Hooray for Canadian Bus Drivers!

Today I witnessed something that no longer occurs in the United States. A bus passenger who was saying hateful things on his cell phone was reprimanded by the driver and told to keep it down. In the US, rude and obnoxious people unfortunately get away with creating noise pollution wherever they go because no one has the guts to tell them to be quiet. Hooray for Canadians and their standards of decency.

This particular passenger was talking loudly on his cell, telling his friend that he tried to start a fight at the bus stop, I guess with the black man who was waiting there with his wife/girlfriend and young child. The passenger said the man wouldn't fight, but that he'd "blow his brains out." The "tough guy" wasn't so tough after all. He complied with the driver's request, without fuss.

In the US, people avoid getting involved, plus they don't want to "hurt anyone's feelings." This is so crazy. When I have encountered people who are polluting my space with their language, I've told them, without waiting for an authority figure to intervene.

One time was on a city bus in LA. A young man was cursing every second word--and loudly. I politely said that he needs to keep his foul language to himself. No one else is enjoying it. He gave me some attitude, but he did quiet down.

The other time I can remember, I was attempting to enjoy a cup of coffee at my favorite coffeehouse. Two men in their late 20s were saying "f--k" this and "f--k" that, and "I f--ked her" and I want to "f--k" this other one. On and on. I first gave them a cold stare, but when that didn't work, I told them that if they want to talk like that, go somewhere where they can be alone, so they don't disturb other people, but don't do it here because I'm trying to enjoy a cup of coffee in peace. The two guys gave me more attitude than the kid had. When they wouldn't stop, I said I'd ask the owner to intervene, as I was sure he didn't want their kind of patron keeping others away. They left, thank goodness.

I really wish that more people would get involved. I know some are scared, and friends have told me that I could get into trouble calling these social pariahs out. We are all in this together. If people need some instruction in how to behave, whether they are 14 or 64, why not educate them? They obviously didn't learn how to act from their parents. Somebody's got to do it.