If you can't afford a gym

I've also seen people doing all kinds of stretching exercises and other physical fitness activities in T stops. This is unseemly behavior, up there with cutting one's toenails on the T, and, yes, with women putting on full faces of makeup on the T.

Sociologically,I trace the root of this behavior to the advent of cell phones back in the day. Once people got completely at ease with carrying on what used to be private conversations in a public space, the behavior expanded to include other activities that were once done in private or semi private. Every little personal need must now be fulfilled immediately no matter where one happens to be.

A child was doing pull ups at irregular but fairly frequent intervals on an Orange Line. I didn't understand why until I realized he was watching a video game on a device. I think the kid was imitating a character on the video game.

Then I wondered about his (presumably) dad who was just let his kid jump up and down without regard for the kids safety or concern about teaching the kid appropriate behaviors on public transportation.

But then with many riders treating subways and buses as extensions of their living rooms, bathrooms and kitchens a kid acting out the role of cute monkey or other prepubescent superhero is minor in comparison.