I'm a policitally correct asshole =/

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » March 5, 2003, 2:26 pm

Ok.. I take mass transit(the bus) every morning to get to work. I like to read on the bus.

In fact all those novels that I have in my bookcase have been read on the bus.

There's this guy that gets on about 3-4 stops after me. He's obviously somewhat mentally retarded. (he doesn't really look like it but you can tell by his speech. Constantly chattering and repeating the same subject over and over.)

The thing is that in the last little while, he seems to have taken a liking to sitting next to me and talking to me. I'm have a book in front me me, I'm looking towards the book in question and he sits with me and tlaks to me about all sorts of shit which I can't understand a word of.

When it seems like I'm not listening he fucking pokes me on the shoulder and talks somemore!!!

I get a lot of looks of sympathy from people around me as they also know this dude and I'm not really the type to tell a handicapped person to shut the fuck up however this is hella frustrating..

Anyhow.... just needed to vent. Carry on.

*edit* title

miir · Post by **miir** » March 5, 2003, 2:28 pm

Meantally ill != menatlly handicapped

If it bothers you, tell him to stop.
If he persists, get up and move to another seat.

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » March 5, 2003, 2:32 pm

I don't believe he's mentally ill. This seems like a lifelong thing.

Again I stress lightly handicapped as he seems to be able to function well within society. I believe that he works through some sort of work program.. Maybe at a McDonalds cause he was mentionning something about Big Macs this morning that I couldn't clearly make out.

Then we drove past the university campus and he started pointing out all the recent construction/new buildings and going on about how each one individually must's been expensive.. about 100 thousand dollars..

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » March 5, 2003, 2:32 pm

Yeah what Miir said..

No reason why you can't just tell him shush I'm reading. Or if that makes you uncomfortable, sit somewhere where he can't sit next to you - next to someone or on an outside seat and block the seat next to you with a bag, etc.

Or you could just tell him you will PEEKAY IRL if he touches you again!

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » March 5, 2003, 2:35 pm

Yeah I know.. Was just venting out of frustration..

Pilsburry · Post by **Pilsburry** » March 5, 2003, 3:11 pm

If there is a guy who smells bad or another person on the bus you can see verbally harassing someone else, you could pair the 2 talkers up and they can babble incoherently together.

I've worked with the mentally handicapped before, they are nice people for the most part, nicer then normal people usually, so it can be hard to tell someone to fuck off when they are just trying to be friendly, I know what your going though.

Alternatively you can pretend to fall asleep as soon as you get on the bus just slouch forward and play dead for a few days until he finds a new more interesting friend by himself.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » March 5, 2003, 3:16 pm

If you feel uncomfortable with the thought of "hurting his/her feelings"...my suggestion is to catch the next bus, or the earlier one.

And if neither of those are viable, sit between people when you board the bus, or stand until he sits, then find a seat away from him.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » March 5, 2003, 3:19 pm

LOL...I like the "playing dead" idea...and when he pokes your arm to wake you up, just fall over onto the floor and freak everyone out!

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » March 5, 2003, 3:20 pm

Yeah.. I believe that he only sits in the front or back seats of the bus for easy communications prey. Sadly I'm pretty tall and the middle seats are rather uncomfortable. I may start using them when I catch this specific bus though..

BTW.. I been reading Neuromancer recently.. Pretty cool book. Also picked up Ender's Game the other day and looking forward to starting that.

Knibble · Post by **Knibble** » March 6, 2003, 8:42 am

HA there ya go...
Sit in the middle seats and gosh you are so tall you need to have your legs on the seat beside you.

Or go with the playing dead and falling on the floor thing when he pokes you.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » March 6, 2003, 11:31 am

Just hit him on the head a few times with a hammer. Even the slowest special person will get that hint.