This past Friday I was taking the subway up from midtown. I was going to take the 3 uptown from Penn Station and transfer at 96th to the 1. When the 3 train arrived at 96th St. the people seemed like they couldn't get out quickly enough. As I entered the train it was obvious why. There was a homeless man sleeping on the opposite end of the car and his presence was known throughout out the whole car due to his odor. At each stop people got on the car and immediately migrated to the opposite side of the car. Some stayed where there were open seats closer to the man with their shirts over their faces, some went through to the next car, some came to my side. I was fortunate enough to have entered on the other end of the car. Not fortunate in terms of escaping the smell, but in terms of the lesson learned.
There were a few ladies that got on the train at 72nd St. on the wrong end of the car. They noticed the man and his smell and began to gasp, cover their noses, scream about how bad it smelled, and continued making a rukus about the situation until they exited the train at the next stop. Now I don't know how I would've handled the situation had I entered on that end of the train, but seeing their reaction triggered some thoughts in my mind and I would like to share them now.
The man was sleeping and he remained asleep as long as I was on the train, but that doesn't excuse the reaction of those women. Clearly this person was not in the best of situations and I'm sure he knew it already. Making a big commotion about his smell didn't make them smell it any less, it only brings attention to the fact that this is someone they don't want to be around. Let's put ourselves in his shoes for a moment. Do you think he is someone who lives a happy life? Is he okay with his circumstances? Probably not. Do these women make him feel any better about it? Probably not. Do they make him feel worse? Almost certainly so.
I think when we see someone who is homeless or in a less than desirable situation, we should think compassionately about them, not be disgusted by their unfortunate circumstances. We may not offer to let them shower in our house but that doesn't mean we should make a scene just because of an odor. Of course it's not pleasant for us, but do you think they like it any better?
Even if we don't have a way to help them, at the very least don't hurt them.
There were a few ladies that got on the train at 72nd St. on the wrong end of the car. They noticed the man and his smell and began to gasp, cover their noses, scream about how bad it smelled, and continued making a rukus about the situation until they exited the train at the next stop. Now I don't know how I would've handled the situation had I entered on that end of the train, but seeing their reaction triggered some thoughts in my mind and I would like to share them now.
The man was sleeping and he remained asleep as long as I was on the train, but that doesn't excuse the reaction of those women. Clearly this person was not in the best of situations and I'm sure he knew it already. Making a big commotion about his smell didn't make them smell it any less, it only brings attention to the fact that this is someone they don't want to be around. Let's put ourselves in his shoes for a moment. Do you think he is someone who lives a happy life? Is he okay with his circumstances? Probably not. Do these women make him feel any better about it? Probably not. Do they make him feel worse? Almost certainly so.
I think when we see someone who is homeless or in a less than desirable situation, we should think compassionately about them, not be disgusted by their unfortunate circumstances. We may not offer to let them shower in our house but that doesn't mean we should make a scene just because of an odor. Of course it's not pleasant for us, but do you think they like it any better?
Even if we don't have a way to help them, at the very least don't hurt them.
I think its selfish for them to (usually) take up more than one seat on the train and to impose their disgustingness on others around them. There are many places where one can find a shower let alone places to eat and sleep and its disrespectful to himself and to humanity to do what he does on the train and in other public places.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that... people should be more mature and sensitive to their plight and not react with silly loud reactions when the present reality leaves little to be done or changed.