Where Do You Get Off?

Originally published at This Is This. You can comment here or there.

Hey. Completely out of character, but I got in an argument with a stranger. True. I know you're all "Shut your face", but no, I will not. I will keep my face open.

I was on the phone last night on the bus ride home from work, when the guy behind me huffed.

Straight away, I thought: "That's it. I've had it with the huffing. When this fucking call is over, I swear to god."

Then things got worse.

He has done this before when I've been on the phone. He's a regular on the bus, but not that regular. He had huffed before not sitting next to me, but when he was behind me. We travel on a bus, doing up to sixty on a motorway - so you can imagine it's a noisy environment.

Now, people have conversations on the bus with fellow commuters, so if I'm talking at the same volume, I give no fucks for people complaining about my being on the phone.

While I continued talking to my friend he stirred aggressively, laughed, huffed again, stirred and said to someone across the aisle: "God. Verbal diarrhoea".

My call ended shortly after, and I stood up and walked to where he was sitting.

Me: What's your problem?

Him: What?

Me: What did you mean by "verbal diarrhoea"?

Him: I don't want to hear your conversation.

Me: I'll endeavour to keep my conversations quiet, but there's no need for that. That's just name calling.

I actually said endeavour.

Him: I'm trying to read a book and you're inflicting your conversation on me.

Me: I'm not inflicting anything, this is public transport. I respect your privacy, but don't insult me.

Him: I didn't. I don't want to hear your phone call.

Me: You turned around, laughed and said "verbal diarrhoea". That's just abusive.

I looked at the person he said it to, who was staring down into his lap. I turned back to this guy.

Him: I don't have to hear your conversation.

Me: Understood, but don't point and laugh, either. Let's have some dignity. Jesus.

Then my stop turned up and I walked to the front of the bus.

Nice.

"Fucking dignity" would have been perfect, but I'm not. Especially not these days. I've got so much going on that I can't begin to explain it all. Physically, emotionally, professionally... Let's just say this year is living up to the unexpected. Sorry I haven't posted over the last couple of days. I'll try to get into more arguments.

But how about that, right? Go me.

But please: have a good weekend.