I really don't know

[BadBeast]

This has obviously been fucking with your process, so try fucking with his. Next time you see him, praying to his IGod, just walk up to him, peer at his appliance, and say in a non threatening, quiet voice, "Sorry, but can I just. . . ." and as you say it, slowly, but with no hint of caution, reach across, and take the thing, out of his hands, and just walk off with it. If you do this with the righteousness and conviction you convey in this post, he will be so mindbombed by your behaviour, that he will need at least 2 minutes before it sinks in. All you need is 5 or 10 seconds though. If he doesn't immediately challenge your actions, (and I'm guessing he wont) then he is not going to do so at all. The bonus being, you get to keep his IPhone as a Trophy.
Technically you haven't robbed him, because you gently took it from him, after requesting it, and he never asked for it back.
Also, I expect you could just about manage a "Do not even think about it, cuz i'm a batshit crazy motherfucker"  look, especially in your vest, and titfer. (Hat) Wear something else, that's a little crazy too, like a feather boa, or cover your hat with tinfoil, just for extra gravitas. What's the worst that can happen?

Reading back through this, I seem to have missed out the most obvious and practical course of action, which is, quite simply to get a fucking grip, and stop projecting on this poor fucker, who, after all, has no responsibility for the way you feel.  Own your rage, and take responsibility for it yourself, or it will consume you, until you can no longer make a rational decision.
This edit is me, owning my antisocial tendencies, and attempting to make redress, and moderate what I said earlier. So if I can do this, I don't see why you can't take enough control of your own shit, enough to see someone use his own phone, without getting bent out of shape.

I'm not mad at anyone using their iphone, shit- I own a blackberry 

Maybe this rests in  Brand Loyalty issues. You like your Blackberry, but deep down, you realise that it really doesn't hold a candle to the IPhone, and the guilt you feel at knowing this, is conflicting with your programmed loyalty to your Blackberry, resulting in anger towards anything that challenges your own Technology. (Just a thought)

[h-town]

Do you feel the same way about laptops?

How about books?

Or should everyone just stare placidly into space, doing nothing?

Don't tell me that we should be interacting with each other on the bus, because the last place I want to meet people and make friends is on my morning commute. Not that I do that anymore, but I did for roughly 13 years, and, no.

I get what you're saying, but you don't have to resemble a dorky cell phone ad while you're doing it.

In retrospect, he wasn't that bad.

[h-town]

Maybe this rests in  Brand Loyalty issues. You like your Blackberry, but deep down, you realise that it really doesn't hold a candle to the IPhone, and the guilt you feel at knowing this, is conflicting with your programmed loyalty to your Blackberry, resulting in anger towards anything that challenges your own Technology. (Just a thought)

I feel complete with my blackberry. It's like a paid subscription phantom limb. It's amazing AND it has Brick Breaker.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

It's possible that  caring about other people's facial expressions on the bus may be a sign of "I wish I had your problems" syndrome.

[h-town]

It's possible that  caring about other people's facial expressions on the bus may be a sign of "I wish I had your problems" syndrome.

I think you're right. I definitely wouldn't mind having a condo, sometimes.

Being on the bus lately feels like I'm in some b-movie church of subgenius propaganda video on youtube these days and I'm definitely feeling the grind. I can't afford to see the dentist (long overdue,) I live paycheck to paycheck, I never went to college or university even though I used to dream about being the kind of person who did. My own blackberry isn't even hooked up to the internet because I can't afford a *nice* cell phone plan. I guess I am jealous.

Fuck, I hate him more now 

[Elder Iptuous]

...

Fuck, I hate him me more now 

what do you want to be when you grow up?
(i still haven't figured it out myself)

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

I never went to college or university even though I used to dream about being the kind of person who did.

Have you given up on the idea?

I've found that people who didn't go to college right after high school tend to be more serious about their education and are much more interesting to talk to and much more valuable study partners.

[Elder Iptuous]

there is truth in what Net says.
i fucked around for three years in Austin before i screwed my head on and buckled down at University.  I did very well because i didn't feel the need to play at the expense of education.  my best study partners were a persian guy that was serious about his education because it was what allowed him to stay here, and a guy in his forties that didn't have any desire to rawk out with the youngsters.

if you want to go to college and you can afford to buckle down (i.e. you don't have to work your ass off already just to make payments on all your crap) then you can do well, and if you do well you can get scholarships to really help out.

sounds like you're beating yourself up about not doing it, but chances are, you can.

DO IT.
if you don't do it now, you'll beat yourself up later for not doing it now.
better Nate than lever.

[Hoser McRhizzy]

What Net and Iptuous said - thirded.

I was away from school for 8 years and still prefer working with people who didn't go straight through non-stop: high school-bachelor's/college-masters-doc. 

In addition to scholarships, there's also research work, TA-ing and a tonne of other things available to take care of the tuition/rent/groceries issue.

If you want more institutionalized hedgumacation, it's doable.  And I don't think there's a 'kind of person' in the way you mean.  But now I'm just being picky/pedantic.


(Off-topic time warp to earlier in the thread - never been to Chicago.  I had no idea what you meant, but Toronto's super-soft core something or other.)

[Eater of Clowns]

Have you given up on the idea?

I've found that people who didn't go to college right after high school tend to be more serious about their education and are much more interesting to talk to and much more valuable study partners.

there is truth in what Net says.
i fucked around for three years in Austin before i screwed my head on and buckled down at University.  I did very well because i didn't feel the need to play at the expense of education.  my best study partners were a persian guy that was serious about his education because it was what allowed him to stay here, and a guy in his forties that didn't have any desire to rawk out with the youngsters.

if you want to go to college and you can afford to buckle down (i.e. you don't have to work your ass off already just to make payments on all your crap) then you can do well, and if you do well you can get scholarships to really help out.

sounds like you're beating yourself up about not doing it, but chances are, you can.

DO IT.
if you don't do it now, you'll beat yourself up later for not doing it now.
better Nate than lever.

What Net and Iptuous said - thirded.

I was away from school for 8 years and still prefer working with people who didn't go straight through non-stop: high school-bachelor's/college-masters-doc.  

In addition to scholarships, there's also research work, TA-ing and a tonne of other things available to take care of the tuition/rent/groceries issue.

If you want more institutionalized hedgumacation, it's doable.  And I don't think there's a 'kind of person' in the way you mean.  But now I'm just being picky/pedantic.


(Off-topic time warp to earlier in the thread - never been to Chicago.  I had no idea what you meant, but Toronto's super-soft core something or other.)

I've always found that people who waited before going to school were smugly self superior about their choices.   

[Elder Iptuous]

hey. we're being supportive.
we're pointing out that it's not a 'missed the boat' type of thing.
mebbee you're right, but fuck it....
doesn't change the fact.
he should DO IT.

NOW.

[Eater of Clowns]

hey. we're being supportive.
we're pointing out that it's not a 'missed the boat' type of thing.
mebbee you're right, but fuck it....
doesn't change the fact.
he should DO IT.

NOW.

I'm poking fun, Ipt.  There's a maturity difference and a great deal of wisdom that comes with those few years, I can see how your experiences would be as you described them.

But yes, h-town.  If it is at all feasible to do so, a degree is a great thing to have.

[Kai]

After reading this thread, I don't really have a strong opinion about the OP, but I do know that I need to shout it loud next time I head up to toronto, because there are more people from the area than I thought.

[h-town]

I am planing on going back to school this year as a part time student. I'm not sure at all what I plan on doing as a career but marine biology, mathematics and psychology all interest me.

[Triple Zero]

Part-time studying is fucking hard. But go for it!