BRENDYN.

I admire when people stand up against an idea, creed, or another person. I like it when they challenge something that seems to not benefit anyone. However, I dislike it when someone is bold for no reason.

I was riding the train home late yesterday evening and there was this drunk guy on board. We had to switch trains at the next station because of mechanical problems. All of us exit the train and head for the new one. Well, all of us save for the drunk guy. He was snoozing on the other train. As I hear it, the conductor went back to wake him up and, in a drunken fit, he yelled some obscenities. We could hear the two of them, passenger against employee, arguing all the way to the new train where we sat waiting. I heard the conductor yell, “No, you’re not getting on” at which point I saw this 6′3 upper-middle aged man bellow onto the train.

To make a long story short, he refused to get off and demanded to get the cops. The conductor refused to let him ride and also demanded to get the cops. So, the cops came, and the drunken gentleman took an exit with little argument. The conductor yells to us, “Ladies and gentleman, sorry for the inconvenience, put your tickets and passes away, we’ll be on our way shortly.”

Wonderful.

Not really. It was midnight, and we were all tired. Both actors in the drama were bold in their own right. They stood against the other, digging their heels in. It all boiled down to being pointless though. There was no harm in letting the drunk man ride (he wasn’t violent nor loud…until the conductor provoked him), and there was no harm in abiding by the whims of the conductor (though this was the last train…). They both took value away from the rest of us. Each of them held back the train.

My point is this: Be bold; but don’t be bold when it takes value away from others.

Oh yeah, the conductor telling us to put our passes away…as if to say, “you’ve got a free ride on me.” Pretty nice, right? Only, the tickets and passes are pre-paid. I’d like them to refund my $5 for the ride.