The other day there was this crazy white guy on my train. He was in his late 50s, and going on very loudly and very angrily about how kids today are too lazy to work or something. Thing was, he was arguing with a group of black teenage girls. It was weird - they were arguing back but also making fun of him. I couldn't hear a lot of what he was saying, on account of everyone yelling at once and whatnot....

Eventually the engineer arranged for the police to meet him at a train station.

I had a tourist kid on the subway insist on chatting with me recently, even though I both had my iPod on and was reading a book. He had to work really hard to get my attention, but then, oh man, he kept it. Where was I going, where did I live, had I ever been on the DC metro, on and on and on. I wondered why his mother wasn't telling him not to talk to strangers.

Apparently the baby accessory makes me look approachable.

You can't run away as fast, is my theory.

If this ends up being a recurring dream

*shudder*

kick 'em one for me.

I hope I never get the opportunity, but will do.

I have to admit, I usually arm myself with my iPod when I go out in the world to avoid talking to strangers. But there are some people that persist. Even when I have my big headphones on. What makes you think I can hear you dude? Can you see my big-ass headphones?

I am awake. Breakfast (out) and convo with a friend later, I am still awake. But I still don't want to be. But I"m trying to convince myself that I can't go back to bed, because I have to get back into getting up in the morning...that after I read all of Natter, I'll be awake enough to stay awake...

Happy Birthday Tom Scola!

"Okay, so next time we want an inaccuracy corrected so we don't look like total idiots, we should just hire a 5th-grader? Good to know."

Isn't that what the whole "Smarter Than a 5th Grader" TV show is based on?

of course, here along with the friendly you have kids who will beat you with a metal pole in an attempt to steal your bike and snipers shooting at you as ride your bike along a busy street (both of which happened to people I know here in the last week)

Wow. That's Charm City. Though I know of a couple places in DC where there've been ongoing issues of kids from the projects on a hill throwing rocks and bricks (and shooting at, on occasion) bicyclists.

Whereas if Manhattanites aren't ignoring me, they're yelling at me for failing to follow the unspoken but universal protocol which I can never figure out because I'm afraid that asking about the protocol violates the protocol

Hah! Very true.

This is why I can never leave the Northeast. Living in DC made me nuts.

...wait, how did DC make you nuts? Are they different there than in NYC and Boston?

I had a tourist kid on the subway insist on chatting with me recently, even though I both had my iPod on and was reading a book.

Good god. Someone teach that boy some manners!

...wait, how did DC make you nuts? Are they different there than in NYC and Boston?

More than once I found myself waiting in interminable lines because the cashier was chatting up a customer in front of me. That kind of thing is what made me nuts.

I totally stand by the quote that DC has all of the charm of the north and the efficiency of the south. (Edit: Note that I haven't really been there in years.)

I have never been shot at while riding my bicycle, but as a coxswain my crew and I were regularly targeted on various rivers.

ETA: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOM!

eta2: I'm not sure I have anything to add on the friendly/unfriendly of various cities, but I can say that restaurant service in California drove me bugfuck nuts because it was so terrible [in general]. The servers never seemed to know that they were supposed to take care of problems, and I often found myself suggesting that they should get me the correct drink or food order.

Whereas if Manhattanites aren't ignoring me, they're yelling at me for failing to follow the unspoken but universal protocol which I can never figure out because I'm afraid that asking about the protocol violates the protocol

I am nice to lost people (if they ask) but I am a little aggressive with tourists who bring their personal bubble with them. I consider it a courtesy to everyone else to physically nudge people who are unjustifiably in the way. A few shoulder checks and maybe they won't walk five abreast any more. Or collect right in front of the entrance to the subway. Or stop in the middle of the sidewalk.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOM!!!!

I am a little aggressive with tourists who bring their personal bubble with them. I consider it a courtesy to everyone else to physically nudge people who are unjustifiably in the way. A few shoulder checks and maybe they won't walk five abreast any more. Or collect right in front of the entrance to the subway. Or stop in the middle of the sidewalk.

Hey look, I am bon bon. Damn tourists.

Oh yeah, I think the (mostly) unspoken protocol here is GET OUT OF THE FUCKING WAY. No matter who you are. Commuters who stand right in the subway door, I am looking at you as well. And will check you for sure as I push around you.