Unsuck DC Metro: WWJL?

Monday, September 13, 2010

WWJL?

From CS:

The scene: Orange Line, approaching Vienna.

With people in car standing, a man wearing large (6-inch long, by the looks of it), silver cross around neck has his feet stretched out across his seat (an Unsuck Riders-We-Hate no-no).

Lounging up a storm, he's reading newspaper, casually dropping read sections on the floor.

The train pulls into the station, and we get up to leave.

A rough transcript of what ensued:

Me (pointing at pile on floor): I think you forgot your newspaper.

Him: (Shaking head knowingly) It's alright.

Me: No, it's not alright. You're not supposed to leave trash on the train.

Him: Don't be so petty.

Me: Me, petty? You're the one who left the trash on the train.

Him: This country is falling apart.

Me: I agree with you there, but that doesn't change the fact that you left your trash on the train.

Him: Don't be so petty.

Me: You're the one who left the trash. Where do you get off doing that?

Him: You should go to church more. Don't be so petty.

Whereupon we parted on the platform.

Made me wonder: Where would Jesus litter?

Also by CS:

Other items:
Metro doesn't want to pay MoCo energy tax (Examiner)

Comments (17)

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-8 Vote up Vote down

Corresponding Toads · 758 weeks ago

Hey CS - quit being so petty

Thx

+8 Vote up Vote down

Ever and Anon · 758 weeks ago

He claims others are petty when he's trashing his world. Then has the balls to make a religious comment. Bet he''s never been in a church since Mommy dragged him by the ear as a child.

We need a new Unsuck category: Riders-We-At-Unsuck-Regret-Actually-Are-Allowed-Independent-Thought.

-9 Vote up Vote down

Dragon of Life · 758 weeks ago

Jesus would litter wherever it's most convenient for the person asking the question for the purposes of justifying their own littering.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Joe · 758 weeks ago

Thanks for trying.
I hope it's not the same thing, but I used to work in a place where people would deliberately litter and make messes so that the company would have to maintain a large cleaning staff. When I was new I would complain to the litterbugs and that was the explanation that I got.

+16 Vote up Vote down

Autumn · 758 weeks ago

Yes, thanks for trying CS.

He should realize that small actions make a difference. You think this country is falling apart? So littering makes it better? What an ignorant fool.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Godsend Conspirator · 758 weeks ago

Yo Unsuck - I know you may have snuffed my e-mail about sexual harassment on the metro, but you really should put Holla Back DC's link on your "Roll"! It's important for us guys (and gals) to be on the look-out and help women who are being harassed on the metro.
http://hollabackdc.wordpress.com/

I don't read newspapers on the metro, but throwing pages on the ground as you read them sounds pretty convenient to me. ;)

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+3 Vote up Vote down

More is More · 758 weeks ago

After visiting the HollabackDC website, I'm a little confused and/or concerned about the message it sends.

I'm a firm believer that no woman should have to deal with harrassment, and as a single woman in DC I've dealt with my fair share, but I believe there's a fine line between harmless flirtation and/or a compliment and harrassment.

Since when did a stranger simply saying "hello" or telling you that you have a pretty smile, or stating that you have on a nice dress (and I mean simply commenting on the dress, not on how the dress fits you) become harrassment? I mean, one story simply mentioned a man saying hello to a woman while she walked through a restaurant!! Since when did that constitute harrassement?

I've seen egregious acts of harrassment and have even been a victim to some of them, but I don't think any of us should simply jump to the conclusion that when a stranger has something to say to you, it's time to holler harrassment. I'm sure we've all heard of the boy who cried wolf right???

+1 Vote up Vote down

Godsend Conspirator · 758 weeks ago

I think I may have missed the post about the restaurant harassment... but ya know, not every woman has the same standards for what constitutes harassment and what doesn't. It may have been a harmless "Hello", but it doesn't change the way it made that woman feel.

And there are a few posts that make me think the story is made up... really, anyone can submit a story, and it's not like you can check the facts most of the time.

BUT, there are a good amount of horror stories on Holla Back DC, and it's definitely made me realize how common it is.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Godsend Conspirator · 758 weeks ago

(cont.)

A common theme among the stories I've read is that harassment happens in a public place, and nobody does anything about it. If you start small talk with the harasser and take his attention off the victim, he'll forget the victim entirely and focus on how much he hates you for ruining his game. Alternatively, start a conversation with the victim to make her feel more comfortable, and the harasser will back-off (or start threatening you!).

There are a lot of ways to help victims while they're being harassed. I missed my opportunity (aka wussed out) when I witnessed it first-hand during rush hour a few weeks ago, and I felt awful afterwards for doing nothing. I'm determined to do something next time.

+5 Vote up Vote down

anoinn · 758 weeks ago

The man's probably never seen the inside of a church in his life. Bet he took a Hypocratic Oath.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Bitter Aftertaste · 758 weeks ago

When dealing with Xsters, remember 1.) they are unconditionally forgiven for all of their douchebaggery and 2) the world is coming to an end so it doesn't matter.

+4 Vote up Vote down

anon · 758 weeks ago

This littterbug is obviously insane.

+2 Vote up Vote down

GlenmontGirl · 758 weeks ago

Just because he wears a cross and talks about church doesn't necessarily make him a believing Christian. And, just like any group, the label "Christian" includes many different people with different beliefs and attitudes towards the world.

I agree that he was clearly in the wrong to litter on the train, and I don't like litterbugs myself. But please don't think he is representative of all Christians. There are plenty of us who don't believe in littering :-)

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

+3 Vote up Vote down

Mike · 758 weeks ago

The issue isn't whether he "goes" to church, its whether he learns anything there and incorporates it into his life. I haven't been to a church yet that said you should make a mess and leave it for somebody else to clean up.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Ron Richmond · 758 weeks ago

What were the personal characteristics of this litterbug/perp? Age, appearance, etc.?

+7 Vote up Vote down

Christ Quoter · 758 weeks ago

I believe there is a passage following the bit about the loaves and the fishes that recounts how Jesus told everyone "Just throw the bones on the floor, people. Someone else will clean it up."

+1 Vote up Vote down

Stephen Kosciesza · 707 weeks ago

I think I would have told him, yes, the world is falling apart--because of people like him, and because we're less and less allowed to do anything about people like him.