While the Mayor thinks a proposed photography ban on subways and buses is silly, it seems that police have been told to act as though the ban has been passed, as the Times reports on the day after the news. A Swedish couple visiting the city had mixed reactions, the boyfriend saying that if it's for security reasons, the ban seemed reasonable while the girlfriend was dismissive, "Typical America. We're from Sweden, where everything is allowed." Gothamist would like to point out that the couple was watching that guy in Times Square salsa dance with his mannequin, Lupita; considering that something as scary as that is allowed, it's safe to say that NYC isn't in a martial law state. But wait until August 30.
Also, one of the other rules the MTA wants to pass is prohibiting people to put their bags on other seats. Gothamist is in support of this. There's no reason, why in crowded trains, that bags need to be on seats, when others, including the elderly, kids, and pregnant women, are standing. Gothamist on news of the photo ban.
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how about a ban on holding train doors?
"Also, one of the other rules the MTA wants to pass is prohibiting people to put their bags on other seats. Gothamist is in support of this."
If I'm in a subway car and almost nobody is there, I am putting my feet up and putting my bag on the seat next to me. And you know what? When the doors open a few stops later and a crowd pours in, my feet goes down and the bag is on my lap.
You don't need a damned regulation to deal with this. It's common sense.
Perhaps if the MTA is so keen on people not putting bags on seats, they should clean the floors of the subway cars. I'm not going to plop my bag down on that disgusting floor and don't care what anyone says.
I think the problem is that while you may take your feet/bag off the seat, there are plenty of others who won't. I agree, that it's common sense/decency, but there are people who seem to lack that gene.
A few months ago, in Vanity Fair, Christopher Hitchens did an entire article on the stupid rules in NYC, where he went around and had himself photographed doing various "illegal" things, including:
- taking up 2 seats on the subway (when it wasn't crowded)
- sitting on a milk crate on the sidewalk
- riding a bicycle without a bell
and on and on. I'd link to the article, but it appears to not be available online.
My girlfriend and I saw a woman taking pictures at Astor Place on Friday night. An orange-jacketed MTA employee approached her and demanded loudly that she put her camera away. Within moments, other riders approached to tell her that what she's doing is still perfectly legal, and she had every right to use her camera. A couple people even stood next to her and also took pictures as a show of support.
Every public space in New York is a potential target. Shall we ban photo-taking in Times Square? The Empire State Building? With camera technology being what it is, it is easy to take photos unnoticed. A ban will not stop anyone from planning an attack, so what exactly is the purpose and benefit of this ban? Making cameras illegal for the general public to own might be a more effective approach. Will I be arrested if I draw a picture of the Astor Place station on a sketch pad? Things are changing incrementally, but quickly. When I read the above postings about holding the doors, or taking up too many seats, I hope that people are using humor to ease their concern about the outrageous changes that seem to be taking place in our democracy. I want to smile and laugh, but I'm less and less able.
Laws against things that personally annoy us are a waste of ink and also a waste of our time. We don't need a stinking law just because it's annoying that someone else puts their bag or feet up on a seat.
Do what a real New Yorker would do and simply push that rude asshole's shit off the seat and sit yourself right down. Are you a doormat or do you really need the government to ban these types of things because you're too timid to fend for yourself? I hate it when people stand on the escalator, so I simply shove past them. I hate the long-ass lines when arriving on the Second Avenue F platform, so I cut ahead of everyone to the front. Nobody ever puts up a fuss; try it sometime and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Here's the deal. I think most people who wear Von Dutch are assholes. I think people who talk on cell phone while walking in the street make for worse street walking. I think people who hold subway car doors are selfish.
But does that mean there should be laws pass? Fuck no! Grow up and learn to assert yourself. If someone has their feet up on a seat and that's the only seat left, tell them to move. If someone is blocking your wall up the stairs, politely tap them on their shoulder and say excuse me. The list goes on and on, but there's no reason to legislate laws for stuff like this.
Grow up and learn how to deal like an adult. And if people rebuff you when you ask them to move or something very obvious, just talk back to them.
Let's legislate no more shitting and pissing and puking in stairwells. And other really vile crap. But legislating against a foot on a seat? Bullshit on that. Just the idea that our bureacracy is even going to waste time thinking about such a thing while other real problems exist should be offensive to anyone.
Oh, and if you're one of those namby pambies who feel that asserting yourself is rude, go call up mom and dad, ask them to cut you a "Taxi Cab" check and ride in cabs and car services. If you can't handle doing some of the basic things you do when you ride a Subway you should not even be on one.