Ticket checks at Taunton

[whole diary]

[Wilf19]

Thinking about it, I've not seen them at the station for a good while. I've spoken to them a few times and never felt uncomfortable, even when carrying the selection of electronic junk that I seem to have to drag around with me.

Tonight I got off the train and managed to remember to gather up all of said junk, cursed and grumbled about the train coming in on platform 3 so I had to  lug all that and my grossly overloaded wheely bag down the stairs and back up again to get to the taxi rank, and then realised I'd left or dropped my ticket on the train, which is the first time I can remember doing that. Fortunately there were no ticket checks this evening  I must be more careful.

More muttering and grumbling when booked taxi didn't show up and I had a three line whip to be home by 8pm. I made it at 7:57.

[devon_metro]

Isn't there a lift on P3/4?

[Super Guard]

The gentleman and his wheelchair-bound son have been absent from platform 5 on the last few occasions I've been at Taunton station.

Whether this is related to the barriers I know not.

The 2 gentlemen you are referring to here were both in their usual position on P5 on Thursday evening - I had not seen them for a while either.

[thetrout]

Broadgage your comments also offend me to some extent. I technically come under the "care in the community" label as you so describe it. Whilst there are worse phrases to describe such communities I still find that one quite insulting.

Now I'm really going to kick the hornets nest here. Whilst the other posters may have restrained themselves. I won't.

But BNM is right. The group of people who you refer to you, you couldn't be more wrong. I have never ever felt uneasy about taking out my electrical equipment in their presence. Infact on one occasion one of them pointed out my iPhone had fallen out of my back pocket. As my phone is NEVER in my back pocket... I didn't even realise!

At the end of the day what is your particular problem with a group of individuals enjoying watching the trains? What the Gentleman in the wheelchair doesn't know about trains in Taunton is not worth knowing! (Or one of his companions)

Now whilst BNM says go to another area of the platform... I probably know exactly why you won't. All I'll say is: F, G and H.

And people call me a snob

Rant Over!

[grahame]

People judge other the first time they see them from a sterotype - what they believe a typical person in a role or with a certain look is / how a person in that role behaves.  First (often skewed) impressions, often lumping in the exceptional with the standard genre.  I recall a thread here that talked about travellers in First class, and it was stated (regrettably by a member of staff) that in the evening, he started ticket checks in First class with an assumption that passengers of a certain age / look wouldn't have first class tickets.  I know I've been casually dressed on some of the rare occasions I've travelled first, and been struck by a change of attitude once I present my correct ticket.

Same thing - away from the station.  If I walk through our local town, Lisa, myself and one of the dogs and we see one attitude.   Lisa goes into a shop, I sit on the pavement or curb with a (big, black, clearly loving) mongrel just taking in the scene, and the attitude can change.  I haven't changed, though ...

[broadgage]

My remarks do not refer to the disabled gent, nor his relative.
I have however in the past observed a number of examples of antisocial behaviour, such episodes seem much reduced since the gates were installed.

I have observed two episodes of minor theft from the shop, and not being a security gaurd, nor being present that much, very much doubt that these were isolated examples.
The shop staff have found it unwise to place cans of alcoholic drink in the refrigerated display "due to the risk of theft" only one empty can of each product being on display.

I consider it possible that the persons to which I refer may not be the same persons to which others refer in more positive terms.

[EBrown]

You have also offended me (just to make that clear). Graham is quite right, I'm sure many people on here have (tried to) put my in a type/group as they have with you. For reference I've just put you in the group of people I expect will regularly get their nose broken.

A simple word of advice Broadgage, be careful of how you categorise people and how you tell them what category you've put them in.

I will also add, I'm a computer person... As an industry it has one of the highest rates of people with conditions such as Aspergers, ADD^▸ (Automatic Dropping Device) (ADHD), Dyslexia (Dyspraxia & Dysgraphia) to name just a few. Perhaps your term 'limited mental capacity' applies to all of these groups, most of these people are extremely intelligent, diligent and a pleasure to work with. A few are socially awkward or show tendencies of reclusive behaviour; however they are all still easy to work with.

Perhaps they (given its likely they are more intelligent than you) should tell you you have limited mental capacity.

[broadgage]

I regret the offence caused by my remarks and will refrain from making similar or related remarks in future.

[vacmanfan]

But it's ok for those yet again taking the moral high ground in this thread to make assumptions about people in other threads...

[EBrown]

But it's ok for those yet again taking the moral high ground in this thread to make assumptions about people in other threads...

What a nothing statement. I've taken no moral high ground, merely stated my thoughts on the matter and given a counter example. That's called a discussion. I generally try and avoid making assumptions unless I have a fair set of facts, even then I'm not perfect.

My view is that we are looking at the use of the word more than anything. For example the word n***a/n****r being a derogatory term for black people. 'Care in the community types' is a derogatory term for people with (but not limited to) mental health conditions - which I don't appreciate.

I'll take questions by DM, but til then my commenting on this matter is done.

[JayMac]

We have one rail network so there should be one set of rules for access to stations. It's perverse that there is legislation allowing access to Compulsory Ticket Areas for non-travellers and there is access to all at unbarriered stations, but when it comes to a station with a gate line the general public suddenly can't be trusted unless they've got a piece of orange card in their hand. 

[vacmanfan]

Yawn

[JayMac]

Tiredness can kill. Take a break.

[thetrout]

 
My view is that we are looking at the use of the word more than anything. For example the word n***a/n****r being a derogatory term for black people.

We have one rail network so there should be one set of rules for access to stations. It's perverse that there is legislation allowing access to Compulsory Ticket Areas for non-travellers and there is access to all at unbarriered stations, but when it comes to a station with a gate line the general public suddenly can't be trusted unless they've got a piece of orange card in their hand. 

It's worrying how both of you have brought a very similar (probably by accident) comparison there...

It's perfectly acceptable in SOME cases for a black individual to refer to another black individual as that very 'N' term...

I'm on my iPhone at the moment but I'll follow up with my response later on. All of you raise very interesting points to which I feel as someone in the Mental Health Category as well as the Autistic Spectrum I have a pretty good understanding to answer ...

/ edited to add. Mods please PM me if you wish the trout to restrain himself in order to keep the piece...

[Chris from Nailsea]

Fair enough: meanwhile, I'll consider how best to split this topic, as we seem to be moving away somewhat from the original point about the ticket barriers being installed at Taunton Station ...