Video of the Day: SI Ferry Preacher Faces Criticism
Seems as though the Staten Island Ferry riders have had enough of the preachers that give unsolicited sermons during their daily commutes. Today one of them stood up to a preacher, and garnered much applause for the act.
The Ferry Forum has been abuzz about the preachers, and today one poster explained the above video: "This morning I'm sitting in the back of the boat and the preacher is preaching telling us what sinners and how the USA exports more pornography than anything else blah, blah...a woman walks up to him and tells him keep going the sinners are in the front of the boat...now the whole back end erupts in applause for this lady." The preacher then told the commuters (amongst them the woman's children) that this woman was leading them to sin.
Last Fall The NY Times noted that in the past year "the No. 1 ferry-related issue called into the city’s 311 complaint line involved onboard preachers." One Ferry Forum poster ponders another solution, wondering "why some poor slob with a horrible hangover hasn’t already had one of these preachers swimming…".
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I'm surprised the commuters did not revolt against this long ago. Why are they taking this crap?
Kingpin
I wish I had your optimism, Kojak.
Eoin MacNeill
I think there should be some kind of law against the flute guys on weekend mornings. When hungover, I've come very close to giving them a five to shut off the pain flutes. Though, their flutes are more effective at revealing my sinner tendencies than preaching.
iralarry
I think spnder has it right: iPods were invented to tune out the preacher creatures. But what if you are listening to gospel on it, could you then call it an iGod?
Dude69
What about the kids selling candies to raise money for their basketball uniforms?
It's people like this "preacher" that convinced me I made the right choice to renounce my religion a while ago.
Kojak
Most peachers seem crazy kingpin, but not because of Alcohol. Its because they're incensed with the word of the LORD!
Any spare change they get I'm sure goes straight toward their study of the scripture and to help smite blasphemers.
Big Al72
I wouldn't say anything to the preachers or musicians or the crazy ramblers, but next time I see one of the subway car circus acts (break dancing, acrobatics, etc.) I'm going to speak up. I was riding downtown on the 5 and three guys did a routine where they came inches away from smacking into people sitting along the narrow aisle. I encourage other people to speak up too, before their act begins. If these clowns hurt someone their victim is pretty much screwed, since there's no way they can cover the medical bills, and the city wouldn't be at fault.
mihow
The Willard Preacher! I went to PSU for almost five years and listened to that guy nearly every day. I can't believe I forgot about him! Thanks, McDowell.
Kingpin
[i]Except[/i]... at the church it'd be going toward the church, for the preacher it's going toward booze. Or worse. Some kinda sin he/she preaches against.
Kojak
I love listening to Subway Preachers because It gives me an excuse to not go to church on Sundays. And giving them spare change is like giving to the church collection plate, but far cheaper.
Gwinny
What? I love the mariachi guys! And the kids who do somersaults and flips through the subway car...
Kevin Walsh
Now, if someone would only stand up to the Mariachi Brothers and other subway musicians...
Pazzia, did it happen to be the Willard Preacher at PSU. Man was that guy annoying.
spnder
I think Darwin nailed it when he explained how the human being developed the iPod in direct response to transit preachers...
pazzia
when i was in college, we had a "preacher" who came to campus and said the most awful, un-christian things. i don't know if that could be considered a sermon. it was definitely more like hate-speech.
spreetaper
this isn't nearly as bad as the street preachers in Bushwick and their speakers!
bklynd
Heckle them. It's fun.
maevemealone
Ugh, transit preachers are the worst! Especially on the trains where the sound is so concentrated I actually wince with pain. At least on the ferry the yelling is a bit more dispursed. Hooray for telling them to zip it!
ThisCharmingMan
preaching is so much more annoying than a street protest. seriously.
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