a minor existential crisis on the way to work

[sistawendy]

There's this crazy, old Chinese lady who regularly rides the E line downtown with me in the late mornings. She never shuts up. Between her accent and her age, I hardly ever catch a complete sentence coming from her, so she's usually just barely tolerable. The subjects of her rants are usually, I think, related to federal economic policy; she often has a copy of the Wall Street Journal with her. Today, and not for the first time, I heard her call homosexuality unnatural.

Waddaya do? Well, as luck would have it, she gets off at the same stop as I do, now that StartupCo has moved its offices a few blocks south. Right after we got off, here's how the conversation went, if you can call it that:

Me: Ma'am, what were you saying about gay people?
COCL: [Giggles.]
Me: I'm gay!
COCL: [Giggles.]
Me: You need to stop with the homophobic rants. [Storms off and goes to work.]

So was this the right thing to do? If I complain to the driver, what are the chances that they'll do anything? Or have I finally become one of the crazies on the bus?

Comments

[faerieburst.livejournal.com]

The drivers are allowed to take action against anyone who is violating the Transit Code of Conduct. That can be a verbal reprimand to booting from the bus to calling for security. You should report harassing slurs and such to the driver. If the driver declines to do anything, then I'd file a complaint (not against the driver per se, just that harassing behaviour is happening and nothing is being done) with Metro itself. No one should have to put up with that, especially not on a regular basis.

~Aramada

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Much appreciated. And long time no see!

You can't win

[parityanimal.livejournal.com]

Well, I wouldn't say you were wrong but I doubt it had any affect on her...but at least YOU stood up for us, whether she was affected or not.

Having done so, I'd now simply not bother to engage with this person further in any way. She really doesn't sound like it's worth the trouble.

[xaotica.livejournal.com]

absolutely the right thing to do. if she's truly crazy it may not have an impact but you never know.