The Good, The Bad and The 'Ugly'

So after riding the train for quite a while, I have come to discover three distinctions between passengers. There are the good, the bad and a certain group that are 'ugly'. This is by no means determined by their looks than their character or rather, behavior. Did you ever watch the movie starring Clint Eastwood with the title, "the good, the bad and the ugly"? It's a movie based in the 60s  and as I recall, very funny! Its made up of three men looking for gold and need each others help. The 'good' man is considered a pitiful man despite his quest for gold, the 'bad' man is described as ruthless but gets the job done and lastly, the 'ugly' man is a bandit who is oafish and very dangerous! These men represent the same concept I'd like to talk about here. PS: This is is no way passing judgment to anyone.

The Good: These are the men and women who are just nice to their 'neighbors'. I see this everyday...the man who helps a lady with her kids stroller, the woman who gives way to an old woman first before getting into the train, the young man quick to give up his seat for an elderly couple...and the list goes on.

The Bad: This category may not be all too common but they are there. The man who puts up loud music on his phone and even though he uses earphones, can be clearly heard and no, it does not bother him that we can all hear it (insert personal experience). There's the lady who puts up her feet on the seat not bothering to remove it when someone else needs the seat. The young woman chewing away at her chips (yet aware of the do-not-eat or drink in the train rule). And last but definitely not least, the guy who smokes in the train station making everyone else uncomfortable
(yet once again aware of the do-not-smoke in the
train services rule).

The Ugly: Now this particular category can be best described as uncouth. I've had a few run ins with such. One experience I will share with you dear readers is when this guy asked and I quote..."let me take you to my family sister!" Gives me chills just thinking about it!!! It took all the strength I could master to not run away. I just looked pleadingly to fellow passengers. Some looked at me with pity and others with disgust. But I knew I had to patiently bear his utterances till I got to my stop. So when I got to my stop, I quickly exited and ran for my life literally! Luckily I have never seen him again! Phew! Needless to say, I am weary of such people. Another example of these uncouth behavior is that of loud mouthed women hurling insults at their kids as if they weren't children at all. It sickens me. One last example I've seen are some teenagers who run around the train crossing from car to car, scratching at the windows and just causing all sorts of chaos. If I were a Psych major I'd have a field day with this but I will not attempt to find out why these people do what they do. It's not my place. Only thing I can say is like in every society even in a train setting, there are such people and there is not much we can do but what we should not do is condone it. The train authorities face these issues daily and they do a good job actually because these cases aren't as much as they appear. So big ups to the Transperth Authority!


Despite these experiences, train rides are still my preferred and affordable means of transport! It's where I unwind after a long day, reading a book or looking out the window. It's what gets me from point A to B and efficiently at that. So, as is life, train rides have their ups and downs but I choose to dwell on the ups. My philosophy; take one day at a time. In this case, one train at a time :)