Today in MRT

The MRT train is synonymous with comfortable transportation in Singapore. Almost everyone i know takes the MRT as part of their daily commute. In the mornings, it is almost ritualistic- people walk into the MRT station, robotically and rudely grab a Today from the old guy who is giving it out, and hustle their way to the platform to push and shove their way into the train to get a seat for their ride to work. They then take out their newspapers, spread their arms as wide as possible (so that the person next to them does not get the chance to do the same) and start reading with great intensity.

This is where i take offence to most. Who died and made these people gods of the MRT? These people have paid for a single trip ticket, just like the rest of us non-Newspaper reading crowd. Non-newspaper reading people have the right to have an undisturbed journey to work. But this has not been the case of late since i changed jobs and use the MRT daily. I have had copies of other commuters' Today rest happily on my lap, on my head, and even lovingly carressing my nostrils. I have even woken up from my slumber to find copies of Today near enough for me to partake in the daily news as well. I have then had people give me a look of disdain when i attempted to adjust my butt so that i would not have to read what they are reading and just to have a more comfortable ride to work.

This just goes back to the simple issue of respect. Yes yes, many of you unfortunate readers who have stumbled across these ramblings of mine will probably start to groan of preachings of societal perfection. But i only speak the truth- Singaporeans have no freakin respect for others around them! How many of you have had the experience of meeting on the MRT 'King Dong'. Yes! King freakin Dong! I am understanding of larger-sized individuals who require more than one seat to accomodate their larger frames. But average sized individuals (mostly men) who insist on spreading their legs as though they were hung like mules, and hence occupy far more than one seat in the MRT, i have issues with.

There was this one guy, who the moment he sat down, proceeded to push his thigh against mine with considerable force. This all may sound gay and funny now, but it was extremely rirritating when it was happening. I was shocked! But what does a well-trained Singaporean guy do in such a situation? I pushed back!. And hence, the entire trip from Tampines to Raffles Place ended up being this to-ing and fro-ing, with both of us pretending as though it were a normal part of the MRT ride to be forcefully trying to maintain my rightful space at my seat. Ri-di-fucking-lous!!! Respect for personal space and a more gracious society? My foot!

And my best one so far.... today, i experienced the same King Dong situation again. Bleary-eyed, i glanced over at the insolent fool, and lo and behold.... Auntie! Why u like that?! King Dong she was not. Actually, i am still not quite sure what she was Dong-ing about.

So there, the morning ramblings of a Singaporean who takes the MRT to work daily. You meet all different kinds of people on the MRT, some good- like this guy the other day who gave up his seat to this pregnant lady who was not actually pregnant, just fat; some funny- like the other time when this lady actuallly fainted in the MRT, and while her husband was trying to wake her, this Auntie came along, splattered a whole bottle of the ubiquitous Axe Brand Oil on the poor ladies face and then proceeded to slap her really really hard; and of course you will also meet the inconsiderate King Dong and Queen er...nevermind.

We meet all kinds of people on this little island of ours. Stupid people just shouldn't breathe.