I saw my first fight on the subway yesterday. I was waiting at my local stop at about 9:30AM, which, on my line, means there were hundreds of people waiting. Very crowded. I’m thrilled I don’t commute any more. Two trains went by and they were too full for anyone to get on. We were all waiting and waiting—it had already been about 25 minutes.
A guy on the platform started getting noticeably agitated after the second train left the station without people getting on. He was pacing and muttering, making fists. Finally, the third train arrived and the guy just ran, shoulder out like a battering ram, into the car, slamming into the man in the doorway. That man immediately turned around and punched.
Suddenly they were swinging at each other crazily, throwing punches and pushing each other. There were people standing right next to them who, rather than stepping off the train to avoid being punched, were shielding their heads and staying put. That’s how crowded the subway line is—you’re willing to put up with getting punched rather than wait another 30 minutes to get to work.
Meanwhile, the conductor looked down the train and closed the doors like nothing was happening. And we all watched from the platform through the windows as the two men continued to struggle while the train pulled away.