Respect (and Train Tickets)Posted on 2002/05/28 13:49:51 (May 2002) by john. It just doesn't work if people don't have respect.
On the train this morning, the ticket inspector (or conductor or train manager or whatever they're called nowadays) came to collect everyone's tickets. Nothing so odd about that. I showed him my ticket, a couple of other people showed him theirs, until a bit further down the train he came to a man. The conductor asked to see his ticket, to which the man simply replied, "I don't have a ticket". Fine, so the conductor then politely informed in he'd have to buy one to which the man replied "No". After a bit more of this, we arrived at the next stop, and the conductor told the man he'd have to leave the train. The man refused. The train was now sitting waiting for the man to leave, making everyone (myself included) late. Wasting bits of our lives. Still he refused to leave the train. In the end, it seems the conductor just gave up and walked away (not much else he could do really), and the train moved on.
I was really annoyed by this. I know it is in itself a relatively minor thing, but it is indicative of a wider problem with our society. Fare evading is one thing, but the total lack of respect shown by this man for the conductor, the train company (although I'm not overly concerned about that one) and everyone else on the train, not to mention the law, is just really infuriating. Any kind of social system relies heavily on the respect of individuals to make it work, and people that so blatantly flout this out of nothing but selfishness are frankly quite disgusting in my opinion, and have no place in our society. What would happen if everyone took that approach? It'd be anarchy. Yes, again, one person not buying a train ticket is really quite insiginificant in the grand scheme of things, but still I can't help but think this country is going to the dogs.
Comment 1
My god, this was so incredible when I read it, I decided to write an alternative course of events:
"Fine, so the conductor then politely informed in he'd have to buy one to which the man replied "No". After a bit more of this, we arrived at the next stop, and the conductor told the man he'd have to leave the train. The man refused. The train was now sitting waiting for the man to leave, making everyone (myself included) late. Wasting bits of our lives. Still he refused to leave the train..."
... The conductor, not phased by the inbecile, decided to make a quick call, to the British Transport Police. Unfortunately for the respectless man, the conductor had phone Sergeant Gary Caulfield and PC Ian Mcgowan. The conductor patiently waited by the man until the train arrived at the next stop where at two gents in blue borded the train.
What became quickly obvious was that PC Mcgowan was an ex-Royal Military Policeman who spent most of his life beating up squaddies and Sgt Caulfied had about as much patience as an F1 driver. As the man continued to cause a fuss, PC Mcgowan picked the man up, hand cuffed him and threw him bodily from the train. Sgt Caulfied reposted with wittisisms until the doors closed.
As the train pulled away, passengers could see the man being dragged along the dirty platform by his feet, his face rubbing against the grime and hardened pieces of chewing gum.
Now that would be zero tolerance.
I am surprised that Version 2 didn't kick in, John. You'd be up there shouting abuse at the respectless tosser in seconds. If I had been in a bad mood that morning, well, sparks would have flown and the air would have turned blue.
Posted by Rob Lang at 2002/05/28 16:47:42.
Comment 2
The scary thing is what you're saying isn't rediculous Rob. If people have utterly no respect, what else can you resort to other than brute force to underpin the law? It's a real shame.
Posted by john at 2002/05/28 17:00:51.
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