Pinback's Journal: Sanctimonous crone.

Some sanctimonious crone sat next to me on the train this morning. Today, I was reading a pdf on my laptop, (something I do infrequently), so I sat my empty coffee cup (paper with a lid, from home) on the floor next to my computer bag.

As I took my headphones out of my ears in preparation for my stop, she muttered something I didn't quite catch. So I answered "Pardon?".

Her comment was "This isn't a legal dumping ground.". This puzzled me for a moment. She was insinuating that I planned to leave the cup behind.

I clumsily answered "I always take my cup with me, as I use it throughout the day at the office for refills, and toss it there.".

Her answer indicated that she did not believe me.

These days I'm pretty sensitive to people thinking bad things about me, even if they're untrue. (I guess I'm more self aware than I used to be.) But attempting to control what other people think is pointless.

It did make me question whether I also assume the worst of the people I see on the train.

So far as I know, in the 12 years I've ridden the MAX, I haven't left any garbage behind.

In retrospect, I could have said back "Then what are you doing here? You look like trash!". But escalating rudeness wouldn't gain me anything. Did make me chuckle later in the morning though.