ah NYC subways

[rm]

On the subway coming home from a day that did not go as planned (so glad we had date night last night, since the weather totally scuppered our plans for today), and man got on the train and announced that he'd be singing some of the songs of Sam Cooke and if we could spare a bit of change that would be appreciated.

Now, living in NYC, this happens all the time. Sometimes it's more pleasant than others. There's the guy who won't stop playing his sax badly unless you give him money and there are people that play bongoes at 8am, which might work for someone, but it sure isn't me. And of course there are the preachers.

Now, I'll definitely grouse about this stuff, which yes, is illegal, but it's part of living here and not really a huge issue to me. I just turn up my iPod most times (although I've been known to take gay-hate flyers out of teh hands of people and trash them publically).

So this guy gets on the train and this woman across from me who is reading some Buddhist book or other starts screaming.

"What you're doing is illegal. You're why we had a fascist mayor, because you people couldn't control yourselves. You're why we had Rudy Giuliani. He was almost president because you people couldn't ontrol yourselves."

Okay, "you people" WHUT?

For starts, racist much?

Next. Yes, Giuliani was all about legislating random quality of life issues of this ilk, but I'm pretty sure guys with lovely voices on the train weren't what got the fucker elected and they certainly weren't what propelled him onto the national stage.

So I turn off my walkman, give the guy a buck.

The woman starts screaming at me. I ignore her. She starts ranting to the man next to her as everyone stares agape and he pointedly gives the guy money too (this bit of crazy probably made his day financially).

As the singing man passes her he stops and says, "I am sorry you are filled with so much evil," very politely.

She totally flips out.

Finally, it's my stop.

"Be bigger," I say to her.

Be bigger.

Comments

[heron61.livejournal.com]

Well done indeed.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I am sorry you are filled with so much evil. YAY. This is what I am going to say to people from now on when I encounter the crazy.

[angstzeit.livejournal.com]

I remember "Manny the Subway Singer" serenading us at 4am with cartoon themes on the yellow line.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

See, I tend to support busking in general. It's one of the things that CoMo's kind of cracked down on, and I think that's been detrimental to the culture of our downtown area (which was re-branded "The District" a couple of years ago). Even if people aren't hugely talented, I think it's cool that people can go out and make a few bucks by singing or playing an instrument, and I think that public areas should be performance-friendly provided that they're safe (e.g. not blocking walking paths/thoroughfares) and don't harass people.

Ahem. Soapbox moment.

Points to you (and the other trainfolk).

[d-aulnoy.livejournal.com]

Hey, you've seen the saxophone guy, too! Excellent - for years, I thought my encounter had to have been a one-off (or that I'd hallucinated him, because otherwise, one would figure people would be unable to resist discussing him). In other news, wonderful reaction, and wonderful message.

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

I love how the singing man reacted. There's a part of me that thinks though, this whole little vingnette would make a great grift. Apparently I am filled with evil as well.

I hate the phrases "you people" and "those people". Probably because they are probably referring to me :/ My favorite is when they are used in front of me, or better yet - when someone says "those people" *to* me conspiratorially. Oh joy!

I love NYC though.

Be bigger, indeed.

N.

[these-3-remain.livejournal.com]

Buddha must have told her to scream at strangers for singing on the subway. Just like Jesus told Falwell that Tinky-Winky was gay.

I must make religious macros like I've been threatening to do. LUVVING UR NAYBOR. UR DOIN IT RONG.

a few more

[newwaytowrite.livejournal.com]

decades studying Buddhism will be required for this woman. Just not getting it, is she?

[starkyld.livejournal.com]

There used to be this guy on the 1/9 who sang "It's getting hot in here (so take off all your clothes)". I saw him a couple of times a month for a half-year or so, then never again. I have a horrible memory for faces, but keep searching for him amongst the buskers, hoping he's okay.

[askeladden.livejournal.com]

I see him all the time!

[starkyld.livejournal.com]

What line? Still the 1/9? It's been so long that I'm not sure I remember his face anymore, but I'd try to find him if he's still around.

[askeladden.livejournal.com]

Yep, usually around 86th to 125th street or so. He's the same guy who tells really off-color Michael Jackson jokes ("Why did Michael Jackson go to K-Mart? He heard boys' underwear was half off!") and jingles his change rhythmically in a paper cup to accompany himself while he sings.

[virginia-fell.livejournal.com]

That lady got owned.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Yay! Must always stand up for buskers. Unless they play "Hey Jude".

[coriander.livejournal.com]

She should just follow him around doing that all day. I bet business picked up for him! :) Hey, when life hands you lemons, make something tasty!

[baldanders.livejournal.com]

While I completely agree with your sentiments and am glad you said something, for personal reasons I wish you had used something other than the old big/small metaphor for personal character. "Be more human", maybe.

[katharwen.livejournal.com]

I'm a subway busker, and I sometimes encounter idiots who think it's okay to harass me just because I do what I do. But luckily the support has been far greater than the contempt.

One of the reasons why Nyers rock.

[weirdodragoncat.livejournal.com]

wow...yay for the guy's response and yay for yours as well.

I've never been bothered much by people performing on the street or wherever for money. If I like it and have money, I give. If I don't...I just ignore it. I don't see the point in wasting energy telling someone to stop.