Well, once there was this question about a random anecdote I’ve never had the chance to share, and I didn’t have one. (I tend to overshare.) But in the process of realizing I didn’t have one, I suddenly noticed I had one and typed it in.
🤭
Once upon a time (either 2008 or 2013) I had to take a few trains through England as a foreigner. I bought my ticket and got on. At this one station (Kings Cross? Can’t remember…) I had to change trains and I figured I’d take the opportunity to pop upstairs for a smoke break.
Upon trying to reenter I realized my ticket wasn’t valid for entry anymore, as it would’ve been in the system I was used to back home, so I contacted one of the staff and asked for advice.
The staff member was a tall punk-looking guy with a Mohawk, and he explained the problem for me. He somehow managed to combine the looks of a hardcore punker with that of a very british rail official. Afterwards he helped me get back in: He had a ticket on him, and he tore it and handed me the magnetic half so I could reenter. I thanked him and went on my way.
Upon scanning the ticket I noticed it had an anarchist-symbol hastily written on it with a marker. Combined with the aesthetics of the guy who helped me I couldn’t help but conclude that he’s fighting the system from within.
Haha that’s a great story!
I used to get the train regularly and there was a conductor who was a power nazi, he’d try to intimidate others and do petty things.
One day a man told the nazi he didn’t have a ticket cos he’d been mugged, he’d rung the company and arranged a friend to pay over the phone. The nazi demanded the ticket and made a huge show of how he was going to throw him off the train. The guy politely said he wouldn’t get off. With a look of total joy the nazi said he’d get the police on at the next stop.
As you can imagine, there was quiet british excitement over this and we were all agog. The police got on and asked the nazi IF HE HAD ACTUALLY CHECKED THE STORY OUT.
Nazi went beetroot red and said he hadn’t. He rang the company it was of course true, he looked like a total twat. It was GLORIOUS.
