Baiting

As a general rule when reporting on passengers I’ll change certain details such as localities and other identifying information. In four years of cablogging it’s extremely rare that a passenger hasn’t deserved anonymity. Here is one of those cases.

Around 1am this morning in the Rocks a bloke wandered across the road from a hotel and hailed me. A big man around thirty years old and of Anglo Aussie stock, he presented as a classic rugby prop forward.

He didn't seem obviously drunk, until he fell into the front seat with little control. Ignoring my greeting he leaned back onto headrest and sighed heavily. So I slowly rolled off, prepared for anything.

“Where to?” I asked. He waited, then slurred nastily, “Where you from?” “Sydney,” I replied. “Where do you want to go?” Again he ignored me. “What’s your heritage?” he snarled, clearly being difficult. “Irish”, I told him, thinking this may well be a very short fare.

He looked across at me and with barely controlled aggression said, “The Irish are the absolute scum of the earth.” I immediately pulled over in front of six waiting cabs outside Jacksons on George. He had lasted all of 100 metres.

Reefing on the handbrake and clearing the meter I told him, “No charge, I can’t help you.” Yet he refused to accept the message and arrogantly shrugged his shoulders. “I’m staying” he said. “Mate, not in this cab you’re not,” I replied. “Maybe the cabs behind will take you but I’m not taking you anywhere.”

First he checked the milling crowd outside the bar before turning on me. “Your ancestors are FUCKIN' SHIT!” he exploded. Obviously he wanted a fight but I stared straight ahead and considered my options.

Instantly I regretted wearing the seatbelt as he was one reaction away from smashing me, from which I had no quick escape. Yet due to the number of pedestrians and cabs around us I knew it was just a matter of remaining impassive and waiting him out.

He had no other choice and he knew it. Slowly opening the door he fired off a vicious parting shot, “I’m just so glad that my English ancestors...(insert the vilest insult you can think of)...your mother.” I waited, expressionless.

It worked and he alighted, wandering over to the bar to bait someone else. Gone, out of my life. So I drove off to Graveyard Barista’s where we laughed about....trolls!

Comments

[Will]

Picking a fight with a cabbie, what a champ. (vile insult removed)

Adrian, I was in sydney last week, and a cabbie took us to what is apparently the Sydney taxi industry's favourite kebab shop in five dock. We were not disappointed! I think there were about 10 taxis parked next to this tiny kebab stall..

[pat]

Sounds like he couldn't pick up at any of the Irish pubs at the Rocks and took it out on you. The Irish and descendants are very discerning which can be very upsetting to mongrel types.

You should have told him to go tell Mick Foley if he was a Rugby type and see what response he'd get. I don't know how you keep at your job Adrian. More power to you.

[Goldstein]

For some reason, my mother's ancestors fancied the exotic when it came to marriage/breeding, thus I am a mixture of Scottish, Irish, English, German, Jewish, Koori... and my father was southern Greek -and miraculously, any time someone wanted to racially abuse me, they could pick whichever individual component they hated -so I got abused for being a wog, an abo, a white fella, a Jew, a mongrel mix.. I've even been abused for being a member of races I don't possess -French bastard, arab, spic, Italian, whatever..

If the abusive cretin was unarmed, and it was dark, they got a flogging.. If that was not possible, I just made pointed reference to their flaws, such as my opinion of the size of their genitals, or their lack of intellect or breeding or charisma, which usually got them to the verge of a stroke.

Luckily, I am big enough to see most of them off -6'5" and 290 pounds -and not being Christian, I never "turn the other cheek".. been threatened with a knife, but I can rival Phar Lap for speed if I have to!

I share my ancestors' interest in people of other cultures/races, and can always find a reason to not like someone that is more about them as an individual than some nebulous concept like "race"..

And what is so damned fantastic about being pure white anyway? Check out a "Miss Universe" contest and then tell me those young ladies of all colors wouldn't get your attention!

[Paul Pluta]

Adrian,
This is the worst thing about cab driving.... the straw that broke my taxi driving.... there are just some people out there who are vile.

Sure the money was never great, sure it is not for the status..... but the thing that stopped me driving..... people who are so ville.

I applaud how you handled this..... you are a true professional.

I think I had about 3 x M11s personally.... don't ever be afraid to press the button....

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

GOD BLESS YOU - devil; this take note this driver is not ready for you yet!

[badboybilly]

You mean M13?
I havent driven since 1997 when i lost my taxi licence but we used to have a M13 button then.It didnt do any good.Mind you in all the 8 years i drove i was only attacked twice.

[Rainer.the.cabbie]

It was the right choice to drive the bloke to a spot where you can call on help, if needed. I have come across types like this fare on a few occasions and count my lucky stars to tell the tale. He was the one in a hundred type of person, no matter how much you please and appease, all he wants to do is fight. The bouncers at Jackson's hopefully got onto him straight away. By the way, that is the one reason I never accept a hail from a bouncer.

[Nathaniel]

You did exactly the right thing. Stopping where you did means it's harder for the idiot to try something and get away with it. It's something I'm always telling new drivers. Don't take the problem to some quiet side street get rid of him early when there's still people around.

I have to laugh at the codes mentioned. In Perth M11 is "Job Picked up" on airport fares (going to)and important parcels and M13 is "No Bloody Money".

[Jb]

Anna Keating Justine Chitty Sarah Stutterd Kate Donnelly Veronica Stubbs Nicki Wiggins Cathy O'Sullivan Stacey Muller Janice Worland Emma Johnston

[Paul Pluta]

I wanted to keep the M13 thing a secret .... to non cab people.... hence the reason i changed this is M11.....

MIND you - the bad sort does not probably read this site!

[Skyring]

I had a bloke last night. He was drunk, real drunk, the sort of drunk that gets pushed into a cab by their mates and I get told the address to take him to.

He was racist towards me. Patronisingly racist. "I'm glad you came to my country," he told me.

I don't look at all Pakistani, I was born in Victoria, my ancestors are British all the way back except for a Norwegian sailor who jumped ship in the gold rush, but to this bloke, all cabbies are foreigners. All cabbies are scum.

[Bazza]

Justine Chitty, Sarah Stutterd, Kate Donnelly, Veronica Stubbs, Stacey Muller, Emma Johnston, Ash Cameron, Vicky Abel, Erin Goldstiver, Nat Bell, Alison Buzza, Carrie Birch, Aleisha Dunn, Makala FFrench

[Bazza]

Justine Chitty, Sarah Stutterd, Kate Donnelly, Veronica Stubbs, Stacey Muller, Emma Johnston, Ash Cameron, Vicky Abel, Erin Goldstiver, Nat Bell, Alison Buzza, Carrie Birch, Aleisha Dunn, Makala FFrench