A thread for moral and ethical quandaries re: public transportation

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I take the El train to work. The stop where I get on is the last stop before the stop where everyone gets off where the doors open on the right; that is, for the next four stops, the doors open on the left. Hence, it is somewhat desirable when getting on the train at my stop to be one of the last people on, because then you are right next to the doors that no one will be using for the next few stops, so you won't have to move out of the way for anyone and you can lean on the dividers. Frequently when people are getting on the train at my stop, some of them purposely lag behind so that they can attempt to secure one of these places. My question is: if I am getting on the train and I can tell that there are people behind me purposely staying behind to get one of these spots, is it wrong for me to stop and take one of these places myself, as long as there is enough room for them to get by me into the interior of the train car?
At first glance, it may seem that what I am doing is rude and selfish, and it very well may be. However, my rationalization is that the people who wait to get on last are in effect gambling that they will get one of the ideal spots, and in fact are gambling that there will be room for them at all. They are on some level aware of the risk involved in this strategy. What do you think?

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 14:25 (nineteen years ago) link

I think life's too short is what I think.

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 19 October 2004 14:28 (nineteen years ago) link

I think you are perfectly entitled to take advantage of their risk-taking behaviour, yes.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 14:31 (nineteen years ago) link

this is perfectly fine as long as you leave room for people to get past you.

the desirability of this position is secondary to your proximity to the cute girl on the train, though

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 14:33 (nineteen years ago) link

"El Is the Sound of Joy"

― Serghei Daduismus (Dada), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 14:33 (nineteen years ago) link

I don't know about that case, but there is an interesting (well...) one regarding giving up your seat. If we use the formulation of the categorical imperative that states that an action is right if you can wish everyone else to act in the same way without logical contradiction. Well, if we take a moral law of humility, i.e. 'always give up your seat for another person', then it becomes clear that people would be in a constant case of flux. This law can of course be ammended to include classes of standing people, i.e. give up your seat for the pregnant, but not for the young man, but it seems to suggest that a 'humility law', such as might be proposed by a few religions has something wrong with it (at least if Kant is right). A moral law that demands you 'always put another's interests before your own' seems to fail Kant's test. I happen to favour a 'humility law', so I guess I have to assume Kant is wrong...

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 14:33 (nineteen years ago) link

ok, i dont miss train commuting anymore.

― kephm, Tuesday, 19 October 2004 14:34 (nineteen years ago) link

I have long-abandoned any concepts of morality/etiquette when it comes to my entirely hideous bus journey to and from work. It's a case of get a seat, keep a seat and try not to actually murder any of the evil little buggers that are allegedly engaged in higher education here.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 14:36 (nineteen years ago) link

Find your place, and stick to it. It's not like you are grabbing seats from little old ladies.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 15:57 (nineteen years ago) link

I get the bus. I sit in the old people seats, drink coffee and pump up my iPod like the asshole I am.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 16:00 (nineteen years ago) link

didn't radiohead write a song about this very dilemma?

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 16:03 (nineteen years ago) link

I always think people should keep on moving back into the train so as not to hold up the show.
No one ever gives up their seat for me, but I guess I'm young and not preggo, so whatever.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 16:04 (nineteen years ago) link

Preggo!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 16:06 (nineteen years ago) link

yes, gygax, "Paranoid Android"

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 16:08 (nineteen years ago) link

i was just joking but that's really funny if they did!

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 16:09 (nineteen years ago) link

What was the question again?

― John Do, Tuesday, 19 October 2004 17:10 (nineteen years ago) link

I had no idea that a Google image search on a popular brand of spaghetti sauce would turn up so much pregnant-belly pr0n.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 17:15 (nineteen years ago) link

El Is a Sound of Joy

That is such a great song. I just put it on this out-jazz mix I made for Nate P.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 19 October 2004 17:35 (nineteen years ago) link

eight years pass...

Some guy just made a big fuss and complained directly to me about the smell of the alcohol-based hand sanitizer I use when I get ion the train. I know that people can be sensitive to smells, but for something that's gone in less than a minute?

― SOPA Middleton (Leee), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:02 (eleven years ago) link

Squirt him as you get off then run away

― DG, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:10 (eleven years ago) link

are these the sanitizers that they put in every train station? did he complain about escalator use as well?

― Philip Nunez, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:12 (eleven years ago) link

It's my own travel bottle, and I'm on the light real, to be clear. Maybe he's a recovering alcoholic?

― SOPA Middleton (Leee), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:14 (eleven years ago) link

maybe he has Asperger's. there's a ton of maybes. you can't really be held to account for something that you didn't know wd cause offence tho

― Hermann Hesher (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:18 (eleven years ago) link

Fuckim

― b'hurt's tauntin' (darraghmac), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:29 (eleven years ago) link

Start eating breakfast burritos in the morning, then the next time you see him, fart right in his face and say "BET THAT HAND SANITIZER'S SMELLING GOOD NOW HUH?"

― Gollum: "Hot, Ready and Smeagol!" (Phil D.), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:33 (eleven years ago) link

Granted it's a lot of effort and planning, but I predict it will be worth it.

― Gollum: "Hot, Ready and Smeagol!" (Phil D.), Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:33 (eleven years ago) link

revenge is a dish best served burrito

― Philip Nunez, Tuesday, 29 January 2013 17:35 (eleven years ago) link

I like the way you burrito.

― SOPA Middleton (Leee), Wednesday, 30 January 2013 06:42 (eleven years ago) link

seven years pass...

you had the last laugh on that fucker anyway leee

― ole uncle tiktok (darraghmac), Tuesday, 31 March 2020 00:01 (four years ago) link

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