Earlier today, I found myself in one of those moments that starts as inconvenience and ends as a sudden test of restraint, strength, and boundaries. I was running the risk of being late for work, so when I saw the bus pulling in, I made the split-second decision to board. A woman entered just ahead of me, and as soon as I stepped inside, I realized the bus was already at capacity. I had my mini backpack strapped on, two side bags, and a Target bag carrying items for my new locker…in other words, I was bulky, awkward, and doing everything in my power not to knock into anyone.
I stayed near the front, trying to maneuver gently around bodies and handrails. But the woman who boarded right before me made that nearly impossible. Despite having space, she repeatedly slammed her back into me … not a slip, not a momentary loss of balance, but a series of deliberate, dismissive, and forceful shoves.
She was easily twice my weight, if not more, and she refused to move for anyone; not teenagers getting on or off the bus, not passengers trying to pass, and certainly not me. I tried to give her room, but even when space existed between us, she would shift her weight backward and ram into me again. It wasn’t an accident. It was targeted, as if she was making a point.
I stayed put because I was only riding for two or three stops, and with all the bags strapped to me there was no realistic way to move deeper into the bus without smacking people in the face or knocking them out of their seats. Yet each time she hit me, the irritation rose higher. Eventually, I positioned my bag against her back to create some physical buffer, hoping that would end the constant body checks.
It didn’t.
When we approached the terminal, the last stop finally I shifted my stance to prepare to exit. I was slightly in front of her already and stepping off would have been simple if she had just turned her body toward the door like any reasonable person would. Instead, she launched herself forward and cut directly in front of me, crossing her arm in front of my hips to grab the pole; effectively blocking me from exiting first. In the process, she elbowed me hard and shoved me off balance; she put her whole body weight steadily into me without barely being physically phased.
That was the moment my patience ended.
I knocked her hand off the pole because there was no reason for her to touch me, much less nearly knock me over; I still needed to stand properly. She glared at me as if I had violated her, and then, while I was stepping off the wet bus stairs, she shoved me hard with both hands from behind. That is dangerous under any conditions; more so on a rainy morning.
I caught my balance quickly, turned around, and struck her in the sternum with my palm and pushing her back with force. She stumbled but stood strong to lift her cane up, and instantly shifted postures — either ready to defend herself or ready to perform helplessness; that’s new because I didn’t see the cane before. I couldn’t tell which choice she was making but I also didn’t care. She couldn’t have used her cane to shove me off the bus as i was stepping off just because she wanted to push me out of the way to rush off…she used both hands with a firm shove on purpose…what if I had slipped and busted my head open? Hurt my leg? I would have been out of work…how would I pay my bills? Do I just go to work injured to make it work? She would have stepped over my body and rushed through the terminal like she hadn’t done anything...the level of entitlement. I used to walk with a cane and i never treated a soul like that…I don’t treat souls like that in general. I apologize to pigeons when they gotta fly out of my way with a shopping cart. I’m very kind but I can not guarantee that I will always be nice.
I do know what I said angrily “You’ve been pushing me since I got on the bus. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
My next transportation was already pulling in, so I walked away and jogged toward the doors. I was wearing my EMT hat and scrubs and yes; I lost my temper.
But this isn’t just an article about losing my temper on a crowded bus. It’s about something deeper.
The incident on the bus this morning is not an isolated freak occurrence and it sits within a larger pattern of violence, aggression, and threat on New York City’s public transit system.
Here are several recent examples:
On November 9, 2025, a 35-year-old man was stabbed just after 10:30 p.m. aboard the northbound 4 train as it approached Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.
On June 18, 2025, during the morning commute, two men were stabbed at the mezzanine level of Grand Central Terminal. One was stabbed in the abdomen, the other in the abdomen and buttocks. The suspect fled the scene.
In March 2025, a 67-year-old man was slashed in the head by a stranger wielding a large knife on the C train in Brooklyn; a completely unprovoked attack.
According to news data, the NYPD has seized over 700 blades on the transit system so far in 2025—a 190 % increase compared to early 2023—pointing toward more weapons presence even if overall crime stats fall.
And though overall subway crime reportedly dropped nearly 14 % year-over-year as of October 2025, the lived experience of riders continues to include random pushes, shoves, assaults, and weapon-use.
These incidents underscore several truths that the transit system is a space where entitlement, aggression, and physical domination play out literally in motion.
The risk is not evenly distributed: people who appear vulnerable by size, baggage, status, or perceived exhaustion become targets for others seeking control or asserting dominance.
The expectation that all riders will be respectful, communicative, and cooperative fails when someone views the space as theirs by right or views another rider as disposable.
When someone who is themselves disadvantaged chooses to assault someone else who appears smaller, it reveals how social struggle does not automatically produce solidarity—sometimes it produces aggression.
In that light, what happened to me this morning wasn’t just about a rude stranger. It was about a breakdown of shared public-space norms, of bodily respect, of communication and ultimately, of self-preservation when I was trying to simply ride two stops and maintain my balance with my bags.
Why Do People Target Those They Perceive as “Smaller”?
There’s a painful reality in public spaces where some people seek out targets they assume won’t fight back.
It’s not always about race, class, or gender; though those dynamics absolutely shape encounters. Often, it’s about size, body language, perceived strength, and perceived vulnerability.
People who feel powerless in life sometimes reclaim that lost power by exerting physical dominance over someone they believe is “safe” to push around.
In this case, the woman made several assumptions the moment she looked at me:
- Petite
- Polite
- Wearing work scrubs
- Clearly weighted down by bags
- Not visibly aggressive
- In a hurry
To someone seeking control, that combination reads as “She won’t do anything.” And when I finally did respond, the switch flipped; suddenly she had a cane in hand and the posture of a victim.
This is a familiar cycle in public spaces; especially Karens.
Someone behaves aggressively toward a smaller or disadvantaged person. When confronted or challenged, they weaponize vulnerability to escape accountability. The original target is then framed socially as the aggressor. It’s a manipulation as old as human behavior.
When Aggression Comes From Someone Who Mirrors Your Own Struggle
What frustrated me most wasn’t that she was aggressive; strangers on public transit can be unpredictable. It was that this came from another woman of color, someone likely facing her own hardships, economic pressures, and battles with the world.
But even among marginalized communities, lateral aggression is real.
There is a painful truth here that sometimes the people who know hardship best choose to take their frustrations out on someone who looks easier to dominate.
Maybe she’s been shoved around by life.
Maybe she’s used to not being seen.
Maybe she’s used to fighting for space.
But none of that justified treating me as disposable simply because I am smaller. Marginalization does not excuse mistreatment. Your disadvantage doesn’t give you the right to prey on someone else’s. I have had my own tribulations and I do not treat others that way; but I will match energy when necessary.
And yet, these dynamics play out all the time…
Bigger women targeting smaller women
Older women targeting younger women
Tired workers targeting other tired workers
People scrambling for power where they can find it
It becomes a cycle of displaced frustration; the oppressed turning on the “easier” oppressed. Foolishness.
This experience was more than a bus incident even though it has been nothing new of my previous life experiences. It was a micro-reflection of larger social patterns of entitlement to space, weaponized helplessness, the hierarchy of body size, the assumption that smaller equals weaker, the expectation that women of color should endure one another’s aggression quietly and the disbelief that comes when the “small one” stands her ground.
I struck back today not because I wanted to, but because I was shoved while stepping off a wet bus and because being physically overpowered is a trauma I’ve lived before repeatedly. My hand moved faster than I anticipated. How many “hits” am I supposed to take? None. I’m kind not a nice pushover.
Standing my ground wasn’t an act of dominance. It was an act of survival, boundary protection, and sheer instinct.
Closing Thoughts
People often talk about violence as if it begins with the first punch, slap, or strike. But violence begins earlier with entitlement, with disrespect, with cornering someone smaller, with repeated disregard for another person’s body and space.
Sometimes the person who finally reacts is not the one who started the conflict.
And sometimes the person who looks vulnerable in the aftermath was never vulnerable in the moment…they were the aggressor until the dynamic flipped.
This morning reminded me as I remind you as well that:
- being petite does not make one powerless
- being in scrubs does not make one a doormat
- and being a woman of color does not obligate me to absorb abuse from another woman of color or anyone for that matter
Some days, self-defense looks like a well-placed boundary.
Other days, it looks like a physical push back after someone has shoved you one too many times.
Today, it was both. But most importantly as I end this rant, be respectful towards others. Respect is given. Trust is earned. We barely know the people in our personal lives, why push the envelope with a complete stranger when you don’t know who they are, what they’ve done in their lives, what’s going on in their lives, how they’re doing psychologicall, how they’re doing physically; don’t be the unnecessary aggressor be a damn adult especially when you’re far well over the age of 25 years old.
News article references:
https://abc7ny.com/amp/post/nyc-subway-crime-man-stabbed-head-1-train-harlem/17114559/
https://qns.com/2025/11/hate-crime-assault-southeast-queens/
https://www.amny.com/news/brooklyn-shuttle-bus-stabbing-05112025/
https://nypost.com/2025/09/07/us-news/meet-the-worst-transit-terrors-on-loose-in-nyc/
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Berlin in the Dark: How Climate Activists Left Thousands Without Power
Imagine waking up in the middle of winter in Berlin — the streets are quiet, the heaters are off, your lights don’t work, and your internet is down. That was the reality for tens of thousands of Berliners in early January 2026, after a deliberate attack on the city’s electrical infrastructure. What was meant to be a provocative protest turned into one of Berlin’s longest blackouts in decades, leaving residents and businesses struggling in the cold and prompting a nationwide discussion on climate activism, public safety, and the vulnerability of modern cities. The Day Berlin Went Dark It all started on January 3, 2026, when a fire broke out on a bridge carrying high-voltage cables over the Teltow Canal in southwest Berlin. The blaze severely damaged power lines connected to the Lichterfelde power plant, instantly cutting electricity to large parts of the city. Around 45,000 households and over 2,200 businesses were affected, leaving roughly 100,000 residents without power across neighborhoods like Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Wannsee, and Lichterfelde. Schools, hospitals, care homes, and small businesses all faced significant disruption — and with temperatures below -10°C (14°F), the cold nights became a real hazard. Residents described gathering around candles or battery lamps just to stay warm, and one Berliner recalled that a room in her apartment registered only 4°C (39°F) during the blackout — a chilling reminder of how dependent modern life is on electricity. Who Was Behind the Attack? Almost immediately, suspicion fell on political sabotage. Investigators quickly traced the attack to a far-left extremist group known as Vulkangruppe, or the Volcano Group. The group later released a statement claiming responsibility, framing the arson as a protest against fossil fuel reliance and industrial systems harming the planet. In their own words, the group insisted that the blackout wasn’t their goal — it was meant as a symbolic strike against fossil fuel infrastructure. But for authorities and the public, the human cost was undeniable, and federal prosecutors opened a full investigation into charges ranging from arson to terrorism. Life Without Power A blackout in a modern city is more than just an inconvenience — it’s a test of resilience. Berliners faced immediate challenges: No heating in freezing temperatures, forcing residents to find alternative ways to stay warm. Transport disruptions, with overground trains halted in affected areas. Communication issues, as mobile networks and internet services were compromised. Hospitals relying on backup generators to keep critical systems running. Businesses losing perishable goods, and many operations coming to a standstill. For days, the city experienced a glimpse of life without electricity — a reminder that modern urban infrastructure, while efficient, can be surprisingly fragile when attacked. Restoring the Grid Repairing the damage was no small task. Cold weather and icy conditions slowed progress, and the high-voltage cables required careful handling to prevent further outages or accidents. Gradual restoration began after a few days, but it took until the fourth or fifth day for all affected neighborhoods to get power fully restored. Utility crews and emergency services worked tirelessly, highlighting both the complexity of modern infrastructure and the vulnerability it faces in the hands of politically motivated actors. Political and Social Fallout The blackout sparked outrage across Germany. Berlin’s mayor called it a “terrorist attack with massive consequences”, emphasizing the risk to public safety. National prosecutors noted that Vulkangruppe had a history of infrastructure attacks, raising questions about the effectiveness of preventive measures. The incident also triggered wider debates: How secure is modern infrastructure against ideologically motivated attacks? Where is the line between peaceful protest and criminal activity? How can cities ensure resiliency in increasingly complex and digitized systems? Many experts argue that while activism and environmental advocacy are important, actions that endanger lives or critical services cross a line that society cannot tolerate. Lessons for the Future Berlin’s blackout serves as a warning: in an age where cities are heavily dependent on electricity, even symbolic acts can have unintended, dangerous consequences. Some key takeaways include: Infrastructure Protection: High-voltage lines, bridges, and power plants must be monitored and secured against sabotage. Clear Legal Boundaries: Protest is a right, but illegal acts targeting essential services must face consequences. Emergency Preparedness: Cities need robust plans for extended outages — from backup generators to shelters for vulnerable populations. Public Awareness: Citizens should understand both how to stay safe and the broader social impact of infrastructure attacks. The blackout also highlights the tension between activism and responsibility. While climate concerns are urgent, actions that directly harm civilians risk alienating the public and undermining the very cause activists seek to promote. Berlin Reconnects — But the Debate Continues As power returned to all neighborhoods, Berliners reflected on a city temporarily thrown back a century, forced to navigate darkness, cold, and disruption. The investigation into the perpetrators continues, and debates over climate activism, civil disobedience, and public safety are more heated than ever. For urban planners, policymakers, and citizens alike, the blackout is a cautionary tale: in a world that relies on constant electricity, infrastructure is not just technical — it is social, political, and deeply vulnerable. Berlin’s days in the dark may be over, but the questions it raises about protest, responsibility, and urban resilience are far from resolved.
By Muhammad Hassan3 days ago in The Swamp
Comments (1)
I have to say that since Covid people are more app to do things like this. It’s as if the social button has been turned off and people are behaving badly. Respect is out the window and it’s all about Me Me Me.