Scary Bus People™

[Peter Paltridge]

As I've taken the bus to and from college these past years, I've had the misfortune of seeing and hearing many, many creepy people.

This morning some guy with small arms (but normal legs) came onto the bus and sat behind me. He started coughing, then he started making nasal noises, at which point the woman sitting across from him offered him a tissue. Which he took and used....but then he began making noises even stranger, like growling or something. THEN he started crying, and THEN he started laughing and crying at the same time, like a classic psycho. By this point, I had moved WELL away from him, and the woman tried to get an answer out of him, but he just growled at her.

There was also the dirty man (hygiene-wise) which I saw a couple years ago. He leaned over and started slurring, "Now, ya gotta watch out for them Chinese monks. Then Chinese monks'll get ya, ya don't want to start anything with them! Now, if there's anything more dangerous than a Chinese monk, it's a Chinese NINJA! Oh no, you don't wanna start a circus with them, no way! Ya gotta avoid those Chinese ninjas! Now, I know three Chinese ninjas. I know an American ninja, and I know two CHINESE ninjas!!" This is pretty much verbatim, I promise.

Then, there was the old woman who said she spent most of her life in jail. Then she said she had a daughter, and one of the guys sitting next to her said "Can I have her phone number?"
"Sure!" the old lady said.
"Wow, this is cool, I've only been in the city three hours and already I got a pick-up!" the man said ecstatically. Wish I could have seen how that turned out. It was hard to tell who was more stupid!

[HumanoidTyphoon]

Interesting didn't know you could put the TM in a thread title.


Only scary bus people I know are kids in highschool.

[Lord Dalek]

Yes very strange people do ride the Tri-Met. I happen to be one of them.

[ZorBrak]

I tend to avoid the university Bus system....the drivers terrify me...why do they put people who can't drive in the first place BEHIND BUSES ON A MOUNTAIN!!!?!?!? I have ridden it several times though...but the place I see WEIRD people is the gym here...

There's like this hobo they let work out there or somethign I swear...he's so disgusting...and no I'm not saying that to be a snob but like his hair is all matted and....ugh gag, I mean they HAVE SHOWERS IN THE GYM, why can't he wash his hair?! It's so disgusting to be sweating and already feel dirty and then walk by that guy, and one time I was changing in the locker room, he comes in and starts SHAVING HIS CHEST IN THE SINK, Gets his nasty chest hair and water all over the sink......I have trouble washing my hands there when it doesn't look newly cleaned now. I don't know what the guy's deal is but it's some of the most disgusting hair I've ever seen...it's like a big...clump. Then again, maybe he isn't a hobo, maybe he is some PSYCHO hippy professor...whatever he creeps me out...

[Shnay]

I used to take the bus real late at night. You'd think that would mean all sorts of crazy characters, but mostly it just means people who have been working all day and are really tired or some drunks coming home from the bar. I did come in contact with a few weird people. The weirdest was someone who sat next to me and started talking as though we were in the middle of a conversation. It started with something like this:

"Yeah, so like I was saying, there are spirits everywhere. Not everyone can see 'em, but if you look, really look, they're there."

So I said something like, "Yeah, I guess there's a lot of strange things that go on." He continued on about evil spirits, and people trying to steal from him, and crooks working in the school system that wouldn't listen to his complaints about teenagers. It became clear pretty quickly that he had some form of mental illness, and probably told these same stories to anyone who would even pretend to listen. I felt bad for the guy (and you can never be sure what someone with mental illness might do) so I did my best to be polite and listen to what he had to say. I was still glad when my stop came up, and I was able to excuse myself from our conversation.

[randomguy]

Yeah, from what I can tell, MI, the first two people you mentioned were probably mentally ill, like Shnay's case. Your chances of encountering someone with mental illness are much higher among the homeless (who in turn are a helluva lot more likely to use public transportation). I've been riding city buses for years and years, and although I've got my fair share of similar stories, I don't really care to share them. I don't mean to sound condescending, or anything, but I'm really not comfortable throwing out the mentally ill as conversation fodder.

I did have a pretty interesting encounter with a non-crazy guy on the bus the other day, though. I was riding home from where I have to park my car, and I sat next to Leslie Cochran, who's a well-known homeless guy in Austin that cross-dresses and runs for mayor every term. Despite his extreme visual weirdness, he's actually quite rational, and we had a perfectly logical conversation about globilization and media consolidation for about fifteen minutes. Weird, crazy stuff.

[Aquadementia]

There was also the dirty man (hygiene-wise) which I saw a couple years ago. He leaned over and started slurring, "Now, ya gotta watch out for them Chinese monks. Then Chinese monks'll get ya, ya don't want to start anything with them! Now, if there's anything more dangerous than a Chinese monk, it's a Chinese NINJA! Oh no, you don't wanna start a circus with them, no way! Ya gotta avoid those Chinese ninjas! Now, I know three Chinese ninjas. I know an American ninja, and I know two CHINESE ninjas!!" This is pretty much verbatim, I promise.

You know, it really make you think twice about starting a circus.

I can't stand busses.
I had to take one when I had car problems and didn't want to bug anyone for a ride.
It wasn't the people that bothered me, just that it takes forever.
The second time I took it, I figured it would be just as fast if I walked home, and even though it was a heck of a long way it only took a few minutes longer. On the plus side, fresh air and exercise.
Too bad it was winter, otherwise I'm always looking any chance to take my bike instead of the car.

And that's my story about busses.
Avoid them if you can.

[SSJPabs]

In my town, we have three 4 year institutions, a business college and a tech school so its the very definition of a college town. As a result we have $2 cab fare with school ID so that we don't drink and drive, and we ride the MAT bus service for free.

Especially in the mornings, the only people on the MAT system are college students and creepy people. But, here's something that I haven't seen here yet: One time, I was on the bus in the morning (about 630am) and these two girls in their 20s were on there, they were all dressed up for a night out, disheveled with extra heavy makeup... Didn't seem to be college students. They got off in one of the more erm, questionable parts of town. So... hookers. At least I think so.

Cute ones though. Shame about their line of work.

[Fresh V]

Wow, those guys are actually real?:eek:

[Metroid_spy]

Wow, those guys are actually real?:eek:haha yeah i guess.

i never rode a school bus to school before. i go to a private school and dont meet these scary bus people.

[tucsoncoyote]

Alright, I'm not the kind of guy who would say this, but I remember my very first Girlfriend, and in fact I am glad we're never again going to be a couple.. Frankly My Ex had some issues and in fact one of them was Hygenie..and believe me guys.. when she got on a bus.. People got off..

One time after our breakup, I was on a bus and I saw her get on..and you should have seen how many people moved towards the back of the bus and opened windows.. and I looked up and I could see she was crying..(yet hey I kept telling her.. Take a shower, or a bath.. Get the stink off fo you..

Frankly At this point I'll drop the subject.. but if you want a creepy person, my ex-girlfriend was it..

:coyote:

[Conekiller]

Alright, I'm not the kind of guy who would say this, but I remember my very first Girlfriend, and in fact I am glad we're never again going to be a couple.. Frankly My Ex had some issues and in fact one of them was Hygenie..and believe me guys.. when she got on a bus.. People got off..

One time after our breakup, I was on a bus and I saw her get on..and you should have seen how many people moved towards the back of the bus and opened windows.. and I looked up and I could see she was crying..(yet hey I kept telling her.. Take a shower, or a bath.. Get the stink off fo you..

Frankly At this point I'll drop the subject.. but if you want a creepy person, my ex-girlfriend was it..

:coyote:
no offence, dude, but why would you go out with her in the first place? did she have some kind of irrational fear of water?

I've never really enountered any weirdos on the bus, but a friend of mine told me she was once on a bus with some old crazy woman who was carrying on and making a scene . When she finally got off th ebus she was complaining out loud and mumbling nonsence, then she mooned the bus as it drove away!

[Elven Moon]

I never take the bus, but then I've never lived in city areas... but drivers on the road are just as bad...

[Shnay]

I've been riding city buses for years and years, and although I've got my fair share of similar stories, I don't really care to share them. I don't mean to sound condescending, or anything, but I'm really not comfortable throwing out the mentally ill as conversation fodder.
Fair enough. Though in my defense, I don't lack sensitivity to the issue. I've dealt with mental illness within my own family and know exactly how serious it can be. I think that something like this can be discussed seriously, and that discussing it might even be of value to some people. As we've seen in this thread, some people weren't aware that stuff like this even went on until now. I'd prefer the tone of the conversation be a little different, but I do feel that something productive could come of talking about the subject through personal experience.

Edit: Although...the more I think about this, the more I'm not sure if I agree with anything I just said above. I do somewhat, but perhaps people simply stating observations without discussion of the issues behind them wouldn't be of any use. In retrospect, I'd say the decision you made was the right one, and perhaps one I should have made as well.

[kakiea]

you think your people are wierd you guys should ride my old bus from and to school! that bus was crazy but every one LOVED RAY!!!!!!you'd have to come to ar to understand that inside joke.:D and maybe the guy with small arms was mental. you shouldn't have posted that about him. he prob couldn't help it. so you could just lay off of people you don't even have a clue about! but that's only my opion!:)
~kakiea:anime:

[Fone Bone]

Yeah, from what I can tell, MI, the first two people you mentioned were probably mentally ill, like Shnay's case. Your chances of encountering someone with mental illness are much higher among the homeless (who in turn are a helluva lot more likely to use public transportation). I've been riding city buses for years and years, and although I've got my fair share of similar stories, I don't really care to share them. I don't mean to sound condescending, or anything, but I'm really not comfortable throwing out the mentally ill as conversation fodder.

Yay! I love you randomguy!

Do you know what's weird about being mentally ill? There are actually "cliques" among us. A lot of us actually feel as distasteful as the rest of society about the mentally ill who suffer so severely that they wind up being gross and stuff. I have OCD and have issues with cleanliness so obviously I stay away from people with bad hygiene but I can't help wonder if the high functioning anong us realize that they are contributing to the stigma of mental illness they are fighting so hard against.

[JSpengs]

There's this old guy I used to see on the bus sometimes, real creepy. He was like some burnt-out old stoner. He was guant, leathery, had rolled back, droopy eyes like a bloodhound (you know, their lower lids turn kinda inside out), his hair and beard were kinda wirey, and he wore the same outfit all the time- a subdued hawaiian shirt and shorts(in any weather). On top of all that, he had these burned, blackened calous-looking things between his first and middle finger, I guess from holding cigarettes or joints for too long. :confused: One time my boyfriend and I were sitting across from him, and I think he either started waving at us, or was doing the "father, son, and the holy ghost" blessing hand motion, which he did for several minutes.

I've also been told about this guy who will randomly stand up on the bus and start surfing.

The funniest of all though, my boyfriend and I were coming home from the mall, when this guy got on the bus. After a minute or two, he pointed at me and started talking a million words a minute at me. I tried to listen to what he was saying, then I realized he was quoting, verbatim, the movie Ghostbusters. (in case you were wondering, it was Ray's speech to Gozer at the end of the first movie) He was pointing/quoting at me because I was wearing my GB hoodie. After a while he stopped quoting the movie, and started talking about paranormal stuff. One of the nicer weirdos I've met. Still kinda crazy, but it could have been worse.

[Magwheel]

I know what you mean about the cliques Fonie B. Makes sense, too. People are people, and people have cliques (I haven't thought about it much, but I imagine there's more to it than that). But do you mean anything specific about the high functioning contributing to stigmas? Specific ways related to creepy bus people? I consider myself half and half, so I like to hear from both sides.

On the subject metnally handicapped taking the bus, In my city, some groups of adults (and a few teens) take outings and take the bus. Most of them are friendly. Some of them don't seem to get along with eachother. That's no fun to see. Must be those with OCD/cleanliness fixations clashing with the ones who are unaware of their... hygeinic state, if you will. Detail-obsessed with the more lax. (People with OCD get along badly with a lot of people, though; especially people who don't have the energy or capacity to understand or put up with our quirks). Usually I don't like it too much when they talk to me on the bus, if only because I don't want anyone to talk to me. :p

as far as really creepy people.... not really much of that. I live in a small city, and the busses aren't as convenient as in other places. we have very few visible homeless people or insaniacs. It's a pretty mild city. If I ever go to Saint John (New Brunswick, Canada) again, and take the bus, I'll have more to report!

What is creepy, though, is when there are extra seats elsewhere, and 40-something-year-old men decide to sit beside ME. Sometimes it's ok, but sometimes I wish they didn't. Depends on the look on their face, and their body language. Often I'd rather be talked to by someone with a mild mental illness. It's especially bad when these guys take too much space, width wise. And I don't mean wide people. It's imposing.

kakiea, don't worry about it. We figure the guy with small arms "was mental," and "couldn't help it." No one's gonna make fun of him. This isn't junior high ;)

I decided to take my little sketchbook on me with the bus from now on. This won't keep people away, but it will keep my mind off of staring at people, trying to make their brains explode. :D

[MonkeyFunk]

A conversation between a little boy and his mother while the bus was in a traffic jam:

"Why doesn't the driver just go over the cars?"
"Because he'd squash them."
"It's his bus, he can do what he wants with it!"
"He'd get arrested."
"I could kill him, then he wouldn't!"

:eek:

[Fone Bone]

I know what you mean about the cliques Fonie B. Makes sense, too. People are people, and people have cliques (I haven't thought about it much, but I imagine there's more to it than that). But do you mean anything specific about the high functioning contributing to stigmas? Specific ways related to creepy bus people? I consider myself half and half, so I like to hear from both sides.Just the disgusted looks and gossip high functioning mentally ill people do. They also tend to laugh about the low functionings weird behavior. I've been guilty of quite a few disgusted looks (I have OCD too).


On the subject metnally handicapped taking the bus, In my city, some groups of adults (and a few teens) take outings and take the bus. Most of them are friendly. Some of them don't seem to get along with eachother. That's no fun to see. Must be those with OCD/cleanliness fixations clashing with the ones who are unaware of their... hygeinic state, if you will. Detail-obsessed with the more lax. (People with OCD get along badly with a lot of people, though; especially people who don't have the energy or capacity to understand or put up with our quirks). Usually I don't like it too much when they talk to me on the bus, if only because I don't want anyone to talk to me. :p I get along okay with people (which is a miracle considering I also have Asperger's syndrome) but I don't get along with gross people at all.

[tucsoncoyote]

no offence, dude, but why would you go out with her in the first place? did she have some kind of irrational fear of water?

I've never really enountered any weirdos on the bus, but a friend of mine told me she was once on a bus with some old crazy woman who was carrying on and making a scene . When she finally got off th ebus she was complaining out loud and mumbling nonsence, then she mooned the bus as it drove away!
None Take Conekiller, in fact she didn't have an Irrational fear of water..(rather it was more of an "irrational Fear of Bathrooms.(Let's just say that when she was younger she was "Traumatized " by a Family Member in a Bathroom and it's because of that that she didn't want to shower or take a bath.. beyond that lets just drop the subject on this..

As for that one Crazy woman you mention, I think that she sounds like one woman My father used to encounter and it wasn't on the bus, but rather in the Post office..(and yes this one was indeed crazy..(after all I think I shouldn't mention what the woman did IN the Post office, but let's just say.. It wasn't normal..

but as for myself, the only time I met a real scary person on a bus was a guy who I accidently stepped on his shooes (accidentally ) The Guy tried to mug me but I think when The he saw the Bus Driver looking at him thinking about doing something really bad.. well I think he backed off.. That plus I could have really "Hulked out " and tossed that guy 20 rows.. easily..

okay i've said too much so that's it for me..

:coyote:

[Chris Wood]

You really do meet the dregs of society on Greyhound. I used it to go back and forth from college a few times.