Disturbing Metro assault

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Saw the guy on Fox news last night. He was minding his own business, reading a book and was repeatedly bashed, mostly on the back of his head. It's incredibly frightening.

It would also be very frightening if you saw it because you wouldn't want to get involved. Calling 911 and security at the metro stop would have been the right thing to do. I wonder if anyone did.

I've been thinking of ways one could help without getting in harm's way. Someone on my neighborhood listserve said that in a similar situation she yelled that the police were coming (even though they weren't) and the kids ran off. I also think that as a bystander I could start chanting "Leave him alone" and if I could get other people to join me (which they might if it looked like they could do it without getting attacked), that might shift things. But clearly the kids thought that no one would help -- and they were right. We as citizens need to find ways to confound those expectations.

I understand feeling paralyzed and not able to do something -- that's why all of us reading this need to think about what we could do to help if we see this happening so we don't get paralyzed.

[Anonymous]

Okay... the crime states are really alarming for the metro (see link below). Do you feel safe when traveling on metro? I will begin using metro 7:30am and 5:30pm everyday to go between Bethesda and Union Station. Are there particular stations that require more vigilance?

http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/transit_police/mtpd_crime_stats03.cfm

[Anonymous]

2.17 crimes per one MILLION riders is alarming to you?

Get real. You work in a city.

[Anonymous]

Metro used to be safe and clean but now there's a bunch of animals riding the trains during the day. I live in the city and I'd rather walk or drive with my toddler.

[Anonymous]

I believe you can text Metro police if you see something and are concerned that the perpetrators will see or hear you calling the police.

[Anonymous]

I was approached by a man once at that station. He opened his pants and showed his penis to me and my friend and peed right in front of us.

We went straight to the booth. It took 16 minutes for the police to come.

The bad guys know they can count on the police to play around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2.17 crimes per one MILLION riders is alarming to you?

Get real. You work in a city.

Have you ever been the victim of an assault?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metro used to be safe and clean but now there's a bunch of animals riding the trains during the day. I live in the city and I'd rather walk or drive with my toddler.

I'm really saddened by your description of young people such as the ones in this video as "a bunch of animals." Such a prejudiced remark. You must be an "idiot, conservative, narrow-minded Republican." Bet the ACLU comes after you--or some of the more liberal thinking, kind, understanding, generous individuals who post here. Surely, you understand that these women have been put down, deprived of any opportunities, and can't be blamed for their violence towards others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2.17 crimes per one MILLION riders is alarming to you?

Get real. You work in a city.

Have you ever been the victim of an assault?

Not that poster but relatively speaking that is a low number given the number of riders and that it is/near a city with a high crime rate. But yeah one crime is one crime too many. It never seems real until it happens to you or someone you know because it always seems to happen to the anonymous other guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro used to be safe and clean but now there's a bunch of animals riding the trains during the day. I live in the city and I'd rather walk or drive with my toddler.

I'm really saddened by your description of young people such as the ones in this video as "a bunch of animals." Such a prejudiced remark. You must be an "idiot, conservative, narrow-minded Republican." Bet the ACLU comes after you--or some of the more liberal thinking, kind, understanding, generous individuals who post here. Surely, you understand that these women have been put down, deprived of any opportunities, and can't be blamed for their violence towards others.

Another poster here. Not everyone who has had a difficult life takes it out violently on innocent people. We can't be accepting of this nor the sense of entitlement that some of people seem have that society owes them something and it's ok to hurt others. This is partly why it continues. That kind of mentality or culture has to be changed to make a real difference in the lives of these troubled kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2.17 crimes per one MILLION riders is alarming to you?

Get real. You work in a city.

You get your ass real. Have you ever been assaulted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro used to be safe and clean but now there's a bunch of animals riding the trains during the day. I live in the city and I'd rather walk or drive with my toddler.

I'm really saddened by your description of young people such as the ones in this video as "a bunch of animals." Such a prejudiced remark. You must be an "idiot, conservative, narrow-minded Republican." Bet the ACLU comes after you--or some of the more liberal thinking, kind, understanding, generous individuals who post here. Surely, you understand that these women have been put down, deprived of any opportunities, and can't be blamed for their violence towards others.

You're right, I shouldn't have called them animals. Animals generally only attack for food or to protect their young. I'm sick of apologists like you for making excuses for scum like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro used to be safe and clean but now there's a bunch of animals riding the trains during the day. I live in the city and I'd rather walk or drive with my toddler.

I'm really saddened by your description of young people such as the ones in this video as "a bunch of animals." Such a prejudiced remark. You must be an "idiot, conservative, narrow-minded Republican." Bet the ACLU comes after you--or some of the more liberal thinking, kind, understanding, generous individuals who post here. Surely, you understand that these women have been put down, deprived of any opportunities, and can't be blamed for their violence towards others.

You're right, I shouldn't have called them animals. Animals generally only attack for food or to protect their young. I'm sick of apologists like you for making excuses for scum like this.

I wonder what PP would say if she was the one being beaten up.

[Anonymous]

It is a very unfortunate incident, but random bad things like this do happen from time to time. I would say be aware, but you can't worry about attacks and crime beyond a certain point, and you can't really avoid metro altogether.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro used to be safe and clean but now there's a bunch of animals riding the trains during the day. I live in the city and I'd rather walk or drive with my toddler.

I'm really saddened by your description of young people such as the ones in this video as "a bunch of animals." Such a prejudiced remark. You must be an "idiot, conservative, narrow-minded Republican." Bet the ACLU comes after you--or some of the more liberal thinking, kind, understanding, generous individuals who post here. Surely, you understand that these women have been put down, deprived of any opportunities, and can't be blamed for their violence towards others.

You're right, I shouldn't have called them animals. Animals generally only attack for food or to protect their young. I'm sick of apologists like you for making excuses for scum like this.

I was being sarcastic and completely agree with you.