Just another evening commute on the Red Line

I know less about you than you do about me, Pierce. I don't even know if you've ever been on the T, or take it regularly.

But when a raging drunk who has been screaming at, insulting, and exposing himself to women, pissing on the floor of a somewhat crowded subway car at the tale-end of rush-hour, and repeatedly swinging his backpack around and threatening to hit people charges someone like he's about to tackle her "a simple 'back off man, leave her alone,'" doesn't always "obviously" suffice. I suppose reasoning with someone who's just whipped his dick out and sprayed the car might be fruitful under some circumstances. I didn't really have time to consider it here.

I don't go around provoking people, Pierce. I think folks should try to behave in public, and I do my part towards that end. I certainly don't go around pushing or shoving anyone on an average day. Just so you know.

In this case, no one was hurt. I did absolutely nothing more than was necessary to stop an angry, out-of-control inebriate who was barreling towards someone from attacking her. Open palm, just enough pressure to stop him and push him back a bit, not even enough to knock him off-balance (and we're talking about a teetering drunk on a moving train here). It was basically as gentle a reminder as someone in his state could comprehend. You're laughably naive to think that "back off man, leave her alone" would not have been interpreted as aggressive by a fighting drunk, and a provocation for him. What I did put a halt to it, without much further drama.

But your beef, such as it is, seems to be more with my "chest-beating." And all I can say about that is: (a) you have obviously not read any of the tales of sexual conquest on my blog, and (b) if I want to run around town in spandex and a cape, rescuing kittens from trees and then go home beat off and blog about it, unless you've got some kryptonite in your backpack there's not a heck of a lot you can do but bitch about it, is there, Pierce? Remember, as much as people dislike chest-beaters, no one likes a whiner, either.

At any rate, it'd probably be better for you to ally yourself with the forces of good in this little Gotham than to sit around grousing about them. Because you never know when you'll be the one stuck in a tree, do you? Or cornered by a drunk on a train who wants to beat you up and pee on you.

Which is not to say that your theories on inaction aren't very interesting (although--if I might make a suggestion--I think it could be fruitful for you to investigate "wu wei" at some point).

As it is, I'm sure you would have been too busy pondering your theories in a similar situation as you idly watched it unfold to do anything about it but tell your friends afterwards how you saw a poor helpless drunk assault some mean lady on the T on your way home.

His victim may have gotten a beating, but at least the greater sin of "chest-beating" by some would-be superman would have been avoided.