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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on June 17, 2008 5:54 AM. The previous post in this blog was Motivation. The next post in this blog is Wow, what will they think of next?. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The kindness of strangers

A safety tip from the City of Portland:

Choose a safe person on the MAX train. When you get on the train, use your intuition to choose someone that you feel would be safe to help you. If someone makes you uncomfortable, or you need help, you can ask this person for help by being direct, "You in the red shirt, I need help! Call 911!"
This and many more are here.

Posted at 5:54 AM | Bookmark and Share

Comments (22)

The red shirt person is to be a Guardian Angel?

No doubt it took more bureaucrats to put this together than will ever read and find it useful.

This is nothing but typical busy work for bureaucrats pretending to be providing a needed government service while never producing a public benefit that justifies their existence or the agency funding.

Hilarious!

Obviously written by someone who has not spent much time on MAX or any other form of public transportation. You don't always get to choose who you sit next to especially when the troublemakers get on board after you do.

The previous section on identifying safe havens along the MAX routes, ideally small businesses which have entrances which can be locked quickly, is also funny. Small business owners are more likely to see trouble coming and lock the door before you get inside.

This advice is no substitute for security on MAX.

I'll ignore the MAX-centric nature of this tidbit, and point out that person-specific cries for help are much more likely to be fruitful than those that are generalized.
People in a group can ignore pleas for help because they always assume someone else will step forward, meaning no one steps forward. (see "bystander apathy" or "diffusion of responsibility")

I can only hope your right. If Adams wants more ridership on Max he better figure out a way to make it safe before i ride it.
Some how the city council took $200,000 of OUR tax money to make sure that men felt warm and cozy ( Coffee and Donuts to boot) while waiting for some employer to stop by and offer work..The councel could have taken some of our TAXES and increased fare inspectors on max .
So now the Angels want to come in and help out and Tri-met doesn't want to be liable. Excuse me, but your giving free passes out to kids when we should use this money to "protect" the paying riders. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CITY HAS CITY HALL GONE MAD.

How about, instead of relying on a stranger to make the judgment call that 911 is needed, Tri-Met installs panic boxes... I know bus drivers and cab drivers have them. Instant police response to your location, no need to hang on the line and explain the situation, etc.

Or you can just page the MAX driver... there are multiple pager boxes on every car.

Aside from that, I'd wholeheartedly support lifetime bans being passed out more liberally. If you're gonna use Tri-Met as a lab to practice your ability to rob, harass, beat, threaten, and generally act supremely anti-social... then you should also know that, in turn, if you get caught, you're riding a bike for the rest of your life.

The violence is only going to get worse as the social mood darkens and more and more people fall through the cracks of rising energy and food costs, unemployment, and so on.

In sum, there are going to LOTS MORE poor pissed off people with nothing to lose roaming the streets of Portland.

Security cameras on every car?

"I'll ignore the MAX-centric nature of this tidbit, and point out that person-specific cries for help are much more likely to be fruitful than those that are generalized."

Uh, not if you call me a red shirt. Red shirts are always the first to get killed during the away missions.

Unless said red shirt has an emergency transporter machine handy.

Security cameras on every car?

They have those already, however they are only for making sure nobody vandalises TriMet property. Much like the "security" folk hired by Trimet.

They dont give a rip about the riders.

Instant police response to your location, no need to hang on the line and explain the situation, etc.

And hope you are not in the tunnel or on a bridge.
And paging the MAX driver...what is that gonna do? He's not coming out of his locked cabin.

When you get on the train, use your intuition to choose someone that you feel would be safe to help you.

Hmm. Why wasn't this accompanied with an admonishment to not allow your intuition to discriminate the choice of your "safe person" on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic status?

Given the entirely normal human impulse to feel safest around people who tend to resemble yourself, isn't this a step backward toward segregated train cars?

Could it be that the City of Portland will breath new life into Plessy v. Ferguson?

Oh well. I'm sure they have a plan for that too.

No one who reads this would ever try the MAX afterwards.

Does no one watch Star Trek? The guys in the red shirts are always killed first.

Ayup. We've identified the problem. It is that the victims haven't complained properly, often enough or early enough. Yup. That's it. Victims' fault. Not our problem!

actually most of these tips aren't bad especially for other places than the MAX where women also get harrassed and assaulted, as this is from the WomenStrength training folks.

Yes, they should have security or maybe study why we have such problems with light-rail in this City as opposed to other places. But ultimately, it's a good idea to know some personal safety stuff, no?


I am in Portland twice a year. I usually ride the MAX to get from my hotel to the Convention Center. In the morning, it's okay. By afternoon, I enter it like a combat zone with my eyes looking out the back of my head. There is NO security and the threat from the gangsters, wanna-be gangsters, toughs and bums is real and palpable. I absolutely refuse to ride this service after 3 PM -- I value the life of my wife and myself too highly. MAX is a safety train wreck and representative of lack of security in all touchy-feely cities. I'm sure glad I don't have to pay taxes to support it.

The identification thing is good general advice. Sociology 101 taught me that! Read about a pretty neat experiment ... people in a moderately packed restaurant, the experiment is a person leaves a bag unattended. If they ask a random stranger to keep an eye on it, like 90% of people will stop another person from taking it; without asking, only like 10% of people will stop another person. And its not about paying attention -- its about being singled out for responsiblity.

Same type of experiment tested calls to police. Test was a cry for help. The FEWER people on the street, the more likely one would call the police or investigation or render assistance. The more people, the more likely they believe that someone else would call for help.

By afternoon, I enter it like a combat zone with my eyes looking out the back of my head. There is NO security and the threat from the gangsters, wanna-be gangsters, toughs and bums is real and palpable. I absolutely refuse to ride this service after 3 PM -- I value the life of my wife and myself too highly.

You know, I am beginning to see this too. I ride MAX to and from work every day, and lately I have been working late..to after 6pm most days. I usually go home around 4:30. There is a whole different group of people on MAX after 6....

"Over the counter with a shotgun
Pretty soon everybody got one" - U2

Get real - if you're afraid of the punks on MAX, then arm yourself.

Good lord, those "instructions" on how to ride PUBLIC transportation sound more like the instructions one might get prior to working with a rabid dog....
Wait, I think I might be on to something here................

Ah, diversity and tolerance win again. Typical for Portland, tax you to death and then duck any responsibility to assist the taxpayers. Like Tacoma's policy that the car owner is at fault for any potential theft if he leaves the keys in the car. Tolerance is a wonderful thing.

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In Vino Veritas

Dom Martinho, Tinto 2005
Chateau St. Jean, Cabernet, California 2007
Kirkland, Napa Cabernet 2007
Revelry, The Reveler, 2007
Joseph Drouhin, Chablis 2006
Altos Las Hormigas, Mendoza Malbec 2008
Alodio, Ribeira Sacra Mencia 2007
Charles Smith, Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2008
Kiona, Lemberger 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Valley Merlot 2005
Paranga, Kir-Yianni 2005
L. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Rose 2007
Gloria Ferrer, Sonoma Brut
Kirkland, Napa Valley Meritage 2006
Abacela, Tempranillo 2006
Woodward Canyon, Columbia Valley Red
Santa Margherita, Pinot Grigio 2007
Mas Donis Barrica, Celler de Capcanes Red, 2005
Three Rivers, Merlot 2006
Raptor Ridge, Pinot Gris 2008
Lezaun, Rosado, Navarra
Lezaun, Red, Navarra
Hedges, Three Vineyards, Red Mountain 2005
Raptor Ridge, Pinot Gris 2008
Vega Sindoa, Cabernet-Tempranillo 2006
Inama, Soave Classico 2007
Alois Lageder, Lagrein Rosato 2008
Broglia, Gavi 2007
Marqués de Cáceres, Rioja Rose 2008
Spaltagna, Riserva Pinot Noir 2008
Portuga, Rose 2008
Warre's Warrior Port
Lange, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Guiraud, Le G, 2007
Falset, Garnacha Rose, Montsant 2006
Castello di Bossi, Chianti Classico 2004
Domaine Chandon, Pinot Noir, La Riviere Sonoma 2006
Brazin, Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi 2006
B.R. Cohn, Silver Label Cabernet 2006
Casillero del Diablo, Cabernet 2007
Gentil Hugel, Alsace 2006
Mesoneros de Castilla, Ribero del Duero, Rosado 2008
Cor, Momentum 2007
Santa Margherita, Pinot Grigio 2006
Rubico, Lacrima di Morro d'Alba 2007
Gilstrap Brothers, Reserve Merlot 2003
Conundrum 2007
Chandler Reach, 36 Red
Santa Rita, Reserve Cabernet 2005
Marietta, Old Vine Red Lot 47
L'Ecole No. 41, Recess Red 2006
Dom Martinho, Red 2004
Beaulieu, Georges Latour 1994
Caymus, Cabernet 1995
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2005
Bergevin Lane, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2005
Savigny-les-Beaune, Les Lavieres 2003
David Hill, Reserve Merlot, Rogue Valley 2006
Educated Guess, Cabernet 2006
Maquis Lien, Red 2005
Charles Smith, Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2007
David Hill, Farmhouse White
Robert Mondavi Solaire, Cabernet 2005
Castello Monaci, Liante, Salice Salentino 2006
Ricardo Santos, Malbec 2006
Quinta da Espiga, Tinto 2006
Charles Smith, Holy Cow Merlot 2006
Charles Smith, Boom Boom Syrah 2006
Charles Smith, The Honorable Pinot Gris 2007
Santa Rita, Cabernet Reserva 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2007
Gloria, Douro, Tinto 2002
Bogle, Petite Sirah Port, Clarksburg 2005
Cardwell Hill, Pinot Noir 2004
Silkwood, Red Duet Cabernet-Syrah 2004
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006, 2007
Osborne, Solaz 2004
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Reserva 2005
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill, Shiraz Cabernet 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2004
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Hannah Nicole, Red 2004
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2005
Protocolo, Red 2005
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2006
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1996
Kirkland, Roogle Shiraz 2004
Garda, Classico Chiaretto
A to Z, Oregon Pinot Gris 2005
I Giusti & Zanza, Nemorino 2006
Treana, Marsanne-Viognier, Central Coast 2005
Fife, Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
B.R. Cohn, Silver Label Cabernet 2005
Marques de Casa Concha, Cabernet 2005
Santi, Sortesele Pinot Grigio 2006
Al Muvedre, Tinto Joven 2006
Layer Cake, Shiraz 2006
Gritti, Ca' Andrea, Umbria red 2005
Altos de Luzon, Jumilla 2004
Thomas Leithner, Zweigelt 2004
Cain Cuvee NV 3
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot 2003
Meridian, Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Paringa, Shiraz 2005

The Occasional Book

F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 64
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