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- Joined
- 26 Jul 2004
- Posts
- 1,074
- Location
- Birmingham
Was on the bus home the other night, upstairs second row from the front - not exactly chav country. Bus was pretty packed of people though seat next to me was empty.
I received a funny text message, and was holding my phone out in my right hand contemplating what to write in response.
Pair of hands came outta nowhere from behind and fought to pry the phone off my hand. I instinctively closed the phone (slider phone) and turned my hand over with the phone facing the floor, firm grip and phone wasn't going nowhere fast.
That's about as far as my reflex went as my thoughts were still on the text message, the whole time the pair of hands were still trying to get my phone outta my hands - with no luck. It probably took 3 seconds before I actually "woke up" and said "What're you doing? Trying to nick my phone?" as I turned around.
That's when I realised I couldn't hear anything because my earphones were still blaring metal music. The hands were still at it, so I got up, pulled my left hand out of my pocket to take my earphones off, and finally turned around to see this teenager in a hoodie still trying to get my phone off me. This is when I think I pulled my arm back, and repeated myself "Are you trying to rob my phone?"
I really couldn't quite absorb what was going on still, and the bus full of people certainly didn't react at all, typical British fashion
The kid said something about me laughing at my phone, to which I thought "That has to be the lamest excuse I've ever heard after a failed robbery attempt."
I instinctively replied "I just had a good text." and noticed now he had his finger wrapped around my earphone cable near my pocket, so now I had to ask him "Are you trying to nick my earphones now? Get your hands off my earphones."
Even his mate at this point asked what the hell was he doing.
Naturally the thought of hitting him went through my head when he was still thumbling at my phone, but I've never been a violent person - my empathy makes it a bit hard for me to inflict physical damage on people. I ended up wishing I knew hand-locks beyond pure principles and could use it on reflex.
I really don't know what I should / could have done in that situation. The bus was pretty crowded so it's certainly gonna cause a big scene if I retaliated; also it was a teenager, no more than 19 I reckon; the fact that he was in hoodie and with friends would have been another factor in not wanting to get violent either.
How would you guys have handled the situation? I kept playing it in my head afterwards, bemused mostly at the idiotic failed effort at even prying the phone outta my hand, but regretted my verbal communications with the kid. Half of me wish I was more chilled out about it and crack humour into it: "Do people take your TV away everytime you laugh at comedies? If that's the case you've been robbed mate, you should sock the ******** next time."
The other half of me naturally thought I should have been more firm "What kinda messed up justification is that? Can I come robbing your crap next time you crack a smile at a joke? You seriously think you could get away with this crap?"
I received a funny text message, and was holding my phone out in my right hand contemplating what to write in response.
Pair of hands came outta nowhere from behind and fought to pry the phone off my hand. I instinctively closed the phone (slider phone) and turned my hand over with the phone facing the floor, firm grip and phone wasn't going nowhere fast.
That's about as far as my reflex went as my thoughts were still on the text message, the whole time the pair of hands were still trying to get my phone outta my hands - with no luck. It probably took 3 seconds before I actually "woke up" and said "What're you doing? Trying to nick my phone?" as I turned around.
That's when I realised I couldn't hear anything because my earphones were still blaring metal music. The hands were still at it, so I got up, pulled my left hand out of my pocket to take my earphones off, and finally turned around to see this teenager in a hoodie still trying to get my phone off me. This is when I think I pulled my arm back, and repeated myself "Are you trying to rob my phone?"
I really couldn't quite absorb what was going on still, and the bus full of people certainly didn't react at all, typical British fashion
The kid said something about me laughing at my phone, to which I thought "That has to be the lamest excuse I've ever heard after a failed robbery attempt."
I instinctively replied "I just had a good text." and noticed now he had his finger wrapped around my earphone cable near my pocket, so now I had to ask him "Are you trying to nick my earphones now? Get your hands off my earphones."
Even his mate at this point asked what the hell was he doing.
Naturally the thought of hitting him went through my head when he was still thumbling at my phone, but I've never been a violent person - my empathy makes it a bit hard for me to inflict physical damage on people. I ended up wishing I knew hand-locks beyond pure principles and could use it on reflex.
I really don't know what I should / could have done in that situation. The bus was pretty crowded so it's certainly gonna cause a big scene if I retaliated; also it was a teenager, no more than 19 I reckon; the fact that he was in hoodie and with friends would have been another factor in not wanting to get violent either.
How would you guys have handled the situation? I kept playing it in my head afterwards, bemused mostly at the idiotic failed effort at even prying the phone outta my hand, but regretted my verbal communications with the kid. Half of me wish I was more chilled out about it and crack humour into it: "Do people take your TV away everytime you laugh at comedies? If that's the case you've been robbed mate, you should sock the ******** next time."
The other half of me naturally thought I should have been more firm "What kinda messed up justification is that? Can I come robbing your crap next time you crack a smile at a joke? You seriously think you could get away with this crap?"
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