angry 185 bus driver - the sequel? (Lounged)

[????]

The penny dropped ages ago but don't pretend you "don't have contempt for passengers" and then demonstrate it....you'd be good in court. Have a good life in a job you hate makes sense to me.......

[beaver14uk]

You know nothing about me - the power of words:))

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The penny dropped ages ago but don't pretend you

> "don't have contempt for passengers" and then

> demonstrate it....you'd be good in court. Have a

> good life in a job you hate makes sense to

> me.......

[Mick Mac]

I prefer the Number 40 bus. It stops near my house. Who needs the 185, lets all stop getting on to it. Maybe they will appreciate us a little more if they have no passengers.

[Mark]

beaver14uk Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have had a lovely holiday away from East Dulwich and busy enjoying my life best you get on with yours.

I thought I asked you a reasonable question, any chance you could give me a reasonable answer?

[Horsebox]

Don't hold your breath, Mark. If beaver14 (what is that? Some kind of TfL fantasy, role play call sign? Is Nigel 'Goose' to your 'iceman'?) is actually a bus driver and does hate his/her fares as much as he/ she profeses to, I think the most you can expect is downtrodden look and a surly attitude. In which case you shouldn't be disappointed at all.

[helena handbasket]

Beaver14uk, this lot is hungry for bus drivers.

Run beaver14uk run!

It's too late for Nigel, but save yourself!

[sophiesofa]

Blimey this thread is compeltely out of control. I still think every company has really good, ok, and really crap employees, including bus companies. We should all try and remember that not all bus brivers are meanies.

Beaver14uk when I read the beginning bit of your first post I was pleased that you'd come on here to stand up for yourself and other bus drivers but sadly your post took a turn for the worse. But... I don't blame you for being on the defensive because on earlier pages of the thread there had been a lot of comments about bus drivers having no brains. If I was a bus driver and read that I would be extremely pissed off. Please don't drive through East Dulwich and think we're all cocks and in return I won't get on a bus and assume you're a cock.

[lenk]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> bore off

Sorry, I'll make way for another of your riveting insights. fire away.

[lenk]

I'm on Beaver's side. You're all a bunch of xxxx

Admin - delete my login please

Done - The Administrator

[Gimme]

Hey, what about a general ceasefire???

The best post I read this morning was beaver14uk's story about people lifting up the sign that says Oyster Not Working.

Brilliant.

Instead of more slagging off of bus drivers, can we have entertaining stories of life as a bus driver or things people saw on buses that made them laugh. Please....?

[Muley]

Ooooh Lenk, quality flounce!!

You'll be back, you love us and you know it!

[Moos]

Good posts, Gimme and sophiesofa.

I like to say good morning to bus drivers when I get on, and thank you when I get off (particularly if I have my buggy with me, and they've lowered the side of the bus to make it easier). Some bus drivers blank me, some look startled but quite a lot make a friendly acknowledgement and it makes for good feeling and courtesy. I've never encountered Nasty Nigel, but find it easy to believe that there are crappy bus drivers and I've definitely seen crappy passengers.

[sophiesofa]

Great idea. I can't think of any though. I'll get my thinking cap on.

[annaj]

Ooooh Lenk, quality flounce!!

Wasn't it. Possibly the best flounce we've ever had. Even better than snorky asking for his account to be deleted then sensationally claiming to have been banned on the Nunhead forum.

Anyone care to place a bet as to when the next four-lettered user named, bitter, narrow minded, chip on shouldered, broken record will register and take up lenk/penk/honk's fight.

As for the rest, some passengers are rude and some are nice and some are normally nice, but sometimes have a bad day. Some drivers are rude and some are nice and some are normally nice, but sometimes have a bad day. Hmm, I somehow feel like we've been here before.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I can think of another 4 letter login, ending in "nk" which would suit

* waves to lenk reading impotently sans login *

[HonaloochieB]

Lenk is dead long live henk. Or has he already done that one?

[Muley]

I suspect that 'Lenk' is the username of Angry Nigel. The bad driving is a result of trying to control a large vehicle and type on a Blackberry simultaneously, and the rudeness is due to annoyance at passengers constantly interrupting the posting of his wit and wisdom on the EDF.

Perhaps arrange to have him abducted by clowns when Zippos returns?

[Moos]

I thought it was a shame. He made some really intelligent, funny and constructive posts that provided a useful insight, and then recently seemed to go back to the penk/honk persona who was not such fun to be with.

[annaj]

I know, i'm with you on that Moos. I often thought he was making a good point, sadly usually wrapped up in unnecessary antagonism, but I've tried to draw him out a few times recently, maybe actually find out what he thinks or even find some common ground, and it was a complete waste of time.

He simply wasn't interested in having any of his preconceptions and prejudices challenged.

Oh well.

*joins Sean in waving to lenk, busy telling himself he showed us*

[HonaloochieB]

I remember when the management introduced women bus drivers.

Birds, driving busses? Well me and the lads weren't having that, were we.

So we started a campain of misogynistic harassment, but to no avail.

Flippin' birds, can't live with 'em, can't get your leg over 'em.

Not in my experience anyway.

In between the bitter pranks I made jocular remarks about my brother-in-laws lack of libido and my nephew shat in my hat.

Happy days, mind you our inspector was a right git.

[Penguin68]

Back when I were a lad, there were two people on buses, the clippie, responsible for ensuring 'the rules' were obeyed (about occupancy/ standing etc.), ensuring everyone was a legitimate paid-up traveller etc. and doing 'customer servicy' sorts of things (not that it was called that then). The driver ensured the bus was driven safely and to timetable, and kept aware of mechanical issues. Because the clippie was there the driver only had to stop for loading/ unloading (and not for checking for tickets etc.) which made keeping to timetable easier. I would guess many/ some existing drivers still date back to those days, when their customer facing capability, or lack of it, was never a recruitment or training issue. Possibly 'Nigel' does as well.

Nowadays bus drivers have to do far more, whilst still having the safe driving of their vehicle as their key deliverable. It is clear from posts that 'Nigel' is not well suited to the customer service part of the job - and if he dates back to the old style of doing things may resent having to do that part, or not even understand why that part is important in a service industry. That doesn't make people's experience of him any better of course, nor does it excuse overt or unnecessary rudeness, but it may explain why he can be a good technical driver (I don't think anyone has suggested he drives badly) whilst still not being a good driver/conductor, which is what he now has to be.

It is the nature of this board that his detractors and his champions each over-egg their arguments, but I suspct that the nature of the combined job that he has to do requires quite diferrent sorts of abilities, and to find experts in both in the same body may be unusual. As a passenger I think I'd prefer a surly but expert driver to a cheery but reckless one, even though I would find surliness when it segues into bullying itself unacceptable.

[beaver14uk]

Indeed if people felt unfairly treated why not say so face to face. I think whether people have a valid ticket or not as I have said countless times all drivers have a right to inspect the ticket. So as I have obseved/experienced as you walk past with your thumb over the date, walk on past even though the machine has bleeped to say you have no money - and you tell us you put all this money on the card or the other charming one you do is press the card up against the assualt screen trying to make some kind of point - you just don't like the driver calling you back infront of the whole bus.

KalamityKel Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Domitianus Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > KalamityKel Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > "in the context of the thread in general"

> > >

> > > Anything goes it would seem

> >

> > Kels dear, we appreciate that you wish to

> defend

> > those who are driving for TFL and that is fine.

>

> > No-one is for one moment suggesting that ALL

> > drivers are like that or that it is anything but

> a

> > tough and unrewarding job driving a bus for

> > thankless people. Fact is, however, it seems

> that

> > this particular driver sticks out like a sore

> > thumb due to his attitude and apparently

> > completely unreasonable behaviour. If the vast

> > majority of decent, hard-working bus drivers

> > manage to get through a long day, facing what

> are

> > undoubtedly challenging and often unpleasant

> > situations, without needing to engage in

> > aggressive, offensive, racist, abusive,

> > confrontational behaviour then it seems that

> this

> > particular driver is a bad apple and is

> unworthy

> > of your protection or concern. Surely those

> who

> > have loved ones working for the bus companies

> > should be quite glad to see drivers who

> > consistently behave unreasonably dealt with, to

> > avoid those they care about being tarred with

> the

> > same brush?

>

>

> Dom, I stress again, I am NOT defending anyone.

> It is quite clear from everything you have just

> mentioned that whilst those complaining about this

> particular individual find "his" behaviour

> unacceptable it is acceptable to throw insults all

> round and say all kind of things (in quite a

> disgusting and shameful manner) about someone who

> is not a participant to the discussion. Surely

> this behaviour is just as bad as the accused!

> How many would openly say such things face to

> face?

[beaver14uk]

Brain of Britain strikes again - How would anyone get to Lewisham or Victoria on the 40 and the 40's along with the 176 and 185's are jammed packed in the morning - clearly you get out that much.

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I prefer the Number 40 bus. It stops near my

> house. Who needs the 185, lets all stop getting on

> to it. Maybe they will appreciate us a little more

> if they have no passengers.

[beaver14uk]

You had best ask Nigel that question next time you see him if indeed you have the front rather than hiding behind a keyboard.

As for reputations I and others know that we do and good job - its like the Revenue Team ask someone who has been done for fare evasion they are not going to paint a good picture are they. However, any passenger who does not like seeing people evading fares on a regular basis will be only too happy to see the Revenue team in action. Some people on here have already supported us drivers so its generally all those that have been in your eyes made to feel small by being called back to have your ticket inspected - which by the way is the property of TfL not yours - so drivers/ but more likely Revenue have every right to withdraw it.

Mark Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> beaver14uk Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I have had a lovely holiday away from East

> Dulwich and busy enjoying my life best you get on

> with yours.

>

> I thought I asked you a reasonable question, any

> chance you could give me a reasonable answer?

[beaver14uk]

Not at all everytime I am on the 185 I will chuckle to myself that one of the happy people on board is one of you on your quest to find Nasty Nigel - how sad. Indeed only this morning I thought that.

Horsebox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Don't hold your breath, Mark. If beaver14 (what is

> that? Some kind of TfL fantasy, role play call

> sign? Is Nigel 'Goose' to your 'iceman'?) is

> actually a bus driver and does hate his/her fares

> as much as he/ she profeses to, I think the most

> you can expect is downtrodden look and a surly

> attitude. In which case you shouldn't be

> disappointed at all.