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Monday, January 30, 2012

Demands of a mother

from KleptaMoniac
to cj@thiscrazytrain.com
MON JAN 30 2012
7:20 AM

Dear Crazy Train
I've just moved seats to accommodate this woman who got on the OSHAWA train - leaving at 7:21 - with her son who told me that the pressing of the keys on my BlackBerry as I wrote an email to a friend was bothering her son.

I will admit, I looked blankly at her as the train was still boarding and there were plenty of seats. Her son looked about 9. Why are they sitting with me when she could see I was clearly using my BlackBerry before they sat down.

I said I don't have texting sounds on my phone, that my keyboard doesn't make sounds and she said the pressing of the keys do.

So I start tapping a key and I can barely hear it.

I didn't know how to react. I wasn't about to be policed by this person so I moved.

Is she for real?


from cj@thiscrazytrain.com
to KleptaMoniac
MON JAN 30 2012
7:27 AM

Hey. Nice name. I take it you're a Monica.
I'm no expert but sounds like mom is concerned about her son's sensitivity to sounds, even sounds as soft (let's be frank, tho, the sound is non-existent) as a BlackBerry's keypad. Her son could have been autistic? Perhaps she could have explained why to you. So you know, nice to know for next time.

She just could be sensitive to her surroundings and probably on high alert about what could set her son off. I wouldn't let it bother you too much.

However, since we're talking about it, those who do text on phones with the keypad tone on deserve a wet towel cracked across a bare nipple.

22 comments:

lswgirl13 said...

IF there was a legitimate reason the woman should have explained herself just as you said C.J. Otherwise she's just another crazed bubble-wrap mom.

Squiggles said...

A) if the mom was hyper-aware, then why on God's green earth is she taking her son on a Go Train, during RUSH HOUR and on a school day! The typing of a key pad ain't nothing compared to everything else that goes on on a full train.

B) the mother should have moved and/or never chosen those seats to start with. Especially since it was Oshawa and the Monica (love the email!) was seated first.

I really despair for the future. Especially with prime "mothering" examples such as that. And if the kid was austistic, the mom was doing him a disservice by upsetting his routine already.

Al said...

Careful, that wet towel/bare nipple, sounds kinky.

unfortunately some people enjoy that kind of thing. Probably the same people that enjoy listening to the sounds thier keys make when they text.

Anonymous said...

An autistic kid with sensory or auditory issues has no business on a GO train unless the mom has no other choice than she kinda has to deal. It's is PUBLIC transit.

Anonymous said...

definitely not a soccer mom, SUV missing. Let her and cupcake look for another seat. Too much pandering.

Kathy said...

WAY too much pandering.

Anonymous said...

Since I am not fond of your punishment option... I have searched high and low for how to turn off the keyboard sounds on a BB. Please enlighten me.

Tim K. said...

The BB doesn't have a keypad tone option. Other smartphones and mobiles do and some people don't know how to mute the keypad tone so when they text, it sounds like a very long-digit call to a foreign country.

DF said...

Wow I would have told her to go sit somewhere else. What a whack job. Poor kids gonna have major issues in life if he doesn't already.

Vanessa said...

My future mother-in-law has her keypad sound feature on. It drives me nuts. Thankfully she doesn't take public transit. But she's a slow texter so all you hear are these intermittent beep-beeps all night. *sigh*

lswgirl13 said...

I'm so glad my parents let me ride in a car without a seatbelt, ride a bike without a helmet and come home when the streetlights went on.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Tim K. I have searched feverishly for the option to turn off the keypad tone on my BB - can't find it. I guess I don't dare text/BBM on a GO vehicle if I don't want to be assaulted.

Squiggles said...

@Anon, the most you would be assaulted with is sighs and the evil eye heading your way.

People talk about inflicting harm, yet no one has done it yet.

C.J. Smith said...

The keyboard on a BlackBerry by default is silent when it comes to typing.

It can be turned on, but why the frig would you want to?

In your tray, scroll to Setup

Choose Personalization

Then choose Options

Choose Typing and Input

Choose Keyboard

Put a check mark next to Key Tone and save your settings.

Prepare for a eyelid slaps.

James said...

@lswgirl13 : Seriously though don't let a child that can't make rational decisions about safety choose whether to wear a seat belt/helmet or not. They are not simple inconveniences; they really do save lives. I'll agree with letting children roam free though. There isn't a boogie man around every corner.

lswgirl13 said...

Yes James, but I, or anyone I knew, never lost an eye or broke their neck. Yes, I'm being extreme but there are waaaaaay too many kids being brought up today that aren't being exposed to everyday life, it's kinda sad. And yes, I have children, I just know the quickest way to the emergency room.

James said...

I hear ya. All the anti-bacterial soaps and what not are leading to resistant viruses and allergies. People don't know their neighbours because of stranger danger. It's a sad state of affairs. I just wanted to point out the risk of death or injury is not worth the freedom in those particular cases.

lswgirl13 said...

And I hear ya' too.

When I was a kid we also got to eat peanut butter too. And NO, I don't wish any harm to kids with peanut allergies, I just think they should have a non-peanut room for them in schools. And YES, I am mean and nasty!!!

Squiggles said...

Agreed with the peanut room! Why should everyone else change their habits, choices, etc. (normally more expensive) because little Sally or Johnny may or may not have a peanut allergy?

And I say this because I went to an Xmas party where the parents couldn't decide if the kid was allergic to peanuts or tree nuts. One said one thing, the other another.

Anonymous said...

You said "nipple".. hurr hurr durr.. aw, forget it, I'm not a teen any more.

Anonymous said...

^ I've got peanut allergies. When the kid is younger, then, yeah, those rules of no peanuts should be in place, but I knew how to take care of myself by the time I was in 5th grade or so. I'm fine with people eating nuts and such around me now as long as they don't try to contaminate my food with it.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I just turned my keypad sound on as per your instructions.. why the hell would anyone want that kind of noise coming out of it? If the person in question was complaining about the very quiet tapping of keys in sound off mode... I don't have much sympathy.