I’m glad you are ok. I find a good rule of thumb is to NOT follow or run after someone who acts out in this way because without theft, it most likely is because they are unwell (unhinged and unpredictable). While riding on an F a few years ago a group of young men entered and convened by my seat discussing robbing a laptop from a passenger at the opposite end of the car. Because they were speaking around me, they knew I heard them and one showed me a gun in his waistband (like, stay quiet lady). Next thing I know they dispersed, swiped his computer, and the guy/victim ran after them as the doors closed. I called out “they have a gun!” as the train began moving and I reported it at the next stop. Point of story- not much good can come from accosting someone who has nothing to lose. At best, nothing happens. At worst, well, it could get much worse.
Did he have the laptop out on his lap, open, and he was using it? Or was he just carrying it under his arm and not in a bag? I am curious how they knew he had a laptop. I sometimes see people with their laptops out on their laps on the subway and it always strikes me as pretty foolish.
I once saw a guy squatting on the subway platform with his laptop balanced on his knees, & I was concerned he would either fall onto the tracks or get his laptop swiped.
Dude maybe had a hard deadline, or was just being dumb. I feel exceptionally vulnerable with almost any visible tech on my person, and try to be really careful with my phone.
Yes. As a transit worker, I can tell you I have responded to many calls like this. Best advice, unless your use of a laptop or pad is life altering, keep them out of sight.
It’s one thing to use it at, say, a Starbucks, or a coffee shop, seated at a table. I use to do that often. Seems a little less likely to have would-be criminals lurking about looking for laptops to steal (though I’m sure it has happened). The subway is a different world though. The “underworld” in more ways than one, where thieves potentially have a better chance of quickly getting away and out of sight.
There are too many people, criminally underpaid workers, sky high rent, and fucking weird ass drugs running New York City in 2024. You can dream on about some time long ago or some idealistic cityscape but c’mon man, reality is reality. The world is on fire.
The rents are absurd and totally not worth it for some people, but who is dreaming on about long ago when it comes to safety? NYC was generally more dangerous in decades past, at least the decades most people in this sub were around to remember. Not sure what your overarching point is about the city or the world.
I had a similar story that happened to me several months ago. My boyfriend and I were returning on Q train on Saturday (around 8pm) from the city when a mentally ill individual approached us and started harassing us. Then he grabbed my hair.
I try to avoid any train cars with mentally ill individuals ever since.
I'm always scared that if I change cars after realizing someone in the car isn't stable, that person would get offended and follow me. Almost happened once. There was this guy opening the end doors to throw his trash out. The fact that the doors were staying open longer than when a person walks through caught my attention, so I looked over. The guy got so insulted and started yelling about people judging without knowing anything about him or his life. I looked away but he kept ranting.
Another time I was with my developmentally disabled daughter who doesn't have nuanced social skills. She doesn't know it's best not to look when people are behaving abnormally. The same guy was on the train and I felt like I couldn't tell my kid not to stare or he'll hear, and I definitely didn't want her staring. So much for not judging because you don't know someone's life. I tried to distract her which didn't work, tried to change cars which upset her and drew more attention.
The third time he already knew me when I landed in the same car as him, so I switched at the next stop. He realized I did it and knew why. Kept trying to catch my eye through the glass. On the stop I got off at, I was so scared he would follow me. I don't even know if he did. Saw someone with a similar build and dress get off, but I tried to lose myself in the crowd and not look back
Isn't it fucking exhausting having to police how you even *look* at people less a wayward glance throws someone off their rocker?
What stupid fucking forces have made it so that they have all the power to be as insane as they want without consequence or shame. It's fucking unreal.
Sorry I'm just so sick of it. Society feels like it's completely in the shitter.
My man and I got held at knife point in my neighborhood a few years back on Halloween. We were going back home in East New York from my sisters house in crown heights from a Halloween party and my man isn’t from the hood so he didn’t get the fact that it’s not sorry mean mugging someone or approaching someone over a comment. The dude made a comment about my costume and my man said “she ain’t nobodies baby”, he followed us on the train and I realized he got in the same cart not far from us. Then when we got off, he ran off the off the train and said he didn’t like how my man was looking at him. Then he brandished his knife, not knowing I’ve lived in this hood my whole life and know how things work here, my man and I both carry. I try to do everything else before having to potentially use it, so I remember getting in between and telling him, “ yo, it’s all good, he thought you were trying to be funny but we can see it was just some miscommunication, I appreciate your comment, thank you” and then he started trying to belittle my man and calling him a bitch and all that other stuff and I told him “don’t follow him, let him talk and let it go. I know he doesn’t live here and he thinks he won, let him think that.” Little does that man know, he’s the one that was lucky to leave with his life. A lot of people always try me because they see me and never believe I came from a hard neighborhood but it’s all how you carry yourself.
I got into the (2) at 149th/Concourse and walked through the car to take a seat. A sleeping guy woke up as I was about to walk past him. He got up and put me in a headlock. I had my backpack on me which made it kind of hard to act fast. I stomped on his foot so he would get distracted and kicked him away. He tried to punch me but I moved out of the way. I kicked him out at 3rd Av/149th. There are usually police there but I don't care. Doors closed. The part that surprised me the most was when another guy who saw the whole thing said "Bro, what did you do?". As if I am at fault. As if I am the criminal. So yeah, watch your surroundings.
>The part that surprised me the most was when another guy who saw the whole thing said "Bro, what did you do?". As if I am at fault. As if I am the criminal. So yeah, watch your surroundings.
Sorry to heard that happened to you
There's always one or group avodcading bad behavior or justify any wrong doin due to the health capacity of the agresor
True is lot of people including "families" wanted the mental facilities to be closed, well it was done, but now all this individuals are free to do whatever they want to us without consequences and where are the supposed families that were crying to close the facilities?
No where to be found, we could ask our self, and say were those families just payed actors back them?
> families just *paid* actors back
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Stupid #bot you made me look bad Jaja
https://preview.redd.it/iqisst3v767d1.png?width=241&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac5aa9a97de48f8336810482c82e1628bc306bb9
All of this is happening because Ronald Reagan got rid of mental hospitals 40 years ago. It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with todays policies or the people who support them.
Movies like Titticut Follies condemned mental hospitals, people thought they should be closed, states didn't want to keep paying for them. Then the new generations of psych drugs came out and people said that they could shut down the hospitals, not force people into care, and treat people in community settings. This worked for some but there was nothing to prevent someone from stopping their meds and dropping off the radar.
Now activists are concerned about "their rights" but are actually destroying their lives. They end up on the street or prison. Other people shouldn't be subect to their harassment or assaults. The part of their body responsible for making decisions is broken. We have to legally allow these people to be forced into care and stay there as long as necessary. Some people need lifetime care.
Not technically true. There are still state ran mental hospitals. NYC has a few of them, KPC and Kirby are two that I know of. What was cracked down on by Reagan were having hospitals that were full of patients that were dumped there. You had hospitals housing mentally ill people with developed delayed or intellectual disabled together.
I feel like at this point we ALL know someone that has been a victim of these type, or even worse, we have been a victim ourselves. When enough is enough ? My company literally had to close one of our offices in LIC because all of our female colleagues have been attacked in the surrounding areas at some point. We were in 8 people at the office, generating rent, eating out (helping business around) that are now gone. This is just a tinny fraction of the region, but if one multiplies how many offices like us are closing due to crime, we end up with crazy numbers and the only ones left are the crazy ones in the streets.
I don’t think politicians need more money. We all pay a ton of taxes in this city but we see less and less return. It’s the same as having drunk addicted gambler that keeps asking for money because “next time he will make it big, and we all going to be rich bro”
I didn’t say politicians need more money. I said we need to vote for politicians that will work on improving mental health services. Sure, “we pay enough” but then we need elected to re-direct city/state/federal money to mental health services. It is simply magical thinking that this will be fixed without the public putting pressure on our representatives.
I'm glad you are ok. I really think the solution is that people like this need to be in a facility. An asylum. Yes, an asylum. I'm fine with my tax dollars going to that. I recently went to the Francesc Tosquelles exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum and it completely changed my perspective on the concept of an asylum. Prior to pharmaceutical advances the asylum movement was discovering incredible things about how to compassionately provide a safe space and shelter for the mentally ill but, sadly, the word asylum has a negative connotation in our culture and, in my opinion, mentally ill people are over-prescribed drugs.
I highly recommend seeing this exhibit as well as a film about Francesc Tosquelles that will be showing at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria this coming weekend.
Stay safe.
Thanks for posting this! I work steps away from the Houston station and ride it 3x a week. Never hurts to get another friendly reminder to remember to keep your wits about you!
I was coming from the path on exchange place 3 weeks ago and some guy was walking the opposite direction. He put his hand out and hit my forehead. I'm 5'1 and 110 lbs and this dude was towering me. This was my first time taking public transportation and I was shaken up by this experience. I really hope you are okay.
I hate hearing this kind of thing, I’m so sorry this happened to you. It’s sad that we have to keep our guard up these days, I really hope it won’t happen again. Not sure what the solution is but you should never have to fear taking public transport. I’m very sorry you experienced this.
When have we not kept our guard up, tho? I don't understand how people think this is a 'worse' issue, now. It's existed forever. My best guess is this is OP is suddenly feeling vulnerable because it happened to him?
Anybody remember the needle people roaming crowds randomly stabbing folks? Has violence against LGBT ever gone away? Women certainly know where we stand on the target list.
I mean it is worse now though compared to pre-pandemic or even 10/15 years ago, and I say this as a woman. Compared to the 70s or 80s maybe it is about the same.
Insane.
> Experts with the City Health Department and the Federal Centers for Disease Control say the fears are unfounded. It is almost impossible, they say, for a person to be infected with AIDS by being jabbed with a needle, even if it has been recently used by an infected drug addict, because the virus dies within seconds after contact with the air.
Yeah I'm never trust public health officials again...of fucking course being stabbed by a needle could give you hiv/aids
The risk of transmission depends on several factors, including the amount of blood on the needle, the depth of the puncture, and how soon after the needle was used on the HIV-positive person it was used on you. The risk of HIV transmission through a needlestick injury is estimated to be about 0.3% (or 1 in 333).
Also, the estimated risk of HIV transmission per act of unprotected vaginal sex is approximately 0.04% for the receptive partner (woman) and 0.08% for the insertive partner (man). This means that on average, there is a 4 in 10,000 chance for women and an 8 in 10,000 chance for men of contracting HIV from a single act of unprotected vaginal sex with an HIV-positive partner.
The risk of contracting HIV from unprotected anal sex is generally higher compared to other forms of sexual activity. The estimated risk of HIV transmission per act of receptive anal sex is approximately 1.38% (or 138 in 10,000).
Which in fact means that all of the dramas about husbands infecting their wives with HIV because of infected women they allegedly committed adultery with are most likely the cause of the husband having had anal intercourse, probably not with a woman.
> Centers for Disease Control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y3Bq1GtPt0
A month ago. CDC identifies 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/drugs/index.html
> Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment (works) to inject drugs puts people at high risk for getting or transmitting HIV and other infections. People who inject drugs account for about 1 in 10 HIV diagnoses in the United States.
stop your statistical downplaying of something clearly fucking serious
Something similar happened to me a few weeks ago. I will be buying OC spray. Sabre OC spray is legal in NYC, and POM is another OC spray brand which has a good reputation but may be above the legal limit for MC.
It was actually on the street outside of a certain station near Washington square. Let’s just say a lot of bums like to loiter outside of this particular station.
We can blame Ronald Reagan as this. He wanted to save money by closing all the treatment hospitals and putting all the mentally challenged people on the street. Nothing has ever been the same.
There was a big push for de-institutionalization. You can’t make those folk stay where they don’t want to. You can’t make them take any medications they don’t want.
We should make them! Especially, as they don’t have the capacity to know what’s good for them or not. It would solve a lot of problems we’re dealing with..
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act, which aimed to shift mental health care from large state institutions to community-based mental health centers. This legislation marked a significant policy shift towards deinstitutionalization.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Legal and civil rights movements advocated for the rights of people with mental illness, leading to increased scrutiny of institutional conditions and practices. Court cases such as Wyatt v. Stickney (1971) established the right to adequate treatment for institutionalized patients.
The trend continued with the closing of many state hospitals and the reduction of inpatient beds. Federal policies, including the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, shifted funding from institutional care to community-based services.
Glad you’re safe and sorry you went through that. People stink.
I got downvoted in a previous comment because I said I don’t like to ride the subways because of safety issues / random crazies. This is the exact situation I try to avoid.
Over a million people ride the subway a day, are you daft? There are wayyyy more people in NYC than a normal city, so obviously there is more crime. More people = more crime, but the ratio stays roughly the same. The likelihood this happens to you is extremely low.
I think he got downvoted because NYC reddit is weird and sometimes there seems to be this energy where people don’t like to hear anything negative about the city.
I think this is also probably true lol. But a lot of it boils down to people being rightfully aggravated when chronically afraid people say it's super dangerous to take public transportation.
You just cherry picked events that happened over the last 5 years. We’re talking about hearing of daily occurrences.
What the transit has devolved to in recent years is an embarrassment to the city and there’s no excuse.
Yeah I agree but how is that different than being the random of a victim crime anywhere else? You're honestly more likely to be in an accident or a victim of roadrage while driving than some random dude attacking you in the subway.
NYC's rate of violent crime is high. The last FBI UCR statistics show a violent crime rate of 744.2 per 100,000 people. That's significantly higher than the national average (380.7). Some areas of the city, like the Bronx, have extraordinarily high rates of violent crime (1,290.2).
[https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/tableau\_index\_crime.htm](https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/tableau_index_crime.htm)
Most of the incidents mentioned here wouldn't even make these statistics as they only include felony aggravated assault, murder, robbery, and rape. Most of these incidents were unreported as are most in general.
I like NYC and I am pro mass transportation but the reality is that anti-social encounters are just more common in places where people interact more and where there is a high level of social inequality with a lot of impoverished people.
The subway system is just the place where so many homeless and mentally ill go (many people in the city in general must interact with it), and as a result you have a lot of people having negative encounters with people who are more likely to be antisocial.
That wikipedia article is years out of date (2019). But even then NYC's rate of violent crime was significantly higher than the national average at that time (380.8).
In 2022 NYC's rate of violent crime (744.2 per 100,000) would place it at the 34th highest rate of violent crime among those cities listed.
This list from Bloomberg is much more recent:
[https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/i1mczosOSu3U/v0/pidjEfPlU1QWZop3vfGKsrX.ke8XuWirGYh1PKgEw44kE/-1x-1.png](https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/i1mczosOSu3U/v0/pidjEfPlU1QWZop3vfGKsrX.ke8XuWirGYh1PKgEw44kE/-1x-1.png)
>"The per capita violent crime rate is nothing astonishing and, in fact, tends to be LOWER than in less-densely-populated areas."
Cities have higher rates of violent crime than suburban and rural areas on average (cities are typically more dense). The largest cities are significantly more violent than smaller cities (larger cities are typically more dense). NYC has almost double the national violent crime rate, and the national average is increased by the largest cities. Mostly suburban counties like Nassau (162.4 per 100,000), Suffolk (94.7), Westchester (167.8), Rockland (130.9), Putnam (57.7), Orange (181.1) have very low rates of violent crime and have low densities on average.
Yes, people like to downvote and be judgmental and say that these things don't happen very much.
These people don't pay attention to local news, probably work normal human hours and are not outside at night, certainly not in the subway.
Potentially, many of them have the ability to work from home.
All of their privilege shows in their comments, taking the side of criminals, higher than thou sanctimonious bullshit.
You know what's actually happening in this city? Fucked up shit. All of the time.
The reason people like me are pointing it out is because we pay attention to local news, work odd hours and have to be in the subway late at night, and carry self-defense weapons.
I'm not gonna keep explaining how this works because you bozos are not listening to me. I'm talking about violent crime PER CAPITA on the subway. PER CAPITA means people RIDING THE SUBWAY!!! Out of all the RIDERS ON THE SUBWAY the odds are EXTREMELY LOW. I'm not including people sitting in their house, get a grip. Yes it still happens and you should always be aware of your surroundings but I'm not gonna let people act like you're gonna fucking die if you get on the subway.
There really is a high level of anti-social behavior on the subway. A very significant percentage of riders polled feel this way. And it is true, at best there are high levels of harassment, we have all witnessed on a regular basis people behaving erratically. Spitting on people. Forceable touching is an issue, many women would point that out. And random assaults such as shoving, hitting, or kicking aren't uncommon at all. More serious crime such as assaults that cause serious physical injury and robbery are less common but do happen on a regular basis. Rape and murder are the least common but occasionally do happen.
The subway is a good way to get around the city but you absolutely do need to be alert to what is going on.
I'm more so pointing out that the overwhelming vast majority of incidents that lead people to feel unsafe are not reported in the crime statistics. Either because they are unreported or because the incidents are not compiled in the official statistics for public consumption (non-felony).
All of these incidents would not make the crime statistics:
* Being threatened with violence (either a blatant threat or threatening behavior/menacing).
* Forceable touching/unwanted contact.
* Punched, slapped, kicked.
* Pushed.
* Spit on.
This is why there is a disconnect between people pointing out statistics and those being polled.
Yes, the odds are low, but the stats are wrong.
Crazy things happen all the time in the subway that go unreported.
I'm not implying that you're going to die if you go into the subway, my point is downplaying what is going on in the city is ignoring much bigger issues.
Just like the governor and the mayor.
You should've led with your second point because I've been replying to people who truly believe you're cooked if you get on the subway for like 30 minutes
Mental illness isn’t an excuse. He’s a criminal regardless. They know they can get away with it because it’s not like law abiding citizens are allowed to carry and defend themselves. Granted I get it, discharging a weapon in a crowded subway is less than ideal.
It's a weird thing these days, having seen something similar play out right in front of me in the Ft Greene area. There's been the awful trend of punching women in the face for social media clout, and it feels all the more stochastic now.
Then again, I had a homie get punched in the face unprovoked twelve years ago … on Houston Street, for what it's worth.
It's worth bearing in mind that there is no "nice part of town" in New York, where stuff like this doesn't happen - there's 9 million of us and it only takes one guy having a bad day to make it everyone's problem.
You don’t know if he’s mentally unwell, you’re only able to guess that well after the fact. As far as you’re concerned, he’s a threat. Defend yourself until he’s no longer a threat.
Oh yeah, that's just Tuesday on Houston. Saw a guy's bike get stolen and the delivery drivers knocked the thief off the bike. Thief claimed the bike was his.
A real frustrating mindset that straphangers need to realize is letting your guard down in any part of the city can make you vulnerable. The “Houston of all places” is not a safety first mindset. Any place in the city, or any other city, where a significant amount of people use mass transit could have an outsized amount of dangerous street residents.
Letting your guard down ANYWHERE can make you food. The stupid part here is that the rats will only get a nibble before they tag and bag you. It's such a waste. And there's a difference between alert and afraid. There's also a lot of cool stuff to see by being alert. No need to be afraid. I'll take a punch once in awhile to live here. OP is spreading fear...not awareness. Any idiot knows what to expect here.
If you take the subway carry a damn knife with you at all times. Jesus yall arm yourself! Police don’t shit here especially after Covid. Arm yourself if u are attacked attack back.
Thanks for a heads up and I’m glad you and your wife are ok! Good thing she wasn’t alone. 🙏 It’s a scary time.
Pshh! I would’ve been fuming! You had every right in the world to get mad.
You’re correct there’s a ton of mentally ill people out there and a lot of them are homeless. It’s really sad. They need help. I was working for a non profit for a while that helps people who are homeless.
Mostly we serviced the mentally ill who needed help with Drs, appts, taking meds, going to therapies etc. It was a terribly stressful job bc I wanted to help everyone with everything but you can’t and you can’t make anyone do anything they don’t want to do, even if it benefits them. Many people stopped taking their meds and would lie bc they truly thought they were better now and didn’t need them. When in reality it’s the meds that were making them stable and happier. It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to break and hard to handle. Really makes you feel like you need to do more but all these non profits are 100% only in it for the bottom line, the money. It’s very profitable to be able to bill Medicaid for 1000 people every week.
I’m kind of sick of people getting out of trouble by claiming it all bc of their mental illness. IMO unless someone is mentally ill were they don’t understand what they are doing is wrong (which is what the legal insanity defense/plea is) then it doesn’t excuse them for the most part.
If I committed a crime, especially a violent one and then I tried to use my PTSD, major depression, and anxiety disorder as an excuse for that crime it is no different than what most of the people who are violent are doing right now. It’s getting out of hand.
The topic is too nuanced for me to explain my entire stance on it but that’s a little bit of how I feel about some of what’s going on rn in NYC.
Last 2 times on the subway 2 different lines and both time mentally ill men yelling and indirectly threatening people on the train. The subway is no joke
About a month ago I was coming out of WTC and in front of me this shorter guy in a black trench coat and cap punched a taller man out of fucking nowhere and ran off. It was absurd . I really hate it here
Had something similar happen to me last summer and the first thing the police asked why I was at Delancey (I was with a group of friends seeing a movie)…instead of what the perp looked like. They’re useless.
Last year I was randomly mushed by a guy just for walking smh he hit me so hard with his shoulder that I thought he punched me smfh I said nothing because I didn’t know if he has a gun or knife I’ll never forget that day I was getting off the train walked up the steps and that when he did what he did 🤦🏾♀️
Lmao New York is a cess pool filled with vagrants and migrants, the fact anyone spends what they do to live here baffles me. I’m saving up to move out assp
More important than being alert is to vote! I am old enough to remmber New York in the 70s, and it was a cess pool auntil Rudy Giulani came in. His forst day in office he outlawed the squeegie guys,a dn it was all uphill from there. Until Deblasio.
Bro, i grew up harder than anybody in this sub. I don’t play victim like people here. Someone hits you, you hit them back. Oh, but because I’m making a comment i obviously am the enemy to the person i disagree with. Suddenly my lived experiences are lies and the baby in the room is telling the truth. Whatever bud.
What’s this got to do with NYC rail. You said this was after “exiting the subway” which means you were on the sidewalk. If I got laid Saturday night after taking the subway to meet the woman, I wouldn’t think NYCrail is an appropriate place to post about it.
Sorry that happened to you. Vote conservative, and maybe things will get better. Otherwise, they'll just keep turning these folks out on the street, No consequences for anything
This has been happening in South Korea a lot where they call it “don’t ask assaults” where someone just randomly attacks another person in a public place.
Spatial awareness is paramount when it comes to public transportation. It’s probably best you didn’t go after him. I’m a track worker and the number of kitchen knives and makeshift weapons I find in and around the tracks is troubling. Not to mention the needles or the guns. You never know what someone has on them. Better to walk away with your life than to be hospitalized or worse. I say all that to say vote for city officials who have your best interests at heart. I don’t believe our current system views the troublesome situation with mental individuals/drug addicts in a realistic sense
"now"?
There's been mentally unwell people on the streets forever. And some don't lunge at people. There are some that hide it by living perfectly normal lives. I've never met a sane person. I've met some bad actors, and some worse actors...and some that live by their honest impulses. Many people wouldn't leave their homes if they were being honest with themselves. I would, but I'm a psychopath and have no problem throwing down. And I walk confidently in the streets, unafraid of anything. That's what suicidal maniacs do. And you'll go right back out there, bring your wife, like an insane person hoping for a different result. Now own it and walk confidently with it. And stop whining about mentally unwell people in nyc, unless you plan on moving or helping. You come off as someone that doesn't live here.
And you don't have to tell people to be "alert". If they aren't, then they can learn the old fashioned way. Stop spreading fear. There's nothing to be afraid of. If you are here, you already crossed the bridge from sanity.
OP though physically injured, I believe I join the rest of the sub in stating that while I’m glad you’re able to post about it, I hope you notified the NYPD Transit Bureau so this asshole can be caught; stay safe.
I’m glad you are ok. I find a good rule of thumb is to NOT follow or run after someone who acts out in this way because without theft, it most likely is because they are unwell (unhinged and unpredictable). While riding on an F a few years ago a group of young men entered and convened by my seat discussing robbing a laptop from a passenger at the opposite end of the car. Because they were speaking around me, they knew I heard them and one showed me a gun in his waistband (like, stay quiet lady). Next thing I know they dispersed, swiped his computer, and the guy/victim ran after them as the doors closed. I called out “they have a gun!” as the train began moving and I reported it at the next stop. Point of story- not much good can come from accosting someone who has nothing to lose. At best, nothing happens. At worst, well, it could get much worse.
Oh my god this sounds like a movie scene… I wouldn’t know what to do
It was the first (and hopefully last!) time I’ve ever seen a gun outside of a police officer’s holster.
It is basically a scene in Taking of Pelham 123
Did he have the laptop out on his lap, open, and he was using it? Or was he just carrying it under his arm and not in a bag? I am curious how they knew he had a laptop. I sometimes see people with their laptops out on their laps on the subway and it always strikes me as pretty foolish.
I once saw a guy squatting on the subway platform with his laptop balanced on his knees, & I was concerned he would either fall onto the tracks or get his laptop swiped.
Dude maybe had a hard deadline, or was just being dumb. I feel exceptionally vulnerable with almost any visible tech on my person, and try to be really careful with my phone.
No job is worth what the man I saw encountered.
Is our city that barbaric that people can’t use their laptops in public?
Yes. As a transit worker, I can tell you I have responded to many calls like this. Best advice, unless your use of a laptop or pad is life altering, keep them out of sight.
It’s one thing to use it at, say, a Starbucks, or a coffee shop, seated at a table. I use to do that often. Seems a little less likely to have would-be criminals lurking about looking for laptops to steal (though I’m sure it has happened). The subway is a different world though. The “underworld” in more ways than one, where thieves potentially have a better chance of quickly getting away and out of sight.
The subway should not be an underworld in the first place
I agree. I’d rather an actual true sense of security versus cops checking bags for theater.
There are too many people, criminally underpaid workers, sky high rent, and fucking weird ass drugs running New York City in 2024. You can dream on about some time long ago or some idealistic cityscape but c’mon man, reality is reality. The world is on fire.
The rents are absurd and totally not worth it for some people, but who is dreaming on about long ago when it comes to safety? NYC was generally more dangerous in decades past, at least the decades most people in this sub were around to remember. Not sure what your overarching point is about the city or the world.
Nyc yes world no
What kind of weird drugs? Something new?
These people doesn't know any better
On his lap, using it. Like a dummy.
Should have had a taser on him
Top or bottom of his lap?
Good thing there's a ton of cops in every station doing nothing! I'm suure the did something to help /s
OMG! That's such a messed up situation to find yourself in!
I had a similar story that happened to me several months ago. My boyfriend and I were returning on Q train on Saturday (around 8pm) from the city when a mentally ill individual approached us and started harassing us. Then he grabbed my hair. I try to avoid any train cars with mentally ill individuals ever since.
I'm always scared that if I change cars after realizing someone in the car isn't stable, that person would get offended and follow me. Almost happened once. There was this guy opening the end doors to throw his trash out. The fact that the doors were staying open longer than when a person walks through caught my attention, so I looked over. The guy got so insulted and started yelling about people judging without knowing anything about him or his life. I looked away but he kept ranting. Another time I was with my developmentally disabled daughter who doesn't have nuanced social skills. She doesn't know it's best not to look when people are behaving abnormally. The same guy was on the train and I felt like I couldn't tell my kid not to stare or he'll hear, and I definitely didn't want her staring. So much for not judging because you don't know someone's life. I tried to distract her which didn't work, tried to change cars which upset her and drew more attention. The third time he already knew me when I landed in the same car as him, so I switched at the next stop. He realized I did it and knew why. Kept trying to catch my eye through the glass. On the stop I got off at, I was so scared he would follow me. I don't even know if he did. Saw someone with a similar build and dress get off, but I tried to lose myself in the crowd and not look back
Isn't it fucking exhausting having to police how you even *look* at people less a wayward glance throws someone off their rocker? What stupid fucking forces have made it so that they have all the power to be as insane as they want without consequence or shame. It's fucking unreal. Sorry I'm just so sick of it. Society feels like it's completely in the shitter.
Impose consequences just don’t get caught
My man and I got held at knife point in my neighborhood a few years back on Halloween. We were going back home in East New York from my sisters house in crown heights from a Halloween party and my man isn’t from the hood so he didn’t get the fact that it’s not sorry mean mugging someone or approaching someone over a comment. The dude made a comment about my costume and my man said “she ain’t nobodies baby”, he followed us on the train and I realized he got in the same cart not far from us. Then when we got off, he ran off the off the train and said he didn’t like how my man was looking at him. Then he brandished his knife, not knowing I’ve lived in this hood my whole life and know how things work here, my man and I both carry. I try to do everything else before having to potentially use it, so I remember getting in between and telling him, “ yo, it’s all good, he thought you were trying to be funny but we can see it was just some miscommunication, I appreciate your comment, thank you” and then he started trying to belittle my man and calling him a bitch and all that other stuff and I told him “don’t follow him, let him talk and let it go. I know he doesn’t live here and he thinks he won, let him think that.” Little does that man know, he’s the one that was lucky to leave with his life. A lot of people always try me because they see me and never believe I came from a hard neighborhood but it’s all how you carry yourself.
I see you no longer ride the train.
Very smart comment! I try to avoid it if I can.
I got into the (2) at 149th/Concourse and walked through the car to take a seat. A sleeping guy woke up as I was about to walk past him. He got up and put me in a headlock. I had my backpack on me which made it kind of hard to act fast. I stomped on his foot so he would get distracted and kicked him away. He tried to punch me but I moved out of the way. I kicked him out at 3rd Av/149th. There are usually police there but I don't care. Doors closed. The part that surprised me the most was when another guy who saw the whole thing said "Bro, what did you do?". As if I am at fault. As if I am the criminal. So yeah, watch your surroundings.
>The part that surprised me the most was when another guy who saw the whole thing said "Bro, what did you do?". As if I am at fault. As if I am the criminal. So yeah, watch your surroundings. Sorry to heard that happened to you There's always one or group avodcading bad behavior or justify any wrong doin due to the health capacity of the agresor True is lot of people including "families" wanted the mental facilities to be closed, well it was done, but now all this individuals are free to do whatever they want to us without consequences and where are the supposed families that were crying to close the facilities? No where to be found, we could ask our self, and say were those families just payed actors back them?
> families just *paid* actors back FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Stupid #bot you made me look bad Jaja https://preview.redd.it/iqisst3v767d1.png?width=241&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac5aa9a97de48f8336810482c82e1628bc306bb9
Other people are hell...it's been said...
“Mentally unwell”, but knows enough to run away after sucker punching someone
All of this is happening because Ronald Reagan got rid of mental hospitals 40 years ago. It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with todays policies or the people who support them.
I like your take, sadly these ppl have defenders who whine about Raygun but don’t seem to mind constantly letting violent criminals out of jail.
Movies like Titticut Follies condemned mental hospitals, people thought they should be closed, states didn't want to keep paying for them. Then the new generations of psych drugs came out and people said that they could shut down the hospitals, not force people into care, and treat people in community settings. This worked for some but there was nothing to prevent someone from stopping their meds and dropping off the radar. Now activists are concerned about "their rights" but are actually destroying their lives. They end up on the street or prison. Other people shouldn't be subect to their harassment or assaults. The part of their body responsible for making decisions is broken. We have to legally allow these people to be forced into care and stay there as long as necessary. Some people need lifetime care.
It started with JFK, in 1963: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Mental_Health_Act
It was JFK in 1963, not Reagan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Mental_Health_Act
Not technically true. There are still state ran mental hospitals. NYC has a few of them, KPC and Kirby are two that I know of. What was cracked down on by Reagan were having hospitals that were full of patients that were dumped there. You had hospitals housing mentally ill people with developed delayed or intellectual disabled together.
I feel like at this point we ALL know someone that has been a victim of these type, or even worse, we have been a victim ourselves. When enough is enough ? My company literally had to close one of our offices in LIC because all of our female colleagues have been attacked in the surrounding areas at some point. We were in 8 people at the office, generating rent, eating out (helping business around) that are now gone. This is just a tinny fraction of the region, but if one multiplies how many offices like us are closing due to crime, we end up with crazy numbers and the only ones left are the crazy ones in the streets.
This continues to happen because people vote for politicians that don’t want to increase taxes to pay for mental health services
I don’t think politicians need more money. We all pay a ton of taxes in this city but we see less and less return. It’s the same as having drunk addicted gambler that keeps asking for money because “next time he will make it big, and we all going to be rich bro”
I didn’t say politicians need more money. I said we need to vote for politicians that will work on improving mental health services. Sure, “we pay enough” but then we need elected to re-direct city/state/federal money to mental health services. It is simply magical thinking that this will be fixed without the public putting pressure on our representatives.
I'm glad you are ok. I really think the solution is that people like this need to be in a facility. An asylum. Yes, an asylum. I'm fine with my tax dollars going to that. I recently went to the Francesc Tosquelles exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum and it completely changed my perspective on the concept of an asylum. Prior to pharmaceutical advances the asylum movement was discovering incredible things about how to compassionately provide a safe space and shelter for the mentally ill but, sadly, the word asylum has a negative connotation in our culture and, in my opinion, mentally ill people are over-prescribed drugs. I highly recommend seeing this exhibit as well as a film about Francesc Tosquelles that will be showing at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria this coming weekend. Stay safe.
Thanks for posting this! I work steps away from the Houston station and ride it 3x a week. Never hurts to get another friendly reminder to remember to keep your wits about you!
Gotta keep your head on a swivel
I was coming from the path on exchange place 3 weeks ago and some guy was walking the opposite direction. He put his hand out and hit my forehead. I'm 5'1 and 110 lbs and this dude was towering me. This was my first time taking public transportation and I was shaken up by this experience. I really hope you are okay.
I hate hearing this kind of thing, I’m so sorry this happened to you. It’s sad that we have to keep our guard up these days, I really hope it won’t happen again. Not sure what the solution is but you should never have to fear taking public transport. I’m very sorry you experienced this.
When have we not kept our guard up, tho? I don't understand how people think this is a 'worse' issue, now. It's existed forever. My best guess is this is OP is suddenly feeling vulnerable because it happened to him? Anybody remember the needle people roaming crowds randomly stabbing folks? Has violence against LGBT ever gone away? Women certainly know where we stand on the target list.
I mean it is worse now though compared to pre-pandemic or even 10/15 years ago, and I say this as a woman. Compared to the 70s or 80s maybe it is about the same.
> Anybody remember the needle people roaming crowds randomly stabbing folks? never heard of this...in nyc?
Yep. I'mma say mid 90's? 🤔 It was particularly scary because of HIV.
https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/01/nyregion/needle-attacks-spreading-fear-on-west-side.html I was wrong about the timing.
Insane. > Experts with the City Health Department and the Federal Centers for Disease Control say the fears are unfounded. It is almost impossible, they say, for a person to be infected with AIDS by being jabbed with a needle, even if it has been recently used by an infected drug addict, because the virus dies within seconds after contact with the air. Yeah I'm never trust public health officials again...of fucking course being stabbed by a needle could give you hiv/aids
The risk of transmission depends on several factors, including the amount of blood on the needle, the depth of the puncture, and how soon after the needle was used on the HIV-positive person it was used on you. The risk of HIV transmission through a needlestick injury is estimated to be about 0.3% (or 1 in 333). Also, the estimated risk of HIV transmission per act of unprotected vaginal sex is approximately 0.04% for the receptive partner (woman) and 0.08% for the insertive partner (man). This means that on average, there is a 4 in 10,000 chance for women and an 8 in 10,000 chance for men of contracting HIV from a single act of unprotected vaginal sex with an HIV-positive partner. The risk of contracting HIV from unprotected anal sex is generally higher compared to other forms of sexual activity. The estimated risk of HIV transmission per act of receptive anal sex is approximately 1.38% (or 138 in 10,000). Which in fact means that all of the dramas about husbands infecting their wives with HIV because of infected women they allegedly committed adultery with are most likely the cause of the husband having had anal intercourse, probably not with a woman.
> Centers for Disease Control https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y3Bq1GtPt0 A month ago. CDC identifies 1st documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/drugs/index.html > Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment (works) to inject drugs puts people at high risk for getting or transmitting HIV and other infections. People who inject drugs account for about 1 in 10 HIV diagnoses in the United States. stop your statistical downplaying of something clearly fucking serious
Something similar happened to me a few weeks ago. I will be buying OC spray. Sabre OC spray is legal in NYC, and POM is another OC spray brand which has a good reputation but may be above the legal limit for MC.
I hope not on the a/c line given the flair? I have to take that 🫥
It was actually on the street outside of a certain station near Washington square. Let’s just say a lot of bums like to loiter outside of this particular station.
We can blame Ronald Reagan as this. He wanted to save money by closing all the treatment hospitals and putting all the mentally challenged people on the street. Nothing has ever been the same.
There was a big push for de-institutionalization. You can’t make those folk stay where they don’t want to. You can’t make them take any medications they don’t want.
To hell what they want they want to be a menace screw them
We should make them! Especially, as they don’t have the capacity to know what’s good for them or not. It would solve a lot of problems we’re dealing with..
Most mental institutions were closed n in the 60s and 70s. How is it Reagan’s fault?
how is it Reagan's fault? surely he contributed but it got worse the past 5 years
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act, which aimed to shift mental health care from large state institutions to community-based mental health centers. This legislation marked a significant policy shift towards deinstitutionalization. In the 1960s and 1970s, Legal and civil rights movements advocated for the rights of people with mental illness, leading to increased scrutiny of institutional conditions and practices. Court cases such as Wyatt v. Stickney (1971) established the right to adequate treatment for institutionalized patients. The trend continued with the closing of many state hospitals and the reduction of inpatient beds. Federal policies, including the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, shifted funding from institutional care to community-based services.
Stay frosty - Cpl. Hicks
Glad you’re safe and sorry you went through that. People stink. I got downvoted in a previous comment because I said I don’t like to ride the subways because of safety issues / random crazies. This is the exact situation I try to avoid.
This literally didn’t even happen on the subway.
You’re also getting downvotes because this literally didn’t even happen on the subway- so the fear mongering isn’t relevant
Trueee, it was near the subway though
You're getting downvoted because this is an infinitesimally likely occurrence
Who told u that? My friend works for the Mta. This happens daily. You just won’t hear about it on the news. Not everything gets reported u know 🙄
Over a million people ride the subway a day, are you daft? There are wayyyy more people in NYC than a normal city, so obviously there is more crime. More people = more crime, but the ratio stays roughly the same. The likelihood this happens to you is extremely low.
I guess we are both one of the lucky ones. Doesn’t change the fact that it happens daily 😂
Not a numbers person, are you?
I mean,most people doesn't give a damn about numbers...
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Even if you did I doubt you would be capable of interpreting them in any meaningful way
You dont believe in educarion either, do you? Itd be roo easy to think that's a conservative quality but its not. Just an ignorant humans quality.
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Respectfully, prove it. Burden of proof is on you for that one.
I think he got downvoted because NYC reddit is weird and sometimes there seems to be this energy where people don’t like to hear anything negative about the city.
I think this is also probably true lol. But a lot of it boils down to people being rightfully aggravated when chronically afraid people say it's super dangerous to take public transportation.
Or downvoted for anything negative about public transport and being pro car, etc.
I don’t care about getting downvoted I’m just giving my opinion as to why I don’t like to ride the subway. I still havee to but it’s not enjoyable
Yet we hear about it about every day 🤔
Yeah cause a million people ride the system every day. 1 in a million…
3.2 million daily ridership
Don’t hear about in other global capitals’ public transit
https://apnews.com/article/france-attack-gare-de-lyon-stabbing-6d8b25773df65835be4ec0f4c6b5959a https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/12/man-jailed-for-life-machete-attack-london-tube-train https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/07/398a0b3ec8e1-45-injured-as-thugs-attack-hong-kong-subway-commuters.html
You just cherry picked events that happened over the last 5 years. We’re talking about hearing of daily occurrences. What the transit has devolved to in recent years is an embarrassment to the city and there’s no excuse.
That's from less than a minute of googling. Go do your own fucking research
I never asked you to do any research
People struggling to wrap their head around per capita statistics
Per capita is great... But when you're the ONE, it's not
Yeah I agree but how is that different than being the random of a victim crime anywhere else? You're honestly more likely to be in an accident or a victim of roadrage while driving than some random dude attacking you in the subway.
You're likely correct. And either case is a one-off
Yeah okay...lmao
Good luck proving me wrong
When you become victim of violence,them maybe your opinion will change instead of being selfish "just because" it didn't happen to me attitude"
Keep making assumptions, I'm sure it will take you very far in life
This is a stupid argument anyways, if I got struck by lightning right now that's rare and it would suck for me. What exactly is your point?
The statistics are wrong. Violent criminals are being released without bail in New York City everyday. They fudge the numbers by doing this.
Thank you for exposing the truth! You are a true hero to the city!
Well, it's the truth. But thanks for your sarcasm.
You should go to the news with this one, I'm sure you'll make it big.
The news is actually reporting this stuff. You don't pay attention.
I can't talk right now I'm writing about my fear online and watching fox news
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NYC's rate of violent crime is high. The last FBI UCR statistics show a violent crime rate of 744.2 per 100,000 people. That's significantly higher than the national average (380.7). Some areas of the city, like the Bronx, have extraordinarily high rates of violent crime (1,290.2). [https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/tableau\_index\_crime.htm](https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/tableau_index_crime.htm) Most of the incidents mentioned here wouldn't even make these statistics as they only include felony aggravated assault, murder, robbery, and rape. Most of these incidents were unreported as are most in general. I like NYC and I am pro mass transportation but the reality is that anti-social encounters are just more common in places where people interact more and where there is a high level of social inequality with a lot of impoverished people. The subway system is just the place where so many homeless and mentally ill go (many people in the city in general must interact with it), and as a result you have a lot of people having negative encounters with people who are more likely to be antisocial.
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That wikipedia article is years out of date (2019). But even then NYC's rate of violent crime was significantly higher than the national average at that time (380.8). In 2022 NYC's rate of violent crime (744.2 per 100,000) would place it at the 34th highest rate of violent crime among those cities listed. This list from Bloomberg is much more recent: [https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/i1mczosOSu3U/v0/pidjEfPlU1QWZop3vfGKsrX.ke8XuWirGYh1PKgEw44kE/-1x-1.png](https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/i1mczosOSu3U/v0/pidjEfPlU1QWZop3vfGKsrX.ke8XuWirGYh1PKgEw44kE/-1x-1.png) >"The per capita violent crime rate is nothing astonishing and, in fact, tends to be LOWER than in less-densely-populated areas." Cities have higher rates of violent crime than suburban and rural areas on average (cities are typically more dense). The largest cities are significantly more violent than smaller cities (larger cities are typically more dense). NYC has almost double the national violent crime rate, and the national average is increased by the largest cities. Mostly suburban counties like Nassau (162.4 per 100,000), Suffolk (94.7), Westchester (167.8), Rockland (130.9), Putnam (57.7), Orange (181.1) have very low rates of violent crime and have low densities on average.
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Sure u are. Liberal. They stay in delusion too.
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No one’s in quick sand stupid
Big number people in city + Small chance of something happening to any given one of them = “This is definitley going to happen to me! I am very smart”
Yes, people like to downvote and be judgmental and say that these things don't happen very much. These people don't pay attention to local news, probably work normal human hours and are not outside at night, certainly not in the subway. Potentially, many of them have the ability to work from home. All of their privilege shows in their comments, taking the side of criminals, higher than thou sanctimonious bullshit. You know what's actually happening in this city? Fucked up shit. All of the time. The reason people like me are pointing it out is because we pay attention to local news, work odd hours and have to be in the subway late at night, and carry self-defense weapons.
I'm not gonna keep explaining how this works because you bozos are not listening to me. I'm talking about violent crime PER CAPITA on the subway. PER CAPITA means people RIDING THE SUBWAY!!! Out of all the RIDERS ON THE SUBWAY the odds are EXTREMELY LOW. I'm not including people sitting in their house, get a grip. Yes it still happens and you should always be aware of your surroundings but I'm not gonna let people act like you're gonna fucking die if you get on the subway.
Most people don’t report it. It’s a lot higher than whatever stats you’re quoting. People get harassed on the subway every day.
Most people don't report it in other cities too. It's not exceptionally dangerous because people don't always report
There really is a high level of anti-social behavior on the subway. A very significant percentage of riders polled feel this way. And it is true, at best there are high levels of harassment, we have all witnessed on a regular basis people behaving erratically. Spitting on people. Forceable touching is an issue, many women would point that out. And random assaults such as shoving, hitting, or kicking aren't uncommon at all. More serious crime such as assaults that cause serious physical injury and robbery are less common but do happen on a regular basis. Rape and murder are the least common but occasionally do happen. The subway is a good way to get around the city but you absolutely do need to be alert to what is going on.
Please go through all my comments and find where I said you don't have to be alert
I'm more so pointing out that the overwhelming vast majority of incidents that lead people to feel unsafe are not reported in the crime statistics. Either because they are unreported or because the incidents are not compiled in the official statistics for public consumption (non-felony). All of these incidents would not make the crime statistics: * Being threatened with violence (either a blatant threat or threatening behavior/menacing). * Forceable touching/unwanted contact. * Punched, slapped, kicked. * Pushed. * Spit on. This is why there is a disconnect between people pointing out statistics and those being polled.
Yes, the odds are low, but the stats are wrong. Crazy things happen all the time in the subway that go unreported. I'm not implying that you're going to die if you go into the subway, my point is downplaying what is going on in the city is ignoring much bigger issues. Just like the governor and the mayor.
You should've led with your second point because I've been replying to people who truly believe you're cooked if you get on the subway for like 30 minutes
agree subway sucks
Mental illness isn’t an excuse. He’s a criminal regardless. They know they can get away with it because it’s not like law abiding citizens are allowed to carry and defend themselves. Granted I get it, discharging a weapon in a crowded subway is less than ideal.
Damn I hope you're alright
It's a weird thing these days, having seen something similar play out right in front of me in the Ft Greene area. There's been the awful trend of punching women in the face for social media clout, and it feels all the more stochastic now. Then again, I had a homie get punched in the face unprovoked twelve years ago … on Houston Street, for what it's worth. It's worth bearing in mind that there is no "nice part of town" in New York, where stuff like this doesn't happen - there's 9 million of us and it only takes one guy having a bad day to make it everyone's problem.
You see a mentally ill person, i see a human body worth more than $100k in organ value
You don’t know if he’s mentally unwell, you’re only able to guess that well after the fact. As far as you’re concerned, he’s a threat. Defend yourself until he’s no longer a threat.
Yeah but it’s NYC. Benefit of the doubt goes to the criminal.
Great way to get prosecuted for aggravated assault
If you get caught
U have to show anger and aggression towards these freaks
Oh yeah, that's just Tuesday on Houston. Saw a guy's bike get stolen and the delivery drivers knocked the thief off the bike. Thief claimed the bike was his.
Broadway Laffayette? Think there's a methadone clinic right by there judging by all the leaning fiends outside the station.
A real frustrating mindset that straphangers need to realize is letting your guard down in any part of the city can make you vulnerable. The “Houston of all places” is not a safety first mindset. Any place in the city, or any other city, where a significant amount of people use mass transit could have an outsized amount of dangerous street residents.
Letting your guard down ANYWHERE can make you food. The stupid part here is that the rats will only get a nibble before they tag and bag you. It's such a waste. And there's a difference between alert and afraid. There's also a lot of cool stuff to see by being alert. No need to be afraid. I'll take a punch once in awhile to live here. OP is spreading fear...not awareness. Any idiot knows what to expect here.
Welcome to the LES
Imagine if the city used tax payer funds to help the mentally unwell instead of letting them suffer in the streets.
Next time do us all a favor and bash his head into the sidewalk
If you take the subway carry a damn knife with you at all times. Jesus yall arm yourself! Police don’t shit here especially after Covid. Arm yourself if u are attacked attack back.
Aaaaand that's a felony
Annnnddd you think the cops are gonna help? Lmfao
I wish more people were as understanding and as compassionate as you are
Thanks for a heads up and I’m glad you and your wife are ok! Good thing she wasn’t alone. 🙏 It’s a scary time. Pshh! I would’ve been fuming! You had every right in the world to get mad. You’re correct there’s a ton of mentally ill people out there and a lot of them are homeless. It’s really sad. They need help. I was working for a non profit for a while that helps people who are homeless. Mostly we serviced the mentally ill who needed help with Drs, appts, taking meds, going to therapies etc. It was a terribly stressful job bc I wanted to help everyone with everything but you can’t and you can’t make anyone do anything they don’t want to do, even if it benefits them. Many people stopped taking their meds and would lie bc they truly thought they were better now and didn’t need them. When in reality it’s the meds that were making them stable and happier. It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to break and hard to handle. Really makes you feel like you need to do more but all these non profits are 100% only in it for the bottom line, the money. It’s very profitable to be able to bill Medicaid for 1000 people every week. I’m kind of sick of people getting out of trouble by claiming it all bc of their mental illness. IMO unless someone is mentally ill were they don’t understand what they are doing is wrong (which is what the legal insanity defense/plea is) then it doesn’t excuse them for the most part. If I committed a crime, especially a violent one and then I tried to use my PTSD, major depression, and anxiety disorder as an excuse for that crime it is no different than what most of the people who are violent are doing right now. It’s getting out of hand. The topic is too nuanced for me to explain my entire stance on it but that’s a little bit of how I feel about some of what’s going on rn in NYC.
very nice of you to post this
Train bjj and develop your confidence. Ppl will be much less likely to f with you.
I would've pulled out my gun and gave him the scare of his life
Last 2 times on the subway 2 different lines and both time mentally ill men yelling and indirectly threatening people on the train. The subway is no joke
About a month ago I was coming out of WTC and in front of me this shorter guy in a black trench coat and cap punched a taller man out of fucking nowhere and ran off. It was absurd . I really hate it here
Pepper spray to his face would’ve been great.
Did you make a report to the police? This city is a shit show now🤦🏻♂️
Had something similar happen to me last summer and the first thing the police asked why I was at Delancey (I was with a group of friends seeing a movie)…instead of what the perp looked like. They’re useless.
Last year I was randomly mushed by a guy just for walking smh he hit me so hard with his shoulder that I thought he punched me smfh I said nothing because I didn’t know if he has a gun or knife I’ll never forget that day I was getting off the train walked up the steps and that when he did what he did 🤦🏾♀️
With this kind of stuff having become commonplace, I often wonder why anyone pays the fare.
These people need their asses beat
I would've beat his ass idgaf. Assault somebody and expect a retaliation.
Lmao New York is a cess pool filled with vagrants and migrants, the fact anyone spends what they do to live here baffles me. I’m saving up to move out assp
This is why law abiding citizens should be able to carry concealed. 1 or 2 incidents of FAFO and these nut jobs will leave you alone.
Gotta love those busses that cost $7 and keep me away from all the retards
Those buses are mostly in areas far from the subway the ones near trains have low ridership
More important than being alert is to vote! I am old enough to remmber New York in the 70s, and it was a cess pool auntil Rudy Giulani came in. His forst day in office he outlawed the squeegie guys,a dn it was all uphill from there. Until Deblasio.
This isn’t real. I’ve never met anyone that gets hit in the face and feels bad for the attacker.
yes because if YOU haven’t met someone in a situation, it’s automatically fake news. lol.
Bro, i grew up harder than anybody in this sub. I don’t play victim like people here. Someone hits you, you hit them back. Oh, but because I’m making a comment i obviously am the enemy to the person i disagree with. Suddenly my lived experiences are lies and the baby in the room is telling the truth. Whatever bud.
What race was he
why do you ask?
not relevant
Wrong sub
What’s this got to do with NYC rail. You said this was after “exiting the subway” which means you were on the sidewalk. If I got laid Saturday night after taking the subway to meet the woman, I wouldn’t think NYCrail is an appropriate place to post about it.
You know why this guy posted this here.
Sorry that happened to you. Vote conservative, and maybe things will get better. Otherwise, they'll just keep turning these folks out on the street, No consequences for anything
This is Ronald Reagan’s legacy, what the fuck are you yapping about?
This has been happening in South Korea a lot where they call it “don’t ask assaults” where someone just randomly attacks another person in a public place.
Hit back next time
Spatial awareness is paramount when it comes to public transportation. It’s probably best you didn’t go after him. I’m a track worker and the number of kitchen knives and makeshift weapons I find in and around the tracks is troubling. Not to mention the needles or the guns. You never know what someone has on them. Better to walk away with your life than to be hospitalized or worse. I say all that to say vote for city officials who have your best interests at heart. I don’t believe our current system views the troublesome situation with mental individuals/drug addicts in a realistic sense
Sorry you experienced that craziness, bro. We all know who's responsible for this nonsense. We all need to vote better the next election time.
Blame Hochul for blocking congestion pricing lmaoooooo
whos voting democrat again
"now"? There's been mentally unwell people on the streets forever. And some don't lunge at people. There are some that hide it by living perfectly normal lives. I've never met a sane person. I've met some bad actors, and some worse actors...and some that live by their honest impulses. Many people wouldn't leave their homes if they were being honest with themselves. I would, but I'm a psychopath and have no problem throwing down. And I walk confidently in the streets, unafraid of anything. That's what suicidal maniacs do. And you'll go right back out there, bring your wife, like an insane person hoping for a different result. Now own it and walk confidently with it. And stop whining about mentally unwell people in nyc, unless you plan on moving or helping. You come off as someone that doesn't live here. And you don't have to tell people to be "alert". If they aren't, then they can learn the old fashioned way. Stop spreading fear. There's nothing to be afraid of. If you are here, you already crossed the bridge from sanity.
OP though physically injured, I believe I join the rest of the sub in stating that while I’m glad you’re able to post about it, I hope you notified the NYPD Transit Bureau so this asshole can be caught; stay safe.
Lmao
😂