And you'd know the immediate reaction: OMG THERE'S NO SECURITY SYSTEM ON THE TRAINS! Amtrak would probably go bankrupt, because they could not possibly have the money to implement a Homeland Security style security solution.

I'm hoping all ground-based private transportation companies are thinking about ways to do a smaller scale check to make sure that people don't, you know, come onto the bus or train with cleavers or anything.

Smoking would still be the worst thing you can do to someone on a bus. Hey, think about it. If you stab someone and rip off their head, you're giving everyone on that bus one hell of a story to tell everyone they know, for the rest of their life. That's a priceless gift.

Smoking? That gives nobody nuthin'.

And Dan, I'm pretty sure the guy who was stabbed and murdered was straight. Who cares?

I'm hoping they do nothing. One psycho, and every bus passenger has to get patted down? That's called hysteria. Buses are generally a pretty safe means of transportation, and let's face it, this guy could just as well have attacked someone in a movie theatre, or walking down the street. He's a random psycho, not a crime wave.

Based on my recollections, it's probably because a third of the passengers were recent immigrants, a third of the passengers were high and the other third were so fucking tired from trying to sleep through every fucking Hardee's in the Midwest that they couldn't be arsed to do anything about it, even complain.

then in the darkness feed off the roar and vibrations - naps as well

freaks on the bus, yes, fear, no

I really don't want them to change.

(snip)

I'm hoping all ground-based private transportation companies are thinking about ways to do a smaller scale check

Yeah, you know where else this could easily have happened? On the sidewalk, in a park, in a swimming pool locker room, on a pedestrian overpass, in a library or, really, anyplace where people gather and are not expecting to be stabbed in the neck with a fucking butcher knife.

I'm so sick of people reacting to every random tragedy as if it were going to happen on a daily basis until some kind of massive civil-rights-violating systemic countermeasure is put in place.

If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, move to fucking England, where they have one security camera for every three people and no protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; may your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. Meanwhile, I maintain that it's perfectly right and proper that I should be able to take the bus without having to go through a fucking metal detector.

Still, I laughed when a friend sent me this yesterday.

You actually wanted your suitcase to get checked and go in the under-bus bins rather than the overhead racks, to keep from stinking up all your clothes at once.

And confidential to everyone who complains about immigrants and crazies on the buses: they are cheap transportation. Those of us with less money love those damn things. Either get over yourself or go hire a limmo so you can get to your destination without having to soil yourself by sitting near the lower class. Yeesh.

On a more serious note, I know the murder was horrifying, but how often does something like this happen on a bus? I've ridden both Greyhound-style and city buses so many times, and the worst I've ever had to endure is a long-winded seatmate who can't get the hint that I'm not interested in his medical problems. And I'm a young, small, not-at-all-intimidating female traveling alone 90% of the time.