Comments on: Wall Street Reporter Rides The ‘Williamsburg-Boro Park Bus’ – Passengers Tell Her To Sit In Back

By: Avi K

Avi K — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:00:48 +0000

She should have refused to go to the back – and if they had tried to force her she should have called the police They have no right to force their chumrot on others – and the fact that in Israel they are called “mehadrin buses” shows that they admit that it only a chumra.

As for it being a “private” line, if it provides a service to the general public it is a place of public acccomodation and they may not even ask people to sit in a certain place on the basis of gender. Israeli buses in fact now have signs saying that someone doing this is liable to criminal prosecution.

By: Toi

Toi — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:47:19 +0000

if its a mistake then deal. this woman came to make trouble. dont go have a same gender marriage in a shul in
BP and not expect a reaction. yes its legal and cant legally be shut down but a community can have feelings and have those feelings respected.

By: 2pence

2pence — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:53:52 +0000

#13: It may be a privately OWNED route, but it is a PUBLIC accommodation, i.e., anyone can ride it. Therefore it must comply with various sets of laws. What I suggested was to get a PRIVATE charter not open to public ridership. Of course, that would be more expensive and I doubt you’d want to pay for that.

#14: Doesn’t matter if they are doing it to provoke reaction. They are correct; they have the absolute right to sit anywhere on the bus that they want.

#8: The jostling on the bus would make any physical contact incidental and de minimis, and would not support a battery claim unless more severe than was reported. You’re not guilty of a crime or civil offense merely for trying to provoke a reaction. #3′s comment does not provide one iota of truthfulness.

By: eric55

eric55 — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:37:31 +0000

how come when its the jews that have such a bus policy, they send a reporter on to the bus to try and instigate something? if this would be a muslim bus doing the same or worse not only wouldnt they try to investigate they would be writing articles of what a beautiful thing it is. I think we all know the answer

By: YonasonW

YonasonW — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:12:00 +0000

“There are too many people who are offended by frum people” Yossi? I think there are too many frum people offended by others simply going about their daily lives according to standards that while not ours are not so outrageous. I mean, what would these people who kvetch about seating on a bus do on a subway?!

By: popa_bar_abba

popa_bar_abba — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:04:57 +0000

#3 makes a good point.

Squeezing next to a member of the opposite gender on a bus is obviously not sexual harassment usually, because it is not meant or understood as a sexual gesture.

However, it is equally obvious that if context shows it is meant and understood as a sexual gesture, it would be harassment. (for example, imagine it was a boss who was squeezing next to his secretary who he also had said things to, and made other gestures.)

She did it specifically to antagonize him knowing he understood it in a sexual way. Makes an interesting question.

By: torahyid

torahyid — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:49:31 +0000

Is it dineh demalchuse dina or dina layisroel dineh in Galus America ???????????

By: mark levin

mark levin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:39:40 +0000

The WSJ is a pay site. Perhaps someone or YWN could post the rest of the “story” for us to see??

By: mark levin

mark levin — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:38:19 +0000

5. Your comment isn’t even worth 2 pence! If this machshayfa or any other Martha Shayfala comes onto the bus to sit in the front, they are doing it to start up – nothing more & nothing less. That being the case, they should be TOSSED off the bus!!

By: Yosey

Yosey — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:32:34 +0000

If you read the article, the men did not make a scene. They asked she refused, the guy changed his seat. They would not talk to her, as they would not talk to any woman. They did nothing wrong at all. The woman asked her politely and said this is how we do things, She smiled at her! There was no harassing. The women did speak to her and explained whay they do what they do. As far as the passengers they acted extremely well. SHE tried to push the issue by sitting where it would ruffle feathers.
In response to #5, this IS a private bus route, the city has given it permits, but all the expenses and profits are private. (AND I am sure they city gets taxes from this) The lawsuit said the bus company could not force the issue. They is nothing that says the passengers could not make the request on the own. (Keyword is request not demand!)

There are too many people who are offended by frum people. If I was a professional I would say it is because they feel guilty, why aren’t we that careful!