Okay, we write about the subway a lot. But why not? It's the most ubiquitous aspect of life in NYC. It's what brings us all together. It's what some have referred to as "the great equalizer."
But being up in each other's grills constantly has its drawbacks.
Like, sometimes we get peed on. Okay, maybe it's not that severe, but sometimes we get sneezed on.
The point is, sometimes being on the subway sucks. Here are 9 reasons why.
1. When you run up to see your train pulling away
There's nothing that can sink a good day faster than the feeling of sprinting with everything you've got down a set of stairs or elevators, and still arriving at the subway platform just in time to see the train you needed to board pulling away.
Especially if you're pretty sure it was your only hope of getting to your meeting on time.
This is usually followed by a flurry of thought: when will the next train come, will I still make it in time?, if only I didn't take so long to decide what I was going to wear.
You're pretty much plagued by these thoughts until the next train comes. Which could be anywhere from two to six minutes.
2. When you sat in a seat you couldn't really fit in
ellenroseee There were just a few people on the metro... LOL at the teenagers grimacing--they show our emotions perfectly #shovedin #nofreshair #sardines
So there's an old dude's thigh pressing against yours on one side and a middle aged woman's thigh pressing against yours on the other side.
Your backpack is on your lap but it's definitely brushing both of their arms and you're not sure if they're mad about it or not.
The woman is exhaling heavily. So she's probably mad.
But you can't really get up at this point. You're forced to endure this situation of your invaded body space for a couple more stops until one of the people beside you leaves.
3. When the train has no air conditioner
And you're forced to sit in sweltering, stagnant heat until the next stop, when you get out of that car and sprint into another car. Yes, you sprint.
Because you're really afraid that if you don't sprint, the train will leave without you.
4. When you get on that train
iam_thekidd_dre This truly made me laugh out loud. Lol. #PooptasteLikeCandy #TheKiddDre #Soap #SmellsGood #Poop #SmellsBad
We mean the train with feces sitting on one of the seats. Is it dog poop or human poop? Is there really even a way to tell?
The point is, the entire train smells like someone took a bag of poop and put it in a microwave. You'll most likely spend the whole train ride retching until you can switch cars at the next stop.
It's also possible the entire train smells so thickly of urine that you can hardly breathe, but that's basically the same, right?
5. There's an altercation really close to you
fernandodeaguiar2001 Mais uma do #fistfight . Josimar Ninja @constrictorteam X Charlúcio Brasil #spartanenemteam #mma #jiujitsu #muaythai #fight #constrictorteam com @renato_moicano #bjj
Two people are yelling at each other in front of your face.
You try to sort of look away and act like you can't hear the guy screaming mean things at his girlfriend, but it's extremely difficult when they're literally an inch from your face.
The worst part is that if this were happening on one of your favorite TV shows, it'd be really fascinating.
But since the girl is smacking the guy in the arm right by your face, you're pretty worried she's going to clock you by accident.
Which makes enjoying the show pretty difficult.
,6. You spill on someone
iney27 Yep this was just me...didn't screw the top onto my shaker bottle properly and am now soaked 😂 #shaker #bottle #quote #soaked #exercise #water #oops #madethismyself
You might think getting spilled on is worse than being spilled on, but we beg to differ.
Because when you get spilled on, sure, your day is completely ruined but you're in control of the interaction.
Because if the person who spilled on you has any modicum of humanity, they'll apologize profusely.
And you get to shrug and say, "No problem."
But if you're the person who does the spilling, you're at the mercy of the other person's reaction. And if they glare at you and refuse to grant forgiveness, you're kind of just left standing there like an idiot feeling terrible with no chance of reprieve.
7. You get puked on
estereddie #startrek #spock #captainkirk #puke #hurl #upchuck #hangover #spacebros #mego #actionfigures #actionfigures #oldtoys
This is the absolute worst thing that could happen to you on the subway.
Okay, getting stabbed or molested is way worse, but this is the worst thing that could happen to you on the subway that isn't a Class A Misdemeanor.
Dealing with your own puke is horrible. Dealing with a stranger's puke is unthinkable. And yet this happens to poor, innocent, by-standing New Yorkers every day.
8. You run into someone you really don't want to see
bbarcos3 Emma gets me, american guys please stop wearing flip flops to school, bars, restaurants, etc... You can wear them at the beach or the pool. #gross #idontwannaseeyouruglyfeet #unacceptable #wearshoes
This is way worse than seeing someone you don't want to see on the street, in a bar or a store. Because if you saw this girl in a bar, you could nod a polite hello and hightail it away from her.
But here, on the subway, you're forced to say your polite hello.
You ask how she's doing, and answer her tedious questions about your life. And then when this interaction meets its natural end, you're stuck giving each other fake smiles across the subway aisle. And you're stuck in her presence until your stop.
9. When you see someone you really want to see, but you're in a rush
quotes_and_funny_post #funny #funnypic #quote #awkward #marshmallow #stick #fire #busstop #avoid #campfire #runin #smore
Because New Yorkers are always in a rush.
Maybe it's one of your BFFLS from college you haven't seen in years.
Maybe it's someone from summer camp. Maybe it's a friend of a friend or a dude you banged a couple of times.
Regardless, you're already ten minutes late to the dinner you're rushing to, and all you can really do is mutter a hello and sprint off in the other direction.
Then, you inevitably spend the rest of the day feeling like an asshole. Sometimes being a New Yorker is lame.
Check Out NYC’s Subway Vs. the World’s Public Transportation.