Comments on A Hot Tip for the Ages

Who tells psychotic atheists to do crazy, violent stuff?

Was the assailant Pastor Hutch? It sure sounds like him.

This Hot Tip casts a ray of hope in my gloomy bus riding existence. Metro and its drivers do absolutely jack-shit to maintain order on their buses, so props to Oscar and co. for their display of vigilantism. As a daily Metro rider, I am truly inspired by this story.

I was punched in the face on a bus in Oakland once. I feel for that woman. The pain of the blows is the least of her troubles from this.

The pain of the blows is the least of her troubles from this.

Do you mean how difficult it would be for a blind person to trust a world that randomly punches her in the face for no reason?

Your statement strikes me as true, I'm just curious about the specifics you have in mind...

Metro. Seattle's other zoo.

If we replaced buses with streetcars, these sorts of attacks wouldn't happen. Ever.

@5 -- yes, that, but more generally, being assaulted out of the blue for no reason hurts bad for a long time, even if you're not blind. I cried more in the year following my assault than I did right after it happened; I was too shocked then. It must be ten times worse for her, who REALLY didn't see it coming. I at least saw my attacker's face briefly.

I was singled out and screamed at by a crazy on the 36 once. That was plenty traumatic for me. I can't imagine being hit - especially when blind.

You know, we used to have good security on Metro. Undercover cops, the whole bit. I think we lost it after that car tabs initiative passed.

Getting rid of the Free Ride Zone, jacking the fare up another dollar or two and making paying the fare mandatory to gain entry (instead of just a suggested donation) would go along way.

@7 - that's because we'd be sitting on benches and could toss him out of the streetcar.