Not hard, because I was nearly out of reach. He was all pissed because the conductor called him out for holding the doors open, so he went into this loud tirade (in a packed car) about how the MTA blames everything on the passengers, blah blah, etc. He was loud, and annoying me, but I didn't say anything. Then he says something like "this is why the whole country is going to the Arabs!" And, ignoring good sense and the tacit subway code, I said "man, shut up. Just shut your mouth." He became violently angry, started shaking, and said "don't you tell me what to do! It's a free country! I'll punch you in the face!" Before I could tell him how he wasn't REALLY going to punch me in the face, he punched me in the face, on the left side of my jaw. A couple guys nearby held out their arms and told him to stop, and he kept making like he was going to rush me, but he just kept shouting (while I stood there going "ok, man, ok," trying to stand up on my shaking legs) till he got off at the next stop. After he got off, nobody said anything. I think they were all pissed at me for provoking him.

Wow, that's awful, Aaron. But yeah, people like that are simply best just being ignored.

holy crap... people become so unhinged these days. glad you're ok, man.

I'm always shocked when people actually do the whack things they threaten to do. Kind of thunks me out of observation mode and into real life.

i got slapped in the face out of a moving car in the lower east side. dude blasted a stop sign and nearly ran me over. i jumped back to the curb, said nothing, did nothing (maybe stared in amazement). i had my hands in my damn pockets. car is 4 deep and i'm alone. dude reaches out and slaps on the move. fucker.

you definitely shoulda whooped him

You shoulda hit him back.

MASSIVE BRAWL ON F-TRAIN.
Cardigan Wearing Man Fights Back
Arrested for having open beverage on city train, after throwing soy latte on "crazy person in self defense"

MORE AT 11

I'm really sorry to hear you got punched--that's horrible.

But... I've got to say... Good going!

The things people like that say are only made worse by the people around who stand there silent and blank-faced.

Last week while I was on the subway there was a young arab guy praying/singing. Across from me were two women chatting loudly in French (most people in Toronto don't understand French). Eventually their conversation turned to the young man: "Why do they do that? Everyone on the subway has the same reaction to it. It's so stupid." (they laughed loudly, staring at the guy)

Thing is, they thought no one could understand them, but I soooooo should have something. I would have looooved to say (in french): "You think it's fine to say what you're saying because you think no one can understand you, but if they could you would never say it out loud because it's horrible."

Anyway. Good job.

Those are two different situations Alex. Aaron really should've just simply let it go. Every once in a while there's some loudmouth on the train screaming about something or someone. People just ignore them. Although I would've probably ignored the women in your situation, it's much more understandable to put them in their place.

Thanks polly. I kind of expected a little solidarity from the other people on the train after the guy got off, but everyone just kept staring (anywhere but at me). I just wish I'd been more eloquent after he hit me, but all I could do was think "wtf? dude just hit me."

As for hitting him back, it should come as no surprise that this guy was far more capable of inflicting pain than I. He was about 6', 250, and very angry. With a moustache.

Sweet, I'll spending a lot of time on the F train this weekend. We should meet up and take the world on.

Also, I love that it was the US/A-rab comment that finally got you.

Board legend.

Cool, Kevin - I'll wear my Double Dragon headband.

The senselessness of tying train delays to the Arab Invasion was just too ludicrous. After he hit me he told me it was people like me who are letting the country go to ruin.

Actually, he's wrong on this one. While it is a free country, it's against the law to punch you in the face on the MTA.

That's crazy, bro. I think it really sucks that people were pissed at you. I'm sure they all thought his guy was as stupid as you did. I'm ever amazed at how reactionary people can be over stupid, trivial things.

A determined thumb in the eye will strike down even the most heavily moustachioed of giants.

Wait, you didn't get lit up by Greg Norton did you?

Wow...Plenty of times I wanted to speak up to someone in the city, but honestly, I don't trust anyone...People here are nuts, and it ain't worth it...kudos though....

Dane Cook moment:

"Are you out of your fucking mind?! You really are out of your fuckin' mind!!"

Are you still pretty?

If not your coming straight off my MSN Messenger.

sorry to hear about that haq...

As part of the dawn patrol on BART my morning commute @ 5:45 am usually consists of sleeping for 30 minutes heading into SF. THIS morning some dude (presumably of the street variety) decided to start whistling at the top of his lungs on an otherwise silent commute train. After about 3 minutes of this piercing, horribly out-of-tune whistling, I pleaded with him to "please whistle in tune, but only while you work"
He shut up.

To me they are similar situations because it's a case of some idiot making racist comments. Somehow I have trouble not feeling like I'm a loser if I don't speak up about those kinds of things. But yeah, you're right, you have to judge if the situation is dangerous first. Actually, in my case there was a big crabby guy who came along later and started harrassing the arab kid. Looking back on it I felt bad for not saying something to the woman... but happy I said nothing to the big crabby guy.

Oh gosh... people can be so dumb/sad.

I'm thinking that a light smack was probably the best possible outcome here. It is kind of shitty that people seemed pissed off, but I'm guessing you upset the status quo by verbally acknowledging and then scolding a large, angry, ranting lunatic when the accepted behaviour is to ignore the problem. I wouldn't be surprised if they were more pissed thinking about what could have happened.

that's when I pull out my glock, yo.

Definitely a crummy way to start the day off- the loons are everywhere, and I firmly believe in avoiding confrontations.

But, based on personal experience, I take people literally. Someone who has the poor judgment to warn me he's going to thump my head never gets the first punch.

Awesome Aaron.

I'm proud to know you told him. He has no right to ruin your pleasant commute on the MTA!