While waiting to board the subway this weekend, I noticed that the first two cars of the train were nearly empty, while the rest were crowded. When cars are unexpectedly empty, it can signify a problem, like a smelly passenger or a faulty air conditioning unit. Being alone on an empty subway car increases your risk of being isolated with a criminal. I decided to avoid those cars and push my way into one of the crowded third ones.
As soon as the doors closed, I was confronted with the annoyance of someone playing their music out loud. I have written about this before; it’s a returning nuisance. After blasting music in public in the 70’s and 80’s, people became more discreet in the 90’s and 00’s. They wore headphones and enjoyed their tunes privately. But not anymore.
The music was pleasant, but it was unwelcome in the context of public transportation. No one wants to be forced to listen to music while they are locked into a moving vehicle. The sound seemed to be centered around a gentleman who was holding his phone in his hand while seated. I couldn’t figure out how his phone was playing the music at such a high volume, but I didn’t spend time trying to figure it out. I did my best to ignore him. Finally, I noticed that he was wearing battery-powered speakers on his belt. The speakers weren’t huge, but they were a lot louder than a phone. People were giving the guy annoyed glances.
I had had enough. At the next station stop, I stepped out onto the platform and dashed over to the next car, one of the two that I had avoided earlier because they were empty.
As soon as I stepped in through the doorway, I realized why the car was empty. The interior was hot. The air conditioning wasn’t working, and the system was blowing heat. I hung on for a couple of stops, but I didn’t want to be covered with sweat when I reached my destination. I also didn’t want to go back to the car where Mr. Beatbox was playing his tunes, and I feared that the other empty car might have some new unpleasant surprise in store. I took a deep breath of hot air and a bolted to the car at the front of the train.
The air conditioning was working fine on the first car, and there was plenty of space. One person that I walked past had body odor and smelled of ear wax, but it didn’t fill the car. I stood far enough away that I didn’t smell them.
Finally, I felt comfortable, as comfortable as one can on feel while riding on the New York subway system. At the next stop, a very large transvestite come on board, but she was quiet, sat at the end of the car, and kept to herself. All things are relative; this was the best spot on the train.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.