MRT mAnNerS

I lurve taking the train.


It is fast, spacious and efficient. I can get to town under 20 minutes compared to a bus ride of 40 minutes. Shaving off half the time! And there's no peak hour jams to worry about or vomit-induced jerks to be wary of.

BUT some MRT passengers aren't that likeable at all. In fact they are an IRRITAING, KIAM PAK (deserving a bash on the face) BUNCH!

In my over 20 years of MRT travelling portfolio, I have come across many such passengers who believed that they have paid more their share of transport fees compared to others. And I am sure, you have encountered such uncouth species before too.

The spineless: The spineless relish coiling themselves round the steel handles/poles that many other passengers who have a poor sense of balance (aka me) need to grip on to remain firm footed to the ground. The spineless leave no steel poles untouched and many too just lean whole-heartedly with their backs back-to-back to the pole. Excuse me, HOW IN THE WORLD AM I GOING TO HOLD ONTO THE POLE??!! The spineless are also pretty immune to strange fingers dugging behind their backs or into their flesh. Sorry, I have no choice since the spineless have attached themselves to the pole and I AM NOT GOING TO GO POLELESS AND FALL FLAT ON MY FACE DURING MY RIDE ON THE TRAIN. Some spineless even have the nerve to give me an accusing look when they feel my fingers behind their backs. It is soooooooooo pushing my blood pressure up!

The avid newspaper reader (ANR): Acutually, I have nothing against this species of MRT riders coz I too love engaging in the latest updates (aka gossips) that is happening in Singpore and abroad. But the line is crossed when the train is packed FULL with people separated by just a mere little finger spacing. The ANR can just spread out their newspapers and other innocent fellow passengers-who-will-read-when-train-is-less-crowded get the papers being poked, brushed and tickled against their face, chest, and god-knows-where dependent on the height of the ANR. TERRIBLE BREED THEY ARE! I do not exactly luv the scent of newspapers pleaseeeee!

The seat grabber: this bunch of extremely gan-chiong (anxious aka kaisu) peeps have their eagled-eyes on alert in the crowdest train. When a potentially going to be emptied seat is in sight, they will zoom upon it like a bald vulture see a fat rat. And remind you, they are neither the elderly or preggers. Take for instance an incident I sighted of such an attack. This particular lady in her early thirties was about to alight. With only her butt leaving inches from her seat, this extremely rude uncle just shoved her off and sat his big butt firmly on the seat. God, she was sooo taken aback and glared at him angrily while saying: "Excuse me uncle, can't you wait for me to get off the seat properly before you sit down?" The seat grabber remained oblivious to her comment as if he was tone deaf (sooooo thick skinned he was).

I-must-go-through-the-door-first peeps: This bunch will not heed the yellow markings labelled on the platform. Neither are they courteous at all. When a train is approaching, they will take root in the centre of door and pushed their way in without letting other passengers alight first. Their strength is pretty formidable and I have witnessed alighting passengers getting pushed back into the train. Sad but it's real.

I luv the MRT but I oh so hate the above breed of passengers. SHAME ON YOU!