First, thanks for all the support. I am glad that others seem to think that I behaved properly.

Second, I will address the critical comments of Ed:

Ed, you need to read more widely and learn that the same word can have multiple meanings, often differentiated by context. RLK (Jan 14th, 2009) had it exactly right. My reference to minstrels was an allusion to European not reconstruction performers. If you were not so eager to paint me as a racist perhaps you would have noticed that this vignette was modeled after the white knight / black knight motif (joke intended). For goodness sake I used the phrase “Medieval flail”! How much more obvious do you need me to make it? If I had wanted to evoke the likes of Thomas Dilward I would have peppered (or should I say salted) my story with mentions of banjos and jubilees.

This guy was just posturing; tryin to bolster his own dismal self esteem by exuding some control over others. Its jail cell nature.

There are two types of people rapping in public. One who aims to spread a message, get their music out, entertain folks.
The other is the guy you described. Noticeably louder, confrontational – lyrics that offend the general public – and they know this.

The only way this gives him satisfaction is if it visibly bothers cats. The best way to deal with this is not to confront him (this is attention that the youth crave but shouldnt get through negative means). The best way is to go on about your business with your daughter. Continue talking. Continue playing your games.

This is real life and trying to control your surroundings is only sheltering your daughter and sending an unrealistic message – which is probably more dangerous than exposing her.

Unless you want her to be the next person gripping the bicycle wheel…

Anywho, i tip my hat to you for that. It takes persons like you to show that in public there is a common decency that everyone should obey or think about before their mouths are wide the hell open.

A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories about distant places or about real or imaginary historical events. Though minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty and high society. As the courts became more sophisticated, minstrels were eventually replaced at court by the troubadours, and many became wandering minstrels, performing in the streets and became well liked until the middle of the Renaissance, despite a decline beginning in the late 15th century. Minstrelsy fed into later traditions of traveling entertainers, which continued to be moderately strong into the early 20th century, and which has some continuity down to today’s buskers or street musicians.

Nothing racist about that term. It just means lyricist in public.

When someone gets on the bus and says repeatedly he’s going to shoot you in the head, that’s a problem. Can you understand that?

The whole bus was quiet. Not one passenger backed me up. Not that I expected it. That’s just the way it is. Besides, sometimes that does make things worse, sometimes it helps when they intervene. You just never know.

Anyway, the 3 losers all came to the front of the bus and begged to stay on the bus. They said their transfers were almost expired and they’d have to pay another fare. Boo Hoo. I almost felt bad….but not quite. I told them they should have thought about that when they got their one and only warning. Now it was too late and they’d have to deal with the consequences of their actions. They actually had the nerve to ask me for new transfers. Surprise, surprise. I said no. What message would THAT send…act an ass on the bus and get two and a half more hours of free rides??!!??

Lucky for me, they got off the bus with no physical confrontation. I have been pretty lucky that way. I did have about half a dozen passengers thank me as they each left at their stops. Some said more drivers should do that.

Most drivers are afraid of confrontation and rightfully so. There are hundreds of assaults on bus drivers here in the twin cities every year. Only the worst ones make the news. Personally, I’ve been spit on and egged but have been lucky enough not to have been punched or anything worse. I did pepper spray the guy that spit on me, but we aren’t security guards, police or super heros…we are bus drivers. We can call for help but are basically on our own as help is not usually around the corner.

I would love if more people would jump in and help when something is wrong…even if it is just a few words to let the offender know that the person they are confronting is not alone. Yet, I don’t want to see someone else get hurt or killed by trying to help. I guess you just have to go with your heart…and your head.

I have stories from my view as a bus driver. If interested, just click on my name above.

I train transit operators, in both local and national training sessions, in self defense and de-esclation when confrunting difficult and dangerous situations and BF is correct. Confronting anyone with our the proper training and authority can be very dangerous. The author talks about the pack of other toughs on the bus that if this situation would have esclated may have wanted to join in the violence.

I am a martial arts instructor and was a competive fighter for over a decade and if I can give just one bit of advice to anyone who wants to know what to do if they are in this situation: Read the book “The Gift of Fear”.

Also, with respect to JBE’s comments about the Bus Driver’s responsibility. They are bus drivers, not police, not security guards. They have a responsibility to seek assistance from police – fire – or medical if needed, nothing more. Beyond that their responsibility is no different than everyone else on the bus should they choose to intervene and assist another person in distress.