Glad you're ok. After the Michelle Go killing, I made it a point to tell people to stand back from the platform edge - especially if they were distracted on their phones. She was the friend of a friend, but the crime was memory holed because it did not fit the narrative. You can no longer let your guard down in the NYC subway, even for a few seconds. It might cost you your life. I would advise you to find other forms of public transportation like Citibike, scooters, and buses, or leave the city.
It's sad that many have come to accept the pervasiveness of erratic and violent behavior as we go about our daily lives. I hope to see our government leaders break free from their paralysis and bring back a civil society. Until then, please take care.
I am sorry that you went through this and am relieved it ended without any tragic result. Unfortunately, this individual will ultimately hurt and, perhaps, kill someone. It will happen soon.
The subways are not safe. They haven’t been for a while. The fact that the current narrative characterizes another violent menace as a victim leaves a terrible feeling in my stomach.
My entire family, born and raised in Queens, escaped NYC in the last decade. I went to a CUNY college and worked in NYC government for more than a decade. A month ago, I also escaped. I will only return for a work meeting or a visit where I travel within the confines of an Uber. It’s not worth it.
One time I was really drunk and stepped on a guy's foot on the subway. He pulled out a switchblade and said, "That smile isn't going to save you."
But I was so drunk at the time I wasn't bothered by it and just started talking to him. He seemed surprised at first and then we started talking about where he was from and how he just got out of prison. Had a good talk. Afterwards, I realized I probably should've just backed away.
So glad you are OK! that sounds like a lot to deal with. I hope that you don't spend to long thinking of the "what ifs". It leads nowhere good. I hope our politicians and the general public start to wake up to the fact that none of this is OK and needs to stop. Just releasing mentally unstable people and addicts onto the streets isn't compassion.
I've said this many times before....when a government can't or won't protect its citizens, it loses any claim to legitimacy. NYC is a sewer because it is ruled by lunatics who don't care about decent, hardworking, law abiding citizens. Why does any sane person vote for them???
Oh and btw, Daniel Penny is a hero. Anyone with two firing brain cells knows that. Progressive Democrats lack even that level of cognition and sanity.
"Instead of just walking away from a clearly deranged person, I yelled at him to get off."
Never engage, never escalate. Unless you have no choice.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s. Almost everyone in my immediate social circle (upper middle class) experienced a threatening encounter or worse from random assailants. A few incidents:
In high school, my next door neighbor's dad was shot when closing his hardware store (Cleveland). Paralyzed from the neck down, he died shortly thereafter.
In college, a friend in Philadelphia was held up at gunpoint. Similarly, another friend in NYC. I was held up at knifepoint in Los Angeles.
Post-college, a friend was violently sexually assaulted in NYC.
That was late 80s - early 90s.
After the 92 riots, I drove to work with a shotgun through the summer.
Things seemed to improve during the aughts, i.e., I don’t recall any friends being victimized by random criminals.
Now, “the jungle’s grown back” and I carry self-defense tools when I go out in case I have no choice.
The world is full of froot loops these days and we all know why we have got government’s telling us all that we have all got a problem and there is so many places that can help us and I haven’t found one yet and these days you are better to walk away good on you.you can’t even hit your kids.I did and now there in their forty’s and I have got three kids and none of them have got a record and they still have respect for there elders
Really glad you’re ok. In your post, you write a hypothetical story in the right wing press contrasting your unfortunate experience to the Jordan Neely affair. What would the left-wing slant have been?
I Was Threatened With A Knife On The Subway Today
Glad you're ok. After the Michelle Go killing, I made it a point to tell people to stand back from the platform edge - especially if they were distracted on their phones. She was the friend of a friend, but the crime was memory holed because it did not fit the narrative. You can no longer let your guard down in the NYC subway, even for a few seconds. It might cost you your life. I would advise you to find other forms of public transportation like Citibike, scooters, and buses, or leave the city.
It's sad that many have come to accept the pervasiveness of erratic and violent behavior as we go about our daily lives. I hope to see our government leaders break free from their paralysis and bring back a civil society. Until then, please take care.
I am sorry that you went through this and am relieved it ended without any tragic result. Unfortunately, this individual will ultimately hurt and, perhaps, kill someone. It will happen soon.
The subways are not safe. They haven’t been for a while. The fact that the current narrative characterizes another violent menace as a victim leaves a terrible feeling in my stomach.
My entire family, born and raised in Queens, escaped NYC in the last decade. I went to a CUNY college and worked in NYC government for more than a decade. A month ago, I also escaped. I will only return for a work meeting or a visit where I travel within the confines of an Uber. It’s not worth it.
thank god u ok!
maybe the guy was a yankees fan?? ;)
but srsly, i grew up in queens in the 70s-80s and it sounds like the good ol days are back...
my friends and i were always being targeted by older kids and other shadier hoods...
we usually had some sort of minor weapon for protection, anything from a pocketknife to brass knuckles to mace.
i know is all up to u and what you're comfortable with, but you might wanna consider having something to protect u on the train.
Glad to see you're okay!
One time I was really drunk and stepped on a guy's foot on the subway. He pulled out a switchblade and said, "That smile isn't going to save you."
But I was so drunk at the time I wasn't bothered by it and just started talking to him. He seemed surprised at first and then we started talking about where he was from and how he just got out of prison. Had a good talk. Afterwards, I realized I probably should've just backed away.
So glad you are OK! that sounds like a lot to deal with. I hope that you don't spend to long thinking of the "what ifs". It leads nowhere good. I hope our politicians and the general public start to wake up to the fact that none of this is OK and needs to stop. Just releasing mentally unstable people and addicts onto the streets isn't compassion.
My two favorite cities are San Francisco and New York. Couldn’t catch me in either of them any more.
Glad you're OK, Yang.
I've said this many times before....when a government can't or won't protect its citizens, it loses any claim to legitimacy. NYC is a sewer because it is ruled by lunatics who don't care about decent, hardworking, law abiding citizens. Why does any sane person vote for them???
Oh and btw, Daniel Penny is a hero. Anyone with two firing brain cells knows that. Progressive Democrats lack even that level of cognition and sanity.
"Instead of just walking away from a clearly deranged person, I yelled at him to get off."
Never engage, never escalate. Unless you have no choice.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s. Almost everyone in my immediate social circle (upper middle class) experienced a threatening encounter or worse from random assailants. A few incidents:
In high school, my next door neighbor's dad was shot when closing his hardware store (Cleveland). Paralyzed from the neck down, he died shortly thereafter.
In college, a friend in Philadelphia was held up at gunpoint. Similarly, another friend in NYC. I was held up at knifepoint in Los Angeles.
Post-college, a friend was violently sexually assaulted in NYC.
That was late 80s - early 90s.
After the 92 riots, I drove to work with a shotgun through the summer.
Things seemed to improve during the aughts, i.e., I don’t recall any friends being victimized by random criminals.
Now, “the jungle’s grown back” and I carry self-defense tools when I go out in case I have no choice.
Glad you weren’t hurt. Be safe.
Gah. Glad you are okay. I bet he is on the list of 30-40 dangerous people on the streets of NY. The city can afford to take care of them.
The world is full of froot loops these days and we all know why we have got government’s telling us all that we have all got a problem and there is so many places that can help us and I haven’t found one yet and these days you are better to walk away good on you.you can’t even hit your kids.I did and now there in their forty’s and I have got three kids and none of them have got a record and they still have respect for there elders
Dang! Late, I know, but just wanted to say I'm glad you're okay.
A friend of mine had a similar case, and I knew even then that I had to be on my guard, but after reading your article I realized it again!
Glad you are okay
Really glad you’re ok. In your post, you write a hypothetical story in the right wing press contrasting your unfortunate experience to the Jordan Neely affair. What would the left-wing slant have been?
I’m glad you’re okay and that you can process in words.