The great experiment

The city is a great experiment in human interaction. It’s a result of having more than 8 million people concentrated into a small area. I’ve been meaning to write this post for a long time, however I was moved into action by a blog in the New York Times about public displays of affection.

The just of it is this girl REALLY doesn’t like PDA. She gets annoyed and shoots “disapproving glares” towards anyone making out and even holding hands.

Maybe the problem I have with the article is how angry she seems. The problem of PDA, especially on the subway is one on a long list of annoyances of living in the city. While I can understand not wanting to watch people get it on, there are so many other things that piss me off more that involve the same methods, noise, getting up in people’s space, or inhibiting conversation.

This synthesizes so many ideas I have about living in the city including those invasions of space as well as being on the other side of the problem and having a crowded confined space to either share a personal moment or have a loud and heated argument.

Here’s a great comment some dude posted…

“Yeah, well welcome to New York. We share space. We press up against each other. If what someone is doing isn’t loud, isn’t emitting offensive odors, isn’t dangerous to anyone else, and doesn’t involves littering, then you can simply look away. Or watch. Those with more prudish sensibilities should consider cities where everyone drives or lives in homes with expansive lawns. I hear Texas is nice this time of year.”

If you want to talk about turning your ipod up to drown out the sounds of people making out. Here are a list of louder things that could drown out or distract you from people making out. It could be the guy urinating out the back of the car, or better yet, on himself (seen both!), the mariachi band or guy with trumpet, or drunk guy who only knows Wish you were Here, or variety of other musical entertainers. Don’t forget the preachers. They are loud! There could also be the loud business men or even louder teenagers that get on in droves after 3 pm.

At dinner I hate sitting next to loud conversation people. Last week Jesse and I had to listen to some know it all talking about how she knew everything. Then she spent 5 minutes talking about how she hates people who use the world Y’all. As someone who uses the world Y’all, I really resent that. I find it to be an integral part of my Midwestern mystique. Jesse agrees.

I get judgy and make mental complaints about nearly everyone I see on the street, but the thing I probably hate the most are the people who see the need to actually say something in the moment. I apparently stepped on a woman’s toes on a crowded subway. She pointed out that I kept mashing her toes and then proceeded to tell the unknowing lady next to her about how much she hated rude people on the subway. Geez lady, the subway is crowded! You’ve got a seat!

There was also the guy I made the mistake of sitting next to on a train. I guess he had to scoot over on the seat a little bit. That really set him off and he called me a fat bitch. Then he started ranting and raving about how lesbians were going to hell. It was also the 2nd time I’d been called fat in public in two days. It wasn’t the last time either. (I’m telling you, this city can get UGLY!)

The sad thing is it makes these probably rational, sensible people (except for that guy who called me fat) look so angry that they explode. They can’t take it anymore. I guess it speaks back to the practicality of living in a place where space and privacy are at such a premium and why people pay exorbitant amounts of money to do so. I don’t have an answer for that, but I did pay my rent yesterday.

I guess I would ask Ms. Ferarro to reserve her malice for something more deserving of a complaint in the New York Times.

As an aside, subway platforms are great for smooching while you are waiting for that illusive train. Service cuts anyone?

Advertisement