Comment of the Week

I love when this happens. You write a post, seemingly in isolation from most of the world, and then someone incredibly close to the situation finds the post (however obscure the subject matter) and responds. It's happened so many times on this blog, I can't begin to count: an old bandmate of Johnny Thunders drops me a line, Guitar Center works argue about their employer in response to a post, authors respond directly to criticism of their work. And so on.

This week's comment kudos go to "Metro-North Conductor," who with a little fast clickwork, is revealed to be Bobby, a terrific blogger who writes from the conductor's POV over on his excellent site, Derailed. Here's what he had to say in response to this post of mine:

According to Metro North Revenue rules, a single ride ticket, like the one the hispanic commuter had, are non-transferable between lines. If this individual had a montly ticket, like yourself, his ticket could be used on all three lines.

I've never understood this policy, but it probably has something to do with how CT funds their portion of Metro North versus how NY funds it.

Having said this, I would have let the guy go. I think I might know who your particular conductor was, and believe me, he would have thrown you off just as fast as the hispanic guy.

Of course he would have let the guy go - most of the conductors I run into would have; it's what made the incident memorable. In any case, here's a bonus from Bobby - who often writes about the celebrities he meets up and down the rails - and this one has an incredible common sense lesson about politicians:

During the 1992 presidential campaign, then Governor Bill Clinton made a campaign stop in Grand Central. He was followed by a huge press corp, jostling cameras and carrying microphones. As I walked by the crowd I paused to see what all the commotion was about. Clinton saw me, a workingman dressed in full uniform. He paused (he knew this was a great photo opportunity,) and held his hand out to me. He looked me straight in the eye and firmly grasped my outstretched hand with his right hand as he clasped my forearm with his left. He made me feel as if I were the only person in that cavernous station, and I was not surprised when he won the election that November.

Howard Dean on the other hand did not impress me at all. It was after the democratic primaries but shortly before he had been named Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He boarded the train and sat down right across from the train’s lavatory. Unfortunately, most lavatories on our trains emanate a foul barnyard odor. Smart commuters avoid the seats surrounding the lavatory like the plague. Even though there were several other seats available, he chose to sit right across from the lavatory.

Now I ask, if a man does not have enough sense to not sit across from a bathroom on a Metro North train, how can he ever hope to be the leader of the free world?