Dilemma on the bus

dbnavan

Dilemma on the bus


Ok I would really like opinions on the situation I was faced with yesterday morning on the bus,

I boarded a bus in Navan, a bus Eireann coach, the driver told me there was one seat left down the very end, so I went down and sure enough there was beside a business man who had a laptop and briefcase on the seat. I smiled and asked if I could somehow have the seat, was very polite about it. He sighed and handed me the laptop and ‘told’ me to put it above us. I did but to be nice but to be honest didn’t like his tone, like I was his son or something.

I then sit down and he opens his big newspaper, its half draped across my lap and he elbowed me every time he turned a page, this really began to irritate me as I was doing study of my own, and his paper continued to lay across my book, I was getting more and more wound up but said nothing cause I didn’t want a row, I noticed a bunch of law books in his case so he was a solicitor I would say, who acted like he was totally looking down on me for just sitting next to him.

I grinned and beared it the whole way in but it pissed me off for the rest of the day. I wanted to say something but I knew if I opened my mouth I wouldn’t be polite. I think I did right thing what do you’s think, I bet had I been in a business suit and looked older his attitude would have been different, I mean I am 26, but I looked like a typical student, jeans and unshaven but washed (actually that’s another thing he stunk!!!) lol.

mikemac

Look at it like this. You paid for a ticket, same as him. This means you are entitled to excusive use of your personal space, as is everyone who paid for a seat.
You should have politly pointed drawn a line a line through the air between your seats and told him unless he paid for two tickets that morning, he'd better keep out of your space.

When I used to go to college on buses, often lads will fall asleep on my shoulder and when I woke them up, thats what I'd say. Wouldn't use it on girls though.
Same applies for trains and planes.

As for his arrogant attitude, take no notice. Don't let anyone talk down to you though.Hope this helps.

murphaph

That guy sounds like a right w@nker. He probably doesn't even realise he's a w@nker either. I mean, imagine, having to share a double seat on a bus! He didn't study law for that!

Ray777

It's easy to say this with the benefit of hindsight, but I think the best course of action in that situation is to politely say something like, "Excuse me, do you mind keeping your paper to yourself?" Or more discreetly, "God, the Irish Times is a ridiculous size, isn't it?" Then, if he continues to behave like a c*nt, tell him he's "extremely rude." That kind of thing takes people by surprise and if you say it loud enough, would embarrass him too.

Bluetonic

micmclo wrote:

Look at it like this. You paid for a ticket, same as him. This means you are entitled to excusive use of your personal space, as is everyone who paid for a seat.
You should have politly pointed drawn a line a line through the air between your seats and told him unless he paid for two tickets that morning, he'd better keep out of your space.

I think you'll find that buying a tickets doesn't guarantee you a seat, it's laid out in the terms and condistions of purchase.

MarkoP11

But you are not allowed stand on a coach, thus the driver selling you the ticket is based on the fact there is a seat to sit in

ON city buses standing is allowed but again there is a limit, no limit really on the train

Having a ticket does not guarantee you service that in the T & C's for all CIE companies

LegacyUser

It's becoming more and more common that we seem to be uncomfortable with the notion of sharing space with a stranger.

Pighead started a thread on a loosely related topic several weeks ago when he was talking about speaking to strangers on public transport.

Personally I would have said it to him, if he was being over-the-top and obviously had a chip on his shoulder, then he had it coming. I read the Irish Times if I'm taking the Luas to work, and I will always sit on the outside seat (i.e. the aisle) as it is far easier to manage the broadsheet than sitting beside the window. I have no problem with people going to sit inside, as it was my preference to sit on the outside. I don’t leave my bag on the inside seat for exactly the reason that I don’t want it to seem that I'm hogging both seats.

I would've asked him politely to take his paper off me and to have some manners. He obviously suffers from a severe form of cranial rectum inversion*

*I have plagiarised this phrase

murphaph

bruachain wrote:

*I have plagiarised this phrase

I'm glad you did cos it made me laugh out loud!

deisemum

bruachain, cranial rectum inversion is one of the best phrases that I'm heard in a while. It, the phrase that is, gave me a right laugh. I'll have to remember it for future reference.

nobodythere

Up until about a year ago I would have been too afraid of confrontation to say anything (typical Irish of course), but now I have no inhibitions about confronting strangers when they're acting like utter ****. Do unto others as they feckin do unto you.

MorningStar

I can't see this as dilema. Really straight forward case you say something if they are bothering you and it is unreasonable. If you don't say anything to complain after the event is a bit pathetic. If this is what you have done all that talk of him looking down at you is probably more acurately described as low self estem on your part.

nobodythere

I wouldn't call it low self esteem, it's just the typical Irish fear of confrontation.

It's a very Irish thing to complain about a situation after it has happened. There was a programme on RTE that did some experiments with this.. Can't remember the name