Trampled manners on a Light Rail Transit

I cannot believe that my last post was 2 months ago. The world must have gotten to be a great place because it is not bothering me that much? No. I have been too absorbed and barely keeping afloat to be blogging!!


Just yesterday (in the LRT of course) I saw something. It was after office hours and all the weary and exhausted bodies were mustering their last minuscule ounce of energy to jump or hop into the emptiest coach and be off to home. I too jumped into what I thought to be an empty coach. It was reasonable empty, since I was not sniffing onto another body. I was holding 2 huge bags in my hands and decided not to bother looking for a seat since the seat space is usually small and it would be difficult to squeeze the bags there.

As I was huddling comfortably in a small space near the exit doors, I notice something. Two (very) young girls were occupying an entire bench with their mother and brother. That bench can fit up to 7 people at times. Here only 4 adults and 1 little boy were sitting. If a person is the same size as the girls then at least 8 person can sit on the bench. So I was wondering why none would take up the seats as I can see a couple of very tired looking people around me. Then I realised, that both the girls had put their hand bags (those oversized ones) in between them, which nearly took 2 persons seat.

I looked at their mom. She was in some land…..don’t know where. And the girls they were oblivious to the fact that there are so many tired people who could use the seat.

They actually sat through the entire ride in that manner. At one point one of the girl even had her feet up on the bench. I was so tempted to park myself in front of her and plonk myself on their empty bags.

It was so ridiculous. First of all, where is the manners and civil awareness of the girls (they look like in their late teens). Secondly, what was the mother doing watching her children behaving like that? It is so sad to see that for the RM 1.50 or so that people pay they think that they own the entire coach and that others don’t deserve the comforts that they enjoy.

It was such a sad state. I just pray that I will not contribute to the death of manners and proper behaviour

Ride of Terror - Part II

So after escaping the ever so naggy child, I was trapped in the ever so '.......' (I am yet to define the correct term for it) adult.

It was morning.  It was early morning rush hour.  Train was packed as it was and got completely stuffed as it headed towards Kuala Lumpur.  Thank god it was morning, or else on top of enduring the crowd you will have to endure the not-so-pleasant 'aroma' too.

Now back to the story.  Train was packed.  It was raining.  LRT station was under construction. 

So mix in all this, and you get a crowd of people just stagnant in the small space of the station as most people could not brave the rain and had to wait it out, whereas the trains were very dutifully adding to the number of passengers to the station. But I had an umbrella and was glad for it. 

And there I was slowly inching out out of the station as no one wants to give way of lose the precious few square inches that they are standing on. That is when this VERY brave lady walks into the station,umbrella upen and tramples and pushes her way right to the ticket gates............with her bright blue umbrella open all the way!!!

Was it even possible for her to think for a second how many eyeballs she had picked out??

Ride of Terror

I didn’t realise how long it has been since I last posted here. I was almost convinced that nothing is going to baffle or annoy me anymore and was feeling rather sad that I will not have anything to post anymore.

But my fellow citizens are always kind. They have given me not one but two incidents to ‘duh’ about.

#1
It was a long day at work. I was just hoping I can fly home. But since I am no way related to superman, I had to wait for the train. Everything seemed usual until there was an announcement to say that the train will be delayed. Before the train arrived, the announcement was repeated 6 times and I had been on my feet for 45 min.
As another normal city dweller I ambushed the train the moment the doors were opened. But I assure you that none was harmed in my Operation Ambush Train. But the train has already reached 50% of its capacity, so there was nothing I can do but to endure another 45 minute standing. But I told myself that I should be thankful I am not near the doorway where the chances are that I will become a crash test dummy or sardine, with throng of people in the subsequent stations trying to push, squeeze and prode their way through.
Just as I was settling down, it started. This loud, naggy, whinny boy of about 6 or 7. He was there with his sister and mother. He just kept going on and on….at the top of his voice. Each time he repeats the same word or phrase, but I found it hard to understand what he said as he was shrieking too.
What I didn’t understand is that, in the coach packed with people of all ages, size, and smell (yes, smell because it is after office) even talking on the phone is loud, and this boy was just shrieking continuously, and the mother sat there doing NOTHING. It was a game for him I understand, but I don’t know about others, after having a LONG day at work, waiting for the train, and my stomach practically treaterning a shut down due to starvation I was more than willing to rub chillies on his mouth. It sounds very cruel I know, but you didn’t have a shrieky voice drumming in your head on a jerky train ride.
Why do people do that? Why do people allow children to misbehave on public places? It is not that all children will behave angelic, but it is in the not bothered attitude of the parents that says its okay for them to behave like that. And that annoys me.

Mind the Name Sir

I went to this wedding last weekend. All was the usual, as how an usual Malaysian Indian wedding reception will be. The decoration, the crowd, the delay etc.etc.etc.

But there was this one unusual thing that mad me gape wide open in the middle of the whole thing. They called upon this rather elderly uncle, very likely a family member or the family friend of the bride to give a toast or ‘bless’ the toast as they said it. All went well until he said the name of the bride…..THE WRONG NAME……….and 3 times at that!!! Hey, it is bad being called by the wrong name at your reception, while you are still standing up there. But to be repeatedly called wrongly??

The morale of the story is, don’t get memory challenged uncle or aunt to give a toast.

But I suppose most people who came forgot or didn’t realise it amongst the good food, the entertainment (they had a whole bunch of it) and the mingling around.

The bride and me won’t forget it though.

Genetic Mutation - Rudeness

Early morning commuting is where most of us try to get our groggy heads back into reality and try to sort of things in our head…some kind of day planning. Whereas some of us like to continue our slumber in the train or bus. Whatever that we decide to do it is our morning routine, habit, groove.



But the other day I found out that actually some homo sapiens are born with the genetic need to be rude to start their morning. I got into the train. There was a three seater chair with a vacant seat. One of the three seats was taken by a woman and the one next to her by her oversized bag. Since I get on the first station I just sat on the vacant seat and reclined into my own world trying to lay plans for the events of the day.

Two stations after, the train was starting to crowd. No one came looking for that seat occupied by that oversized bag, until the 4th station. A lady came up to the sleeping lady and asked to remove the bag. She asked so politely almost like in fear since she had to disturb the other lady’s slept. The next thing I heard brought my early morning drowsiness to a halt. ‘ Then my bag how?’…..silence………..silence…… So the new lady (who perhaps didn’t think she heard what she heard) once again asked her in an apologetic tone ‘Can I sit here?’. Once again ‘ Then my bag how?’ she repeated that 3 times. Another lady who was standing very sharply answered ‘put down lah. Seat is for people’. After throwing a threatening look and a few minutes later , the sleeping lady ( who was now irritatedly awake) took her bag away and let the new lady to sit. The standing lady continued to read. I woke up COMPLETELY!!

Well folks that’s another thing that makes you go duh??

I can even understand people treating their pets as their children or family…..but a worn-out oversized bag?? Perhaps the spirit of her dead grandma resides there…..perhaps the dead grandma herself is there!!! Well, the bag was big.

Creative advertisements

My morning drives to the train station and then the subsequent train ride to office must me one of the moments in life that I start pondering a lot.  Recently I heard a new ad on the radio.  The ad was recorded in tamil but I will translate it to the best of my ability .......The girl sounded like someone hip and happening sort of person.  She went on like ' Do you know why I like my boyfriend so much? Because as much care as he shows me, much more care he shows to his hair (this is where I go DUH??). One day it will be wet look and other day it would be spike.  He  is forever thrilling me with his style.  Thanks to 'the product  name'. Purely organic and natural'.  WHY on earth would someone fall in love with a guy just because he cares for his hair more than her?? And this actually shows her that he would care for her? How? By smothering her with the hair gel perhaps?

Ads like this makes one to think if the earth's resource of creative minds have been completely exhausted. 

Things That Make Me go ....Duh??

We all have it. That moment, when we go...'duh??' or 'what the heck?' or simply 'are you kidding me?'.  It's not like we are born here on the sole purpose of judging others.  I don't even what to do that actively.  But sometimes you are automatically made to do exactly that.....judge or criticise.  It's not to show your superiority, but to show that ' hey, I saw what you did and I don't think that is ok'. 

SO..

I start this blog for this purpose. To share with the world (or at least the handful of those who also say 'hey, I saw what you did and I don't think that is ok') things that makes no sense to me or subjects that I would like others to help me to make sense off.  And I also would like to find out what makes others go ..duh?

Hope I will find those who find this interesting enough to write in ..