you’re pro-choice…
BEING anti-choice (‘pro-life’) is still a choice.
…so pregnancy into the later months is without a doubt voluntary, unless you are kept in a dungeon until you give birth.
roxette,
you may not have made the comparison, but by writing “woman **who is nine months pregnant**”, AND “They are on a power trip when they kick a nine-months pregnant woman off a bus”…by bringing it up at all, you invite it.
We usually make exceptions to rules only for people who are in uniquely disadvantageous situations, and then usually only when they are not there entirely by their own doing (so to speak).
OK, so…pregnancy issue aside…and also after giving mad props to zZz for his/her perfectly stated point way up the page…
…now I’m going to defend the OP a bit:
For a bus driver to deny boarding to a pass-holder from the previous month is NOT the same as letting just anyone ride for free.
Someone who holds an expired pass has already demonstrated a willingness to pay for bus rides…many, in fact, so suspicion of them trying to scam free rides should be lower than for the average person.
Someone who holds a pass that was current just days or hours ago is fairly likely to have meant to buy a pass for the current month, so a story from them about being about to buy a new one is far more believable than the same story from the average person.
Since the Metro Transit policy is not to have a grace period for pass holders, I still think the subject of this bitch should have been denied entry to the bus, BUT:
1. The policy should be changed. A few days’ grace for holders of the passes for the previous month is a good idea, both for the reasons I mentioned above, and because that kind of concession to loyal customers might help increase the number of bus riders in the city.
2. No matter what the policy is at any given time, ENFORCE THE FUCKING THING ACROSS THE BOARD! roxette’s best argument here is the fact that she(?) witnessed a different bus driver going by a different policy.
Holy fug, I didn’t know how down ppl were on pregnant women. I was talking about the inconsistency in the application of rules. It really all depends on the mood the bus driver is in. It is completely irrelevant whether the condition/disability is voluntary or involuntarily. Being pregnant involuntarily still happens despite what some may believe. Oh and other other
thing, if sharia law is passed in Canada, as some are now lobbying in favor of, there will no doubt be women who are involuntarily pregnant.
The ONLY way a women can become “involuntarily” pregnant is if she’s raped.
ANYONE who has sex KNOWS there’s a CHANCE they could get knocked up/knock someone up. I have a friend who got preggers and was using condoms and was on the pill. The only 100% contraception is abstinence. Accidents happen, sure, but at its most basic level, the function of sexual intercourse is to procreate. If you willingly have sex, you willingly put yourself at risk for conceiving. While I’m 100% pro choice, I also believe no pregnancy (unless it’s a case of rape) is “involuntary,” really, when it comes right down to it.
people arent down on pregnant women here roxette, they are down on women treating their pregnancy as a cause for special treatment. it is not. many pregnant women act as though they should be encased in a giant globe of bubble wrap and have everyone move out of their way.
you did not call it a disability, but as DrF mentioned, the noting of her pregnancy had no bearing on the story. when ones mentions such a thing it usually means they think special consideration should be given.
inconsistency is everywhere in life. deal with it. and it should not be this driver you are complaining about. they were following procedure. no pass, walk your ass. you should be complaining about the occasional driver that allows expired passes to ride and therefore give your friend the impression it is tolerated.
ps…buy your friend a calender for mothers day
Being pregnant involuntarily happens.
Being NINE MONTHS pregnant involuntarily does not.
I’m being ‘down on’ pregnant women. I’m just tearing down the tired ‘involuntarily disabled’ = ‘voluntarily disabled’…and I’m sure some pregnant women would object to being considered disabled at all.
…comment on Islamic bullshit accepted, though. I won’t even call it a kind of law, though, because that would be like calling a bank hold-up a civil negotiation. One side (men) are far too heavily favoured in that system, and us bystanders definitely stand to get hurt.
Hey, roxette, did you try to turn this into a thread on religion? I think I’m a fan after all! 🙂
my bad…correction: “NOT being ‘down on’ pregnant women”
Agreed PK. Even with Sharia law being passed (if it does) it will still not be an involuntary pregnancy. If you are married to a man, islamic or not, there is an assumption that you will have sex with that man, and as such, a known chance of becoming pregnant. So even if the sex is being forced on you every 4 days because of a law, you still aren’t becoming involuntarily pregnant. You still knew it might happen as a result of being married.
“The only 100% contraception is abstinence”
–Tell that to the Virgin Mary
Can anyone fill me in on what Sharia law is?
And then please explain what it has to do with a bus driver denying an expired bus pass?
Way to keep on topic guys 🙂
LOL Nevermind, and PAS, there could be the chance that it is an arranged marriage, not so voluntary, just some food for thought.
Ending pregnancy mid term is not an option… it’s illegal and considered murder. There’s no willing volunteering going on the moment the woman decides she doesn’t want to be pregnant anymore… yet she’s mid term. Don’t we show consideration for the extra energy pregnancy requires? Don’t we even designate parking spots for expecting mothers? Maybe we’re all jealous of the swelled ankles and prefer to watch preggers stand on the bus instead of offering our seat? We don’t imagine this stuff up because just because mother’s day is coming. It’s just practical each of us respect expectant mothers… not because they’re disabled but because they are with child. Sure, woman have been pumping them out since the beginning of mankind but what the hell is it going to hurt anybody to give ol’ preggers break? Her choices disappeared after the 1st trimester whether she got the date of her last period right or not (just going to show a woman can find herself beyond 1st term and without options before realizing she’s pregnant).
IF you really want to draw some lines, let’s talk about a man’s ability to go back to work immediately following a modern vasectomy procedure. We don’t make you suffer, we don’t even ask if it hurt… we just assume you’d be more comfortable recovering at home even though you’re not “disabled”, just a little delicate. What’s the phrase? “suck it up buttercup”… we don’t say that to men with sore nuts so why would you say it to preggers?
LOL Kay I say that to men all the time, weather its headache, hemroids, bad toe or a whinny attitude. Matter of fact it was a man that I got the saying from and he said it to everyone too. Perhaps if the preggers sucked it up instead well…..
kay,
people SHOULD realize that pregnant women have value to us all, but they should not be brow-beaten into it. It should be voluntary, not forced. Also, the parking spaces were a poor choice for comparison because:
a) personally, I don’t agree with them either
b) they are on private property, and AFAIK it is the business’ decision whether to have them, and that’s their prerogative.
About vasectomies…bad comparison again. The men in question elected to have it done, so yes: ‘suck it up buttercup’ is the order of the day.
…and on abortion… You seem to be taking great pains to describe a situation where a woman could end up forced, though not by anyone else, to carry a child to term. You know very well that even if those examples are true (3mo without noticing??), they are the exception and not the rule. …bad argument. …bad kay.
No Dogma I agree
Admit it, Dogma. You’re jealous of the fat ankles.
I think if you ask the happiest and most balanced 3rdf trimester women about how they feel standing instead of sitting (with their feet up) or walking instead of riding each and every one of them would likely tell you to give your head a shake and drive the fucking car… and snap it up.
Kay: I should be ignoring your bullshit but I’m cranky and don’t care.Cry me a fucking river, always going on about the special treatment woman deserve. I would much rather have no special treatment and as such continue to be an equal,…FUCK, you and your always, get a man to beat him up, I’d bring my husband down to talk to him…pregnant woman are special…blah blah blah blah ..how bout you stand on your own two fucking feet and shut the fuck up and stop depending on special treatment and men to get you what you want…seriously. FUCK
WTF? I hope you have twins you evil bitch. Get fucked.
That’s your job kay, not mine. And why the fuck would you hope that i have twin’s I have a kid dude, and I will teach her to respect herself and have the confidence to stick up for herself and not be pushed around by other men, I won’t however teach her to go running to a guy evey time she run’s into a fucking problem.
Nice try at the ESP there, angel. You’re a very presumptious bitch, aren’t you?
For the record. Nobody takes care of me and my children except me. It’s been that way my adult entire life, adult life beginning at 16. I educated myself, I take care of others and yeah, if the cops aren’t going to acknowledge a problem in the community suggesting the house windows are the problem you’re fucking right I take care of me and mine with brawn when appropriate. You’ve met few more independent women. So again, give your head a shake and drive the fucking car… and snap it up!
You clearly didn’t educate yourself very well.
I have worked in male dominant still strong discrimination against woman, and that kind of, “i deserve special treatment bullshit” will put you on the plank. But like I said I am in a bad mood, so I will say no more.
no no….say more. 🙂
LOL @miles, nah I would just be making assumptions then that might hit a little too close to home for kay. I shouldn’t have even snapped like that..but seriously fuck I hate the get a man to deal with him bullshit, It drives me BONKERS! And quite honestly, I couldn’t even understand half the shit she wrote in her last comment, maybe that’s because she educated herself..
Amen Angel. I just finished being that third trimester woman and I’ll forego the special treatment for the equality.
Kay, I held my tongue on the alpha male comment last week. I can’t on this too. You’re doing women a disservice with lady this and the lady that, get a man to fight your battles, woe the state of the poor widdle woman. Equality means taking some lumps so the future will be better for your kids, both male and female.
I’m commenting on common values and everyday behavior… not petitioning for new legislation. Holy cow, man! Why can we not be kind and considerate when one is visibly uncomfortable and is also CLEARLY accommodating another “person”? Who cares if she wants to be pregnant or feels like being all fat and pregnant 24 hours a day or even how she got that way? Why do we need laws to tell you to be accommodating? It’s the polite, appropriate and appreciated thing to do!
angel… you strike me as a particularly nasty kinda butch… built all solid and man-like, I’ll bet. Praised for your ability to break noses, win at arm wrestles and target practice?.. always attractive feminine qualities. Is your second job as a bouncer? Just askin’
Wouldn’t all of you be proud to stand up and say Metro follows policy 100% of the time with consideration to ridership and that front line managers (drivers) have no power to allow an occasional free ride *insert big responsible metro smile* or would you rather brag about oh-so-fucking friendly Nova Scotia?
OMFG Kay you get nasty fast. Your comments towards Angel are right over the top. Now you’re insulting her femininity?
why not take some of your own advice there kay, and ya no I’m not butch, just fat, bout 800 pounds of sit on yo face fat. Of course my boob’s aren’t included in that fat…but what odd’s, I wear really tight cloths to make me look smaller, and some of the bulge goes into the boob area that help’s in that area.
Fuck just because I am able to look after myself doesn’t mean I’m butch…miss preach against racism and sexism. stereotyping is still discrimination. I’m 110 pounds of self respecting confident, really friendly but don’t push me 100% female.
You’re right, Three. I’m sorry about that. That statement was meant for you in response to your “Equality means taking some lumps ” statement. My mistake.
“Fuck just because I am able to look after myself doesn’t mean I’m butch…miss preach against racism and sexism. stereotyping is still discrimination. I’m 110 pounds of self respecting confident, really friendly but don’t push me 100% female.”
QFT
Kay, there’s a really fine line between polite and common sense. Being polite standing and letting her take your seat when they’re aren’t any. Common sense (or a failure to understand it) is attempting to get on a bus with an expired bus pass.
what Three’s intelligence going over your head too, can’t make out a couple of metaphors.
P.S Really sorry to all you innocent bystanders on this bitch, my bad, got a little carried away I’m done.
Kay, why do always try to bring up the “friendly Nova Scotia” thing? What kind of people do you expect to meet on a bitching website? Also, you say it with the implication that you know about friendly, but you are also one of the nastiest commenters on LTWWB.
This is usually the point where Kay tells us to all go fuck ourselves and takes her bat and her ball and goes home.
1fallingangels1 and Three,
…awesome. Hells yes. I had tears. Equality is not a part-time thing. Thank you so much for standing up for it.
kay,
I’m sure you and those two disagree on some of this, but maybe not as much as you think you do. You seem to both be arguing for independence, but from different angles.
…the ad-hominem attacks, though…inadmissible, of course, but part of the territory on a bitch board, I suppose.
Also, I read “drive the fucking car… and snap it up” twice and could not make sense of it. …care to explain?
I’m guessing here, but by that do you just mean ‘take whatever help is offered’? If so, that’s fine, but I would be careful of ‘whatever help is offered’ being a status quo that gets in the way of real equality.
For the record, I would rather not see the occasional free ride. For the sake of the sanity of those who respect any rules, it is best to make sure they can trust them being enforced across the board.
Letting the odd person have a free ride reminds me a lot of the bitch about helping the old lady across a part of the road that (as far as anyone could tell) was not a crosswalk. …heart in the right place, yes, but in the end not a good idea.
*takes a hard-earned bow* thank you miles
angel, why do you presume I’m not just like you?
Three, I’m an asshole because I’d call a friend if the cops gave me the run around over a peeping tom? Admit it, if you had a strong male you trusted he’d be the first person you’d expect to react in a protective manner. You’d probably call them before the cops… your dad, your brother, your uncle, your neighbor… You’re other 110 lb confident girlfriend could be overpowered by a male intruder just as easily as you could. Now, if you’re talking about uncle Smith & Wesson then… well then all the power to ya, butch…. but that’s that other bitch, isn’t it?
Fever, well said but nobody was asking someone sitting on an otherwise empty bus to give up their chair. The common sense we should apply here is the otherwise empty bus was made unavailable to the regular transit user who just happened to be carrying a rather large load. Why can’t we empower the front-line worker with discretionary power? oh, we do that. So then, why not also encourage kindness in delivering ongoing service to the people of HRM?
I really don’t set out to “hijack” threads. Really.
Re: the alpha male – I was addressing the issue of the woman who felt “creaped” out by the older, male shop keeper making inappropriate comments to her while she was getting change.
At least I’m consistent…
It’s a pay per use service. Everyone young and old, pays to get one the bus. The fact that she is preggers is absolutely irrelevant and inflammatory.
Is suggesting metro also encourage kindness in delivering ongoing service to the people of HRM also “inflammatory”? Fever, you work for government, don’t you? You say no to people all day long, don’t you? It takes a certain kind of person to want for such stringent rules that would outlaw kindness. Not a very “friendly” policy.
I never called you an asshole (I erased that part…joking, just joking). To quote Yoda, “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not.”
True story: Downstairs neighbour – ownership situation – muscular, 6′, 190lb male, bi-polar, coke head, alcoholic with full sound studio set up in his house (and I do not mean one of those piddling home systems) and rich parents to bail him out repeatedly. Got off on torturing his neighbours.
Me, small but not tiny female. SO, even bigger man. Bad neighbour up to his tricks at 3:00am. I went downstairs and kicked his door until he could hear me over the noise. The door flies open. “Hi So&So. Your music needs to stay off. Please do not make me come down here again. Thank you.” And I stood there looking him right in the eye until he acknowledged me. Then he blinked and looked away and said ok.
Why did I not send the SO? Bad neighbour is a nasty ass and would have taken a swing at my SO, at which point my SO would have had to defend himself. Fast forward to cops and lawyers and definitely no more sleep. I’m small. I’m confident. I was polite and firm and stated unequivocally what I wanted. If more women would be confident in themselves and not over compensate by being a bitch society would be better off as a whole.
FUCKING A-MEN THREE…that was fucking awesome.
No, I don’t work for government. And, in all honesty, my occupation has absolutely no relevance to the issue at hand. Any occupation has a component of telling someone no. Rules and regulations do not outlaw kindness, but the person in question sounds like they took said kindness for granted (they expected to get on for free because they were preggo and it was the forst of the month). Kindness is given when it’s not asked for. If it’s either taken for granted or asked for, then it becomes mooching or taking advantage of it.
Three,
Great story…perfect Yoda preface.
kay,
again…heart in the right place, but brain in the wrong, sometimes.
Picture people ignoring green traffic lights for a while when they have them, and waving other traffic through intersections instead. It would just be being nice, but it would lead to worse traffic flow for everyone.
This kind of blind kindness over order is what I am arguing against. Metro Transit needs to uphold the same rules for everyone equally or the whole system suffers. …but no-one is trying to outlaw kindness by individuals.
Nobody is suggesting traffic lights be ignored. Nobody is even asking for “blind” kindness… whatever that is. No one has outlawed kindness (neither has it been enforced at the work place.. unless you’re a “real” CSR) BUT what a different world we would live in if customer service people or front line managers or just your average Jo had a predisposition towards positive service (a penchant for finding ways to say yes) rather than spewing the default “NO”.
And yes, Fever, your occupation speaks volumes to your personality. You’re a bill collector then, aren’t you? Loans officer? Somebody specializing in the art of rejection, no doubt.
All of you assume the chick tries to take advantage seeking kindness where there is none. Why make such a presumption? Maybe it was an honest mistake! (don’t you ever make those or is your perfection rotting holes in your pockets?) You’re more concerned about her asking a kindness and presuming some malice in seeking a free ride on a bus she uses every dam day… you’re more concerned about that than you are about the fact that there’s no kindness to be had. What, exactly, is it costing YOU? How exactly, does it hurt ridership? The only thing kindness hurts is you when you have none and need some.
BTW, Dogma, “give your head a shake and drive the fucking car… and snap it up” is just a “metaphor” (not to be confused with an “acronym” angel) is meant to describe the woman’s attitude when she’s out to here with pregnancy. Go ahead and suggest a 10 mile walk to a busting pregnant women and she’ll tell you to shut up and drive. She’s practical in the ways of energy conservation hence, “give your head a shake”
There is a TRoll in here crushing everyones’ bones. Fe kay Fi kay foe kay Fum, I smell the blood of a bus driver who should let people on the bus for free because I am full of antiestablishment teenage angst and Am 100 percent right all the time. quack quack quack.
I think JMO made the most important point in this bitch, awhile back. If roxette had written in a bitch or, more appropriately a love, saying, thanks to the MT driver who let my friend on the bus on may 1st with an expired april bus pass, some drivers aren’t so nice, we all would have agreed, some driver are nicer than others, its cool for him to do that.
The problem is the idea that the bus driver should be expected to let people on, if they forget to get a new pass. They’re nice if they do, they’re just doing their jobs if they don’t It doen’t make them horrible, or hate preggers or assholes, it makes them normal. If he’d bitched her out and made an example of her for it by yelling and screaming, then he’d be an asshole.
PS, whats QFT?
Me thinks kay is a woman scorned and now all men are assholes. But judging by her attitude I have a good idea why the guy treated her as he did. LOL.
PAS according to urban dictionary QFT means QUOTED FOR TRUTH
Ah, thanks JMO.
Urban Dictionary FTW!
kay,
driving through an intersection when you have the right of way = a simple rule
letting someone else go through = breaking a simple rule to be nice to someone
not letting people on a bus unless they have an appropriate pass or payment = a simple rule
letting someone without said pass or payment on a bus = breaking a simple rule to be nice to someone
It’s called a COMPARISON. It was not a suggestion.
On “No one has outlawed kindness (neither has it been enforced at the work place.. unless you’re a “real” CSR)”: Take your generally good idea on cutting a break to previous pass holders (it’s called a grace period…as previously discussed) and institute it FOR EVERYONE.
It would be having bus drivers be ‘real CSRs’, as you say, and it would have the benefits of both kindness and fairness.
What the hell are you people talking about? “scorned”? “antiestablishment teenage angst”? WTF is that? I suggest people should be kind and look at how you nasty bitches behave? How do you live in such ugly skin all the time? Yucky.
Actually, kay, my job is about helping people… but my point is that any job has some sort of negativity attached to it, and my job stays at the workplace by the way. Anyways, bus drivers shouldn’t be CSRs. They drive a bus. That’s it.
Holy fuck, are the knives blunt already from the number of shanks to Kay’s throat? Kay – I think you ought to take your NS hating rear end to sauditown and experience the cruelty to women there, and maybe then you’ll appreciate your little towns atmospheric ‘friendlyness’.
Is ‘Sauditown’ like Chinatown except instead of getting yummy Chinese food there you get beatings for not being ultraconservative and pious?
…sounds like fun!
Dino, that’s so pathetic. Be happy with shit because things are worse for women in some other God forsaken country on the other side of the planet? Give your head a shake, woman! Show some pride and insist on a higher quality of life than what they serve up in nasty nasty countries. Why would you settle for “oh it could be worse”? This is YOUR Canada! Don’t relax! When I see the consequences of racism hit National News a few times in the same week and it’s happening in only one part of MY Canada I’m embarrassed for the whole country since one little armpit of a province refuses to let go of the old ways and simply grow up enough to recognize where respectful and decent behavior is appropriate.
Fever, you wrote, “my job is about helping people”. This has got government written all over it. You work for Service Canada, don’t you? You actually believe when you smile and say no that you’re doing a “service”. Am I right or am I right?
Racism is alive and well throughout Canada, Kay. You’re being selective to say it only exists in friendly NS. Ask any Native/Aboriginal Canadian.
Hell, in the West the cops are frequently the perpetrators…remember the stories and court cases a few years ago of cops dropping Natives off outside town limits with no jackets in the dead of winter?
Racism is not directed just at our Black populace. If you’re not White in Canada you stand a good chance of experiencing racism in some form or another. Racism is less tolerated, but we are light years from it not existing and that goes for all of Canada (to the far West and North), not just our little burg in the East.
Morgan Freeman said the way to stop racism is to stop talking about it. He is right. Stop calling me black and I will stop calling you white. lets call each other by name instead.
Kay the reason we have racism in the news latley, is because lately we have racism in the news. They stirred the pot up, and then the pot started to boil.
Part of the problem is the racists them selves and part of the problem is the people who mean well, but talk about somthing untill it becomes real.
You should just leave halifax if you think it is such a racist, sexist,anti gay cess-pool. Once you are gone, there will be less uninspired negitive talk and more positive action.
That’s also the best way to stop this recession.
Rafiki writes, “the reason we have racism in the news latley, is because lately we have racism in the news”
Did you take your STUPID PILLS this morning or does this IQ actually come naturally to you?
Three is right, there is racism against natives all over the country but racism against blacks was supposed to disappear with the slave trade.
Ah, so racism against blacks was suppsoed to stop at one point, but there has been no major event to give us reason not to be racist against the natives?
*From the ashes of the Bus Bitch flamewar, a bus driver approaches. He surveys the ruins and sighs*
For what it’s worth, if someone flashes an April pass on May 1st, technically we should make them pay a fare. That said though, sometimes, despite the fact that passes are available ~10 days beforehand, people forget. It was said above somewhere that at least an old pass shows willingness to pay, so I usually will allow a one day grace. That is me though, the driver in this case did do the right thing. Also, if I remind you it’s May, and you tell me to fuck off or something to that effect, then we’re talking different.
*the bus driver then exits before he gets caught in the flames*
Ownership disappeared with the abolition of slavery. Systemic racism and the ideology of racism did not. Because Whites have never technically owned the Aboriginals of Canada, there should be no racism towards them based on this argument, but we know this not to be true.
Racism is not just White and Black or White and Aboriginal, it is White and all visible minorities in Canada. This does not mean that all White people are racist, but it does mean that many White people hold feelings of difference and there is a socio-economic system in Canada that does not favour visible minorities on a general level. Equality and meritocracy are still more theory than reality.
Wow, this thread’s covered a lot of territory…
White people can be the victims of -isms as well, racism included.
Respectfully, Miles, I disagree. Racism has – at its root – power. Visible minorities in Canada lack or have lesser power than the White populace, on a general level. I think discrimination would be a more appropriate term for the issue you raise.
There is a lot that White Canadians take for granted, it’s coined white privilege. Here’s a link to an excellent piece that I read about ten years ago; it’s the most concise read on the topic that I have found: http://www.fjaz.com/mcintosh.html
Thanks for the link Three, I look forward to reading it later, as I have limited time now.
In now way am I trying to say that white people do not enjoy privilege or that any racism (or discrimination) target at whites is any where near comparable to the situations other groups face. My comment was meant to address 2 points. First, that all humans, regardless of race, are capable of hate and ignorance which can manifest as racism. Second, that because of the situation whites have put certain minorities in, some of those minorities end up directing their justifiable anger, at ALL white people. Which, in my opinion, is racist.
Good points Miles. Racism, Discrimination, Prejudice – whatever you want to call it – it’s really just semantics. Anyone can (and will) hate anyone else for no justifiable reason.
I once knew a guy (not a friend) who hated black people because he lost a fight to one once. I tried to point out that he’d lost plenty of fights to white people in the past, but that didn’t change his opinion.
Miles, I could hug you right now. I couldn’t agree more with everything you just said.
Three, I read the article. It was very good. I don’t think it changes my opinion above, but I think the issue of privilege is significant and is overlooked a lot of the time.
Aw shucks, FA…..thanks.
I’m so glad I missed this bitch…
and am about to add as much sense and productivity as a kay post.
ready?
” “
lol zZz. Miles I agree with what your saying and have seen plenty of it.
what about a white man with a predjudace black boss three? is that not a situation where one can experiance racism?
Kay, you would’nt understand a concept like a paradox so I won’t bother explaining it to you.
@ Kay – Fever is a Doctor. That’s not a play on his handle. I’ve heard him mention it once or twice.
Rafiki, I think there are likely exceptions to any theory. Your example of the employee/boss is good and demonstrates a power shift. That said, however, what is the likely experience outside the confines of the office in the greater world? In all probability, the boss would be the one dealing with negative day-to-day circumstances due to the colour of his skin rather than the employee.
I am neither a visible minority nor an expert, so my opinions are based solely on what I’ve seen, what I feel to be true and what I have learned. Miles makes very valid points (and props to Miles for taking the time to read the MacIntosh article), but I’m sticking to my opinion. FWIW I was speaking in generalities, rather than specifics.
Unless we are speaking about a white man working in India, or in Tunisia then yes what you are saying makes sense.
Culturally, when speaking about equality I feel Canada is a very equal place. Probably one of the most amazing places a man or woman can call their home. We have so many good programs in place to benefit people from all walks of life.
I am a color-blinded person who generally gets annoyed by people either discriminating based upon a persons skin color, or leveraging based upon skin color. The same can be said about sexual orientation and gender. In order for people to really grasp each other as equals we have to stop thinking in terms of what someone is entitled to based upon external characteristics and start looking at the color of attitudes. I would like to see a black prime minister, but I am not going to vote based upon skin color, or even policy, I am going to vote for sheer positivity and idealism.
Martin Luther King Jr. said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. “
just ’cause she’s prego makes it okay to forget she needs a new pass?