I figured I'd sleep on my rage and see how I felt in the morning if I wanted to vent about yesterday's bullshit and the answer is yep, still ragin'. When I got up this morning, I felt just as angry as I did last night.
My doctor is in Thornhill. Some nonsense has been going on with my health for the past year and I've had to see him quite a bit to review results for a battery of tests I've had, so last night I took the Richmond Hill line to Langstaff station to get to my appointment. This was the first time I've taken the train to his office. I always drove before.
The train leaves on Platform 3. Once the platform was called I headed up, following the rest of the cattle.
When I got up there, I was behind a group of people so I moved forward and simply stood on the platform.
I didn't realize that the wall of people was actually a line.
Yes, the Langstaff donkeys line up on the platform like school children.
Who the hell started this? It's bloody brilliant but you know what's not brilliant? The attitude of some of these assholes.
I'm standing there and all of a sudden, this man starts shouting at me. He's pointing at me. "You! You not in line! Get in line!"
I'm startled by his anger. He's sneering at me for God's sake. Then this woman steps forward and says, rather rudely, "The line starts over there." She points to the stairs.
I look around. I look up and I look down. I look at this man and woman and sarcastically ask, because I'm pissed at the SCENE they've made, "Where's the sign that says I have to stand in line?"
"There's no sign!" yells the man. "You do what we say!"
I pull myself up to my full height. Who in the hell do these people think they are?
"Excuse me," I say. "Why do you think you can talk to me like that? Are you the owner of this platform? This is the first time I've taken this train, how am I supposed to know about this hidden rule?"
Then this other lady pipes up and asks me why I didn't see the line. No, I say, all I saw was a wall of people. Then I told them they were a complete and total rude bunch of idiots. I was so mad. I was ready to throw a punch. I told you. I have a temper. This is why I always count to 10... Then two other men start motioning for me to move with exaggerated hand gestures. Screw this, I thought.
I put my headphones in my ears and stood there. You could see how agitated these jerks were that I wouldn't move. The train pulled in and I continued to stand in the same spot. I watched as the lines of people snaked across the platform as they boarded the train. Remember, I actually thought this was a neat concept until I was rudely ganged up on.
Once everyone had boarded, I climbed on the train.
So here's my thoughts. They are many ways to confront people but the best way and one that will get you a positive response is to be polite at first. If you come at me with attitude and anger, I'm not going to want to listen to you.
I'm sure I'm not the first person to disobey the Langstaff assembly line. You Langstaff folk need to find some manners.
Thanks.
I used to take the Richmond Hill train. I was part of that lineup. But I quickly learnt that the lines that formed at the individual stations also applied to Union. It was weird when I switched to the Blob format for boarding that the LSE is.
ReplyDeleteBut still, those people didn't need to yell. The guy could have explained to you what was happening instead of treating you like the 5 year old he obviously is.
That is so odd. Is this the only train that has this kind of honour system? I've never seen this behaviour on any of the other lines.
ReplyDeleteLangstaff people need to understand that what they do is cool but outside the norm. They then need to find a nice way to deal with the newcomers.
It is a rather civilized process in theory, but for some reason I still find it stupid.
ReplyDeleteHow does that work if you want to be on a specific car?
ReplyDeleteI board the Georgetown/Kitchener train on the same platform (at the end, near the stairs to the bus terminal), and I don't line up. We use the 'blob format' and I have yet to have an issue with that. Sure, everyone jostles you to get on, but at least there's enough space for everyone to get on.
ReplyDeleteI guess I have no Richmond Hill contributors?
ReplyDeleteThe blob format has never bothered me. I'd like to see how these lines initially get formed. How the hell does the first person know where precisely the doors are and James had a good question. What if you want the last car.
I couldn't figure out which line was for what.
I still don't understand the extreme hostility. I wonder if these people beat down bag riders and foot riders. I will admit, I didn't see a single bag rider as the train was filling. On the LSE ... please.
I'm sorry for your pain - really!
ReplyDeleteI know you're experience was not really funny, but I had to laugh when I read it, as it is so close to home for me . . . right down to the Richmond Hill train, and have noticed the very same thing. Leaves me scratching my head as well . . .
I've taken this train for 15+ years and know it, and the changes it's gone through quite well.
One of the things I've sensed and have noticed over the past few years is an increasingly more aggressive, hostile and downright rude style of passenger. No doubt this behaviour is GO transit system-wide and not exclusive to the Richmond Hill line.
This line-up "thing" is indeed a phenomenon though. It's the "Snake or Sheep" vs. the (as Squiggles so eloquently pointed out) "Blob" format - LOL. Personally I like to refer to the blob format as the "funnel".
I have no idea how it started and I've only noticed its evolution over the past few years.
What's even more odd is that this new "snake" format is not even exclusive to the entire Richmond Hill train or any particular station on the line. Some individual cars on the SAME TRAIN use the "snake" while others use the "blob". How's a guy to know what the hell to do?
SOMEONE, somewhere must have introduced the "snake" at one point in time and it went viral. Those with a weak immune system succumbed to it, while the stronger of our species still hold on to the "blob". . . just to be clear, I'm a diehard "blob". Old habits die hard. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Admittedly though - the "snake" does indeed have its merits. Very tidy, regimented, uniform, and orderly. Leaves no room for dispute (unless you're a "blob" in disguise trying to pull a fast one on the "snakes").
Perhaps a solution would be for GO to either place legible signage or icons on each of their cars denoting which one is a "blob" or a "snake". OR, perhaps designate "blob" or "snake" days.
Hey, this could even work out for GO transit! They could turn this into another revenue opportunity by harshly fining the "blobs" who attempt to violate the "snake" lines and vice versa . . . similar to their typical predatorial fashion of biting the very hands that feed them (you know - like when they ticket their own customers' cars in their parking lots even though GO themselves cannot provide adequate parking).
All kidding aside. Your experience is unfortunate and clearly another example of people's Mamma's not teaching their children manners. Seems to have become endemic in our society in general.
Why can't we all play nicely together?
I once spent three days in Havana and rode the public bus a lot. They had an effective and equitable way of boarding there. When you arrive at a bus stop, you ask the group standing there (not lined up) "Who is the last?". The person who arrived just before you did will identify him/herself, and then when the bus gets there, you know to board after them. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteDear omzigblob
ReplyDeleteYour comment was hands-down the most enjoyable thing to read. I appreciate the time and effort you took to wikipedia this phenomenon for me. I just needed some answers because to be singled out like that was pretty rotten seeing as I was just innocently waiting for a fucking train.
No. I'm pretty sure this is an Asian thing. We do everything with order and structure. It's so not surprising to read this considering the demographic.
ReplyDeletei agree it's prob an asian thing cuz if you ever go to HK or China you'll notice people there are always in line for something.
ReplyDeletei normally take the barrie line, but have taken the richmond hill line on occassion. on the barrie line, people usually have a good idea where the doors will be when thet train pulls in so we form neat lines (2 people, 1 infront of each door). when the train the train arrives, we get on and off line civiilzed people. surprisingly i haven't encountered any door donkeys on this line.
the few times i took the richmond hil line, i was just as shocked as you. got up to the platform and there's a blob of people there. i had no idea there was a line so just found a spot and stood there. when the train arrived...OMG! people started pushing and shoving as if the station was on fire and it was the last train out of the city.
i guess every line has their own line up etiquettes.
Keep in mind, that platform 3 is probably the biggest (widest) one and can ably handle the line ups. No way can you line up 50 people in a straight line on platform 12 or 13. Maybe for the first 6 or so, then they spread out to the "blob" format.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there was no need for them to be so rude about it. You're a RH-line newbie. Gads, we were all train newbies once. Now some of us are veterans.
Good observation Jiang!
ReplyDeleteAND there is NO WAY in hell, I am going to EVER line up??? Who died and made these idiots King???
Bottom line really is . . . "Get a freakin' life people"! Good God.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter if it's the "snake" or "Blob". People are still rude and full of themselves . . .
I've encountered grief doing the "Blob" thing too.
I often have to start my own row in the Blob because each of the existing rows were full back to the wall. Even when I've done this I've sometimes been challenged by the first person in the row next to me! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty certain THAT person started their own row themselves . . . let's just put it this way - once I was done dealing with their "concern", this issue went away. School yard bullies tend to back off once they are challenged. I remained King of my own row thank you very much, and I did it in a civilized but firm manner.
What I've noticed though lately is that even the Blobs are starting to get really "chippy" when they board the train. Pushing and shoving primarily. What REALLY slays me is that the people who do these things figure they can get away with it as long as they don't LOOK at you! Incredibly strange behaviour! All about Momma and her manners again.
Doesn't matter if it's platform 3 or 333 - they are all narrow little platforms made for train travel back in 1486 . . . back when there wasn't even a "Richmond Hill".
I believe the main problem here is GO transit's lack of cars on the train. They need to add more.
Currently, If you are at the back of the Blob or the Snake, you don't get a seat. More added value provided to your friends at GO transit.
People are just selfish and want to make sure they can park their lazy butts on a seat. So they feel jilted and robbed if someone doesn't get behind them as they are guaranteed a seat according to the current line up.
ReplyDeleteYou know, if you're going to be sitting for 8 hours at work that day, some standing won't kill you on the ride in. Same for the way back home.
Often times, after work, when I get on the 5:34 LSW, it's so full you have to stand. But the speed at which people move at to make sure they get a seat is quite a sight.
Harith, once again, It's the "manners" thing. No matter what the circumstances are - our manners should still be intact. It is indeed selfishness.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, standing won't kill us, however . . . people shouldn't HAVE to stand. There SHOULD be seats. We SHOULDN'T have to fight for them.
In the case of Richmond Hill . . . more cars on the train or more trains . . . whatever . . . GO needs to honour their part of the deal - we're honouring ours aren't we?
We are paying (and dearly) for a service that is inadequate - and soon to pay even more.
Status quo is unacceptable.
Actually Harith, standing won't kill people, but it can cause some major pain for some people.
ReplyDeleteDue to a back injury, I cannot stand for more than 1 station stop. The swaying of the train, along with the starts/stops/slow downs throw me off balance and it hurts to walk off afterwards.
So, yes, your point is moot for many people. And on a flip side, I also can't sit for hours on end without it hurting as well.
I can relate Squiggles . . . I too suffer from back problems and can't stand or sit for extended periods of time.
ReplyDeleteWE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO STAND FOR AN HOUR! Back problems or not.
Well today there was a bunch of "frequent travelers" on the train who like to line up at the exit of the train for stations before their station. They expect people to read their mind and somehow know where they are getting off. So my station was he very next one and I was no where near the door. So following the people who were getting off the train I made it to the doorway. And then I found an empty spot and stood there waiting for the station. Some guy pushes and shoves me and these ridiculous people start making fun of me and telling tales about how do it everytime. And I am like, I take this train may be once or twice a year. And I do not even encounter you folks whenever I take it.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing about their retarded "politeness" banter is that they are standing there from when the train leaves the Union Station. And they are their standing in the doorway assuming their ever so required Godly entitlement to do so. One of these guys argued it was common courtesy to assume she is getting off because me being their will cost her 10 full minutes. And I was like, your problem if you cannot manage your own parking woes.
This is exactly why Canada and Ontario elects conservative politicians and have ruined all prospects of working transit system.