Comments on: My life as a viral-media 'celebrity'

By: NotAnAttentionWhore

NotAnAttentionWhore — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:59:10 +0000

Okay, first of all, I'm VERY annoyed when there's an unruly child on public transit. There's no reason to make others suffer. Second, your appeal to pathos is, well, pathetic. I have no sympathy for you in the least, and I'm going to guess you still ride the bus. You act like you're a complete angel/victim when YOU'RE responsible for the child. As for people making normal noises, imagine the bus driver. I can assure you it wasn't his profession of choice and you're just making an already irritating task more irritating for him, plus it's a safety hazard if you're distracting him. Thirdly, he OFFERED for you to come back on the bus so no he was not "singling you out." Nor did it seem he was all that angry with you.

By: NotAnAttentionWhore

NotAnAttentionWhore — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:58:07 +0000

By: Gothelittle

Gothelittle — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:59:45 +0000

I don't know how it is in Canada, but in the U.S. if she'd have accepted the offer of a ride she would be breaking the law. Children her daughter's age must ride in a front-facing carseat when in a car, truck, or plane.

By: ian

ian — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:04:12 +0000

Bus driver: Clearly acting like an ass.
Mother: Clearly acting like a martyr.

I'm sure it was embarrassing. I'm sure those 14 blocks were the most horrible thing to ever happen to you or your child. I'm sure that all of the internet attention was frightening. But did you ever stop to think about the fact that MAYBE the rest of the people on the bus didn't really want to hear your kid throwing a tantrum?

I ride public transit every day to work, and there is absolutely NOTHING worse than a kid screaming. I don't blame the kid, but I do blame the parent. Why? Because the majority of the time it's not the only way to get where you're going. You could have taken a cab. No cabs? You could have walked — 14 blocks is not THAT far (which you did, but not because you chose to). By keeping your kid on the bus (or train or whatever form of transit you take), you're getting home a bit faster, but you're making everyone else's trip miserable.

It's the feeling of entitlement that gets on my nerves. In all honesty, I understand that young children may be loud from time to time. If I'm on a trans-atlantic flight and some kid is screaming, it sucks for sure, but I'm not going to get pissed off about it. The parent can't quite drive to and from Europe. However if a kid is being obnoxious and there's a very clear and easy way to remove that kid from an environment where it's going to be annoying countless people, why not do it? This is just common decency. I don't get on the metro and blast loud music that annoys everyone around me, I don't yell randomly, I don't bring a dog that barks constantly. Just because you're a parent doesn't mean you should bring something equally as noisy (no, I'm not comparing your kid to a dog except in terms of its audio output) onto some form of public transit.

By: rina

rina — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:34:47 +0000

It is unbeIt is unbelievable, how can someone kick a kid out of bus. Manners to 20 months old…I guess people are getting inhuman. A 20 months old won’t be even understand what’s going on. Public transit is for public. People who ride on it should better be prepared what they have to go thou and for God sake She is a baby. I am with you Dear. People who don’t have kids get miserable and behave like crap. I hope they learn one day.

By: Deborah Barry

Deborah Barry — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:35:11 +0000

Support! I just heard you on CBC radio DNTO! You are NORMAL! I SUPPORT you!

By: caroly n robe

caroly n robe — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:40:59 +0000

I remember being on a plane with my one year old and he began to writhe and scream as the plane came down. I did not know what to do. Plus he had diarhea which came out of his diaper. Luckily we were not kicked off but I am sure plenty of people would have liked if we could have been. He had been fine up to that point. Is it wrong to drug kids on a plane….By the way he turned out ok and is a Chartered Accountant now.

By: 100miles

100miles — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:50:31 +0000

Hear hear

By: Myron Loxian

Myron Loxian — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:13:55 +0000

In fact, I really wished I hadn't read this thread or I wouldn't be writing this.

If you weren't there, how can you comment?

I think the bus driver has a serious case for litigation. Can you imagine the persecution he or she has had to tolerate over this crusade?

I should think if ms manzer does not cease and desist in her attempt to further her journalistic career from this, such a case might be brought forth. but then again, what do i know? i was just on that bus and KNOW she and her lovely two year old child were NOT asked to leave the bus.

the driver simply stated that he could not continue driving until the destraction stopped. since it didn't, he pulled the bus over to the next stop to get off and chill out. ms manzer CHOSE to take that as a sign and walked the TWO blocks DOWNHILL on a WARM SUNNY DAY to her destination.

By: Myron Loxian

Myron Loxian — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:01:32 +0000

I think it should be noted that ms. manzer is a 2005 Michener-Deacon Fellowship recipient for work she did pertaining to a personal experience. While uneducated in the area she found herself in, she made enough stink to get an award. Well, she's doing it again.
She found a personal issue and is getting published for it.
No matter what the TRUTH is. Ask the bus driver what REALLY happened.

By: Paul in Vancouver

Paul in Vancouver — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:39:19 +0000

What a ridiculous series of comments. Kids have bad days. Doesn't make you a bad parent. End of story.

The news? Woman helps protect environmental future for child by taking the bus! Thank-you for caring so much!

By: Don

Don — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:24:18 +0000

I am 78 and My Wife and I raised 6 children.Never once did any of the children raise hell in public.We were never abusive to them but they were informed at an early age that if they misbehaved they would be left home with a sitter the next time we went out.When children misbehave I blame the parents not the children.

By: Canadian Immigrant

Canadian Immigrant — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:39:08 +0000

Some people on the internet are too frustated with their lives to think hard, McCoy. We are talking about adults whose mentality is quite childish. Don`t expect them to improve. They won`t.
I totally agree with you coment. Children are children, that`s it. As another reader sad above:
"Perhaps some of us could do well to remember that we ourselves were once children!"

By: Canadian Immigrant

Canadian Immigrant — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:35:14 +0000

Agree 100%

By: Canadian Immigrant

Canadian Immigrant — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:34:26 +0000

It was the right thing to do, Jean. In shuch situations parents should not:
1) agree with the child and reward her with what she want,
2) spank her just to demonstrate authority and ventilate your frustation.
You got the hard way, but indeed the right one. Your child will thank you when she will be an adult.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:15:29 +0000

You said "and the driver mumbled we could get back on. “I can’t 100 per cent guarantee she won’t cry again,” I told him. I started walking." Sounds like a form of an apology to me as well as an admission of remorse for what happened, but you figured it was better for your poor me story to reject the offer, through it back in his face and walk. So why would you expect the operator to offer you another apology when you already rejected one?
Sounds to me that your child is displaying learned behaviour, from you!
Manipulate an event to optimum effect to illicit maximum reaction, can't wait for your child to grow up, watch out.

By: Guest

Guest — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:03:12 +0000

I also used to carry things in my purse just in case I ran into a situation where a child needs something to cheer them up, or make the time go by faster, sometimes something new will do the trick. I'm not saying that everyone should do that, I just think it's neat that someone else mentioned helping the mother calm her child, I haven't noticed anyone mention that in the comments that I've read so far.
I used to always get kids meals and used them, and still keep a bag of them at home in case we have visitors with little ones that are bored with their old toys and need some new stimulation to keep them busy.
As a 20 year old, your very intelligent and seem to be a compassionate and caring human being. Kudos to your parents, and you too!
Is it our duty to help others? Nope. But is it too much to go out of your way to help someone, no matter how small the deed might be? I don't think so.

By: Wpg Bus Driver

Wpg Bus Driver — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:34:14 +0000

I say good for the driver, I would have done the same thing. Who wants a screaming kid, the buses are noisy enough. Its the typical "Who cares about others, as long as I can do as I please" If your kid was being a brat why don't you get off the bus, calm the kid down and take the next bus. Don't tell me Victoria transit only has one bus a day

By: Jenny S.

Jenny S. — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:00:00 +0000

As a mom myself, I have been in similar predicament and it's awful that this mom had to go through this situation. I for one, don't blame her for telling the bus driver that " I can't 100 per cent guarantee she won't cry again" and walk away. It would be pretty unnerving waiting for the bus driver to react again if the daughter started crying once more in addition to the humiliation she already experienced.

By: Douglass

Douglass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:24:21 +0000

"You chose to have it and you chose to ride the bus with it screaming."

It? Well that says a lot about your opinion. Noted.

By: Douglass

Douglass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:13:49 +0000

You should hear the buses after a local high school lets out. That would put one screaming child into perspective.

By: Douglass

Douglass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:11:50 +0000

That would be the time for YOU to get off the bus. That is if the crying child bothers you that much.

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:11:34 +0000

Bullroar, madam, bullroar. Your critics are the sensible ones. You have had all sorts of entitlements in your life; the one thing you're not entitled to is a blank cheque on public behavior — certainly not in an enclosed space.
While we sympathise with your predicament, we don't sympathise with your indignation. The fracas you and your kid created would have caused me to exit the bus on the verge of a panic attack. Yet– I would have been the well-behaved traveller, not you.

By: Transit blues

Transit blues — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:48:32 +0000

While taking public transit over the last few months, I've been asked for money, have had to listen to the expletive-ridden music coming from someone's cheap headphones from an Mp3 player turned up way too loud, watched drunk college kids vomit, listened to half of a lovers' quarrell from someone who though she had to shout to be heard over the din of the bus, and exposed to a variety of other deplorable acts of public stupidity. All this is to say, a crying baby on a bus comes with the territory. If the bus driver can't hack it, he really needs to change jobs. Unfortunately, it be cheaper to give Mrs. Manzer free travel for life than fire a unionized employee in BC

By: Member of the Public

Member of the Public — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:49:57 +0000

The good of the many outweighs the good of the screaming brat and lazy non-parent. It it's a 10 minute bus ride, just walk. How is this a horrible dis-service to you? You weren't embarassed that your child was screaming? Only when it was addressed by someone other than yourself? Wait, you don't respond!

By: Reasonable

Reasonable — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:15:57 +0000

I'm guessing you're an ass.

By: kisser

kisser — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:48:50 +0000

For that matter, how many times have you been forced to endure an adults ignorant telephone convo, in which they discuss any manner of private or offensive topics while in public? i think the entitled label goes both ways here , i guess for the mom who is pissed she had to haul her grouchy child 14 blocks after being kicked off the bus , and for the people posting that she should keep her kid under control. Turns out entitled is expecting people to accomodate your wants and needs regardless of the impact it has on them selves. Anyone who brays about bad parenting and shutting up screaming brats is just as entitled as the person wanting a ride with said screaming child. Since when did we al become the center of the freakin universe.

By: kisser

kisser — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:46:00 +0000

So next time she should clamp her hand over the childs mouth and deal with social services when the do-gooder self righteous population at large decide it is abuse.STFU DMER.

By: kcm

kcm — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:46:36 +0000

Hey macleans, i don't come to your site to witness this sad spectacle…supposed adults calling two year olds filth and so on…yeah, yeah i know no one's forcing me to read it…and no one's forcing me to frequent blog central either. There are more hits here than any of the Haiti sites, and a lot of them vile too.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:26:23 +0000

"devastating"? She only had to walk 14 blocks. Jesus Christ.

By: dooner

dooner — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:40:04 +0000

Ditto. I like Ninja Turtles!! La la la Y2K! Y2K!

By: Urinal Gum

Urinal Gum — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:26:25 +0000

Babies tend to shut up if you put a nipple in their mouth. Guys tend to shut up too because they're too busy watching. /just be sure to do it correctly: http://www.urinalgum.com/?p=78

By: kcm

kcm — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:03:18 +0000

Try not to choke on your own vitriol now…try to have a happy life you miserable berk!

By: kcm

kcm — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:51:08 +0000

point taken…thanks…i guess it is the internet…that's a relief.

By: kcm

kcm — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:49:28 +0000

"Attention whoring'!! Sick jerk!

By: Guest

Guest — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:42:44 +0000

followed from fark as well. She was offered a ride BY A MAN SHE DID NOT KNOW. No sane woman gets into a car with a stranger, and most certainly NOT with her child. In today's society there are lots of people who do harm.

By: v

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:51:57 +0000

we shouldn’t have to put up with your genetic mistakes …
why should we have to suffer with the noise and filth of your git ?
if you can’t control them , don’t breed them …

By: My Name

My Name — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:07:48 +0000

Exactly what is sarcasm? Dimwit.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:51:27 +0000

What I'm saying is, a "tie" goes to the mother who is transporting/protecting her child, unless the child is battering people (although I suppose one could argue that a child's yelling is a type of battery).

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:47:47 +0000

I am one of those Fark.com people, and I didn't come to the conclusion that it was bad parenting on the part of the mother from the evidence presented in the small newspaper article. I concluded that the bus driver found his nerves rubbed raw and acted rashly.

As for all those OTHER people on the internet, well, the word "sanctimonious" comes to mind.

By: David

David — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:50:30 +0000

Only someone who doesn't have children, or raised them in the 19th century, would write this. Even the children of the best parents occasionally have meltdowns that can't be soothed. If it never happens the parent is either incredibly lucky or an inappropriately harsh parent.

By: Luthien's Tempest

Luthien's Tempest — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:41:38 +0000

I can't imagine why anyone would find it necessary to kick a toddler off a bus for doing what toddlers do, and I don't even have children of my own. Personally, my reaction to a crying child is to try to distract the kid – as a 20 year old, I have at least one thing in my purse that will interest a child – pen and notepad, a bell, etc. The driver really needs to just get a grip.

By the way, don't be bothered by things that the people of the internet say. You would be horrified to know some of the things that go on out there in the untamed wilds of the internet. I know I've learned not to take everything I see on fark seriously; if any of the horrible things are meant in all seriousness, than the person who posted it is probably not worthy of being heeded. (And now I'm going to close the thread for this story, lest any farkers find my post here and I get crapped on over there)

By: Jojo

Jojo — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:37:01 +0000

Driven to violence, eh? All he would have to do is walk away quickly and you couldn't do much about it, could you?

By: NextChapter

NextChapter — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:25:50 +0000

Excellent! My Sociology professor recommended this when I was in college. One of the student's said, "But what about disturbing all of the other people in the store?" He said, "Those people are not my concern. My daughter is my concern." And like you he said that they only had to go through it a couple of times before she realized that throwing a temper tantrum to get what she wanted wasn't going to work. Lesson learned without spanking or yelling. I wish more people realized this is the way to do it.

By: NextChapter

NextChapter — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:14:28 +0000

Another Farker here. When my sons were toddlers and having a bad day, it was often due to not feeling well, such as when they were coming down with a cold or developing an ear infection. Even before they started showing any symptoms, they would start to get fussy. It wasn't a matter of misbehaving. Some days they would be irritable and the cause was never known. Maybe they didn't sleep well the night before. Sometimes toddlers cry. They don't have a lot of coping skills at that age. Mature grown-ups should know that.

The bus is a public transit system. If you buy a ticket on a public transit system and there is no ban on having babies or small children on the bus, an reasonably intelligent person should know that there is a chance that there could be one or more on that bus. And they should suspect, that if there is one or more on the bus, that they might cry.