Comments on: The Excited States: Japanese Tourist Removed from Train for Taking Pictures of the Passing Countryside http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/ Joey deVilla's Personal Blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: DaveP http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/comment-page-1/#comment-1544 DaveP Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:26:44 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/#comment-1544 Chris Taylor's got a point, but when I travelled from Winnipeg to Vancouver on VIA, I found that there was a huge variation in the staff. The ones working first-class near the "end of the train" nearest the bar-car tended to have less seniority and better attitudes. Those working first class nearer the dining car seemed snootier and the one staff person working coach class that I interacted with had me mumbling "What a dick!" under my breath. The problem is that it's nearly impossible to get rid of the bad apples, which spoils the entire barrel. Chris Taylor’s got a point, but when I travelled from Winnipeg to Vancouver on VIA, I found that there was a huge variation in the staff.

The ones working first-class near the “end of the train” nearest the bar-car tended to have less seniority and better attitudes. Those working first class nearer the dining car seemed snootier and the one staff person working coach class that I interacted with had me mumbling “What a dick!” under my breath.

The problem is that it’s nearly impossible to get rid of the bad apples, which spoils the entire barrel.

]]> By: Chris Taylor http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/comment-page-1/#comment-1532 Chris Taylor Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:56:53 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/#comment-1532 In an ideal world, I'd agree with you. But I've also ridden the VIA-Amtrak code shares long enough to realise that the staff (conductors or otherwise, Canadians or Americans) tend to look on the pax as an inconvenience at best. This summer I was treated to the spectacle of two VIA employees discussing strike options (which would be invoked in a day or two) at full volume in front of a completely full pax car. One gent was off-duty, travelling with his family, and the other was on-duty, in uniform. And for a good couple of hours while the train rolled along, they discussed their union's strike posture, mutual hatred of management, and how they could hardly wait for a good long strike to interrupt rail traffic and strengthen their bargaining position. I agree that this particular case sucks large. Doubly so that the arraigned individual was a foreign tourist with little-to-no command of English. But ah, conductors as ambassadors? Maybe in 1960-something; not today -- they are considerably more cranky. And let's not even get into how un-ambassadorial the average <i>airline</i> attendant is! In an ideal world, I’d agree with you. But I’ve also ridden the VIA-Amtrak code shares long enough to realise that the staff (conductors or otherwise, Canadians or Americans) tend to look on the pax as an inconvenience at best.

This summer I was treated to the spectacle of two VIA employees discussing strike options (which would be invoked in a day or two) at full volume in front of a completely full pax car. One gent was off-duty, travelling with his family, and the other was on-duty, in uniform. And for a good couple of hours while the train rolled along, they discussed their union’s strike posture, mutual hatred of management, and how they could hardly wait for a good long strike to interrupt rail traffic and strengthen their bargaining position.

I agree that this particular case sucks large. Doubly so that the arraigned individual was a foreign tourist with little-to-no command of English.

But ah, conductors as ambassadors? Maybe in 1960-something; not today — they are considerably more cranky. And let’s not even get into how un-ambassadorial the average airline attendant is!

]]> By: Joey deVilla http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/comment-page-1/#comment-1530 Joey deVilla Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:17:33 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/#comment-1530 <strong>@Chris Taylor:</strong> It <em>is</em> a case of "Bureaucratic Napoleon Syndrome", but the problem is that the conductor invoked national security and the person about whom she "got a bee in their bonnet" was a foreign national. While conductors, as public-facing operators of national infrastructure do have watchdog responsibilities, they also have ambassadorial ones. @Chris Taylor: It is a case of “Bureaucratic Napoleon Syndrome”, but the problem is that the conductor invoked national security and the person about whom she “got a bee in their bonnet” was a foreign national.

While conductors, as public-facing operators of national infrastructure do have watchdog responsibilities, they also have ambassadorial ones.

]]> By: Chris Taylor http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/comment-page-1/#comment-1528 Chris Taylor Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:36:30 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/#comment-1528 I tend to chalk it up to bureaucratic zealotry than pant-peeing anti-terrorist response. I've taken photos on Amtrak trains loads of times, operated laptops and so on, and never been accosted by the staff or security. That said, all it it takes is one union-backed stubborn idiot to put a crimp in a passenger's day. Twelve years ago I used to see passengers get heaved off certain Mississauga Transit routes for talking on their cellular phones. Not in any particular violation of the rules, mind you. The bus driver would just pull over and refuse to move until the phone-using passenger ended the call or disembarked. Seems pretty clear that in this case, an employee got a bee in their bonnet and wasn't going to be happy until this guy left the train. I tend to chalk it up to bureaucratic zealotry than pant-peeing anti-terrorist response. I’ve taken photos on Amtrak trains loads of times, operated laptops and so on, and never been accosted by the staff or security.

That said, all it it takes is one union-backed stubborn idiot to put a crimp in a passenger’s day.

Twelve years ago I used to see passengers get heaved off certain Mississauga Transit routes for talking on their cellular phones. Not in any particular violation of the rules, mind you. The bus driver would just pull over and refuse to move until the phone-using passenger ended the call or disembarked.

Seems pretty clear that in this case, an employee got a bee in their bonnet and wasn’t going to be happy until this guy left the train.

]]> By: darryl http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/comment-page-1/#comment-1527 darryl Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:07:56 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/#comment-1527 Check out this story for comparison http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/jul2000/phil-j20.shtml Check out this story for comparison

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/jul2000/phil-j20.shtml

]]> By: darryl http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/comment-page-1/#comment-1526 darryl Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:51:27 +0000 http://www.joeydevilla.com/2007/11/06/the-excited-states-japanese-tourist-removed-from-train-for-taking-pictures-of-the-passing-countryside/#comment-1526 Something is screwy with this story, and I have to wonder if it's fake, or at least exaggerated. Assuming it's true, here a response fro m Amtrak that one commenter posted: Dear Amtrak Customer, Thank you for your inquiry. Photography is allowed onboard the train, and passengers are permitted to take pictures. We hope this information will be helpful. Sincerely, Kathleen Customer Service Something is screwy with this story, and I have to wonder if it’s fake, or at least exaggerated.

Assuming it’s true, here a response fro m Amtrak that one commenter posted:

Dear Amtrak Customer,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Photography is allowed onboard the train, and passengers are permitted to take pictures.

We hope this information will be helpful.

Sincerely,
Kathleen
Customer Service

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