Forgive me, but I must vent

I feel you JJ. Obviously your riders did not know or care about the rules of slugging. I think you had a twofold issue confronting you. First, the lady who was separated needed to "vent" her frustrations while her friend was a crutch to lean on. While they didn't care if you were there or not, the story was going to be told and supported by the front seater. It sounds like the more support given, the more the other lady vented. Secondly, I believe you certainly had the right to tell them to settle down; however, what would the outcome been of that? The question is - could you have made the issue less volatile by asking them to be quiet? If not, that could have ruined your day even more. I think you probably did the right thing by trying to ignore these ladies while at the same time making a note of who they were for future references. Just my opinion. Thanks

How many of us know the unspoken rules of slugging? I think most of us do. The one that I would think would be the clearest is the "do not speak unless spoken to BY THE DRIVER" for the riders. I've only had a handful of occasions where I've had chatty riders. If a friend gets in my car, usually we'll chat for a little bit. But it is MY car, so that's my right. But I don't think I've ever had it as bad as I had this morning. I picked up from Horner Road as I always do, and two ladies got in rather quickly (there was actually a line of people waiting). A hispanic woman got in the back, and an african american woman got in the front. I was looking forward to a nice quiet drive, listening to the news, etc., just like every other morning.

Well, that was dashed to pieces within the first 2 minutes. Apparently they know each other. The one in the back is separated from her husband, has four kids, is moving to FL, blah blah blah. For the ENTIRE DAMN RIDE they talked about her situation. She hates church now apparently, she hates black men now too (her husband is black, she's hispanic). I spare the majority of the details (and belive me, I got them ALL!!) I tried a few times to be subtle and turn the radio up so I could hear it...they just started talking louder. I turned it up again, they talked even louder. For the entire hour drive from Horner Rd. to their destinations on 18th street they were talking (traffic was bad in the HOV this morning, it figures!)

So tell me, should I have said something? I was so close many times, with certain comments, to ask them to stop. The woman in the back said a$$hole a few times, and even called church "bulls**t" because of what her church was telling her husband (and I'm a church going fella, so that offended me). I didn't want to be the bad guy, and I didn't want them to feel uncomfortable for the rest of their drive. But in all honesty, looking back on it, they were making ME UNCOMFORTABLE IN MY OWN CAR!! I shouldn't care how I make them feel if I ask them to stop. Usually people will chat for a few minutes, then once we're on the HOV, they stop. I was appalled and furious. I barely gave them a thank you, and quickly drove off when they finally got out.

Is it appropriate to ask slugs to stop talking? I think it is. I just wish I had. It would have spared me from getting to work so angry.

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"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." I Corinthians 1:18