Was I unreasonable to dob someone in?

[VulvicMineralWater]

NC as this might be quite outing.

I commute to work on the train. I get on at stop A and off at stop D, both of which have ticket barriers. I always buy a ticket when I travel.

Stops B and C don't have ticket barriers.

A man got on at Stop B. The inspector came around asking for anyone who got on at Stop B. The inspector was very visible and called out "Stop B passengers" loudly enough for everyone to hear. The man didn't have headphones in. Yet, the man didn't show his ticket.

So, as the inspector passed I pointed out the man and said he'd got on at Stop B. Inspector then went to check his ticket and what a surprise the man didn't have one.

The man called me an interfering bitch. Meh, yeah, that's pretty accurate but it fucks me off that people feel as though buying a ticket is optional. It's not. You're using a service, you need to pay for it.

So was I unreasonable to dob this guy in?

[ProfessorPickles]

I think you were fine to tell the ticket inspector OP.

Would she be a grass if she reported someone for shoplifting? Just because there is no physical item being taken doesn't make it ok.

[user1489179512]

Well done, OP. You were brace to do that. Go you!

[user1489179512]

...brave...

[StrawberryJelly00]

Lol Norland!!

Op If you feel you were justified in your actions why come on here and ask if yabu?

If you felt wholly comfortable with your actions in the scenario why the need to post online for reactions/or gloat/ask for feedback.

Don't really get it

[user1489179512]

No way is it acceptable to pretend you have paid. Grrrr. We all pay in the end for those selfish and dishonest people.

[user1489179512]

Makes me seethe. But tutting and glowering at them is no use. They can just ignore you. Odious creeps.

[ButtMuncher]

YANBU. I'd probably be too scared to say anything but I'd secretly want to.

I've managed to get free rides as an adult but only as the conductor hasn't come round and there isn't a ticket machine at the station I used to live at. TBH it was mainly late night trips to London or Cambridge so I think by that point they'd given up caring

[Tatiannatomasina]

I think you are marvellous 😀

[user1489179512]

jojo2916

if you have the energy to watch and report others perhaps use it for something more serious, such as abuse etc, the fact you were naughty at school yourself makes it even worse you are such a busy body now,

The power of logic is impressive.

[WankingMonkey]

The inspector expected people to just tell him where they got on? Do they not keep some track of things as this seems a bit daft as clearly those without a ticket will not say they had just got on?

On public transport you should really pretend other people don't exist unless there's a threat to life.

This

[user1489179512]

"Tatiannatomasina*

I think you are marvellous 😀

So do I. She rocks.


Yep.

[Tagomago]

You have to question, what have you lost, what have you gained by your actions. You may have pointed out a very minor offence committed by someone else who otherwise wouldn't have impacted upon your life in any way. You may also have antagonised someone who is goin to be regularly on the train at the same time as you every day...

Make a value judgement. Is it worth it? But at the same time you are not WRONG.

[Greyponcho]

Good for you OP, he's a cheeky freeloading fucker.
Sometimes I'll get the train from place A (godforsaken backwater town) where the ticket machine is on the other platform inaccessible to those with limited mobility. There's never a conductor on the train, so when I reach civilisation my destination at place B, which has a ticket office, I buy a ticket for the journey I have just taken because I don't want to be a freeloading gobshite.

[WankingMonkey]

It does affect me because I pay for my travel and those prices increase when other people don't pay for services they use.

Prices increase regardless tbh

[GabsAlot]

i did use to jump the train for free im not proud of it this was over twenty years ago now

i dont blame u esp if he looks like hes going to work an can afford it

[MovingOnUpMovingOnOut]

Arf at the idea dodged fares will go towards improving the railways or making tickets cheaper

Nope, the fat cat execs and shareholder just get more of our money.

[WankingMonkey]

Are you allowed to shoplift if you are desperate and everyone should turn a blind eye?

OK this might make me a really bad person, but I would actually turn a blind eye if I saw someone shoplifting. Its nothing to do with me. Even more so when its food or something needed in everyday life. I once saw a young woman nicking a box of babymilk in our local tesco...like fuck was I reporting her. Yes I could have got all 'I have to pay so everyone else should have to' but at the end of the day, I don't know why she needs it. She could just be doing it to keep her money, she could be desperate. But ignoring the whole thing is no skin off my nose.

[HouseworkIsASin10]

WankingMonkey Totally agree, we have no idea of their circumstances.

[BARB060609]

Good on you OP, as a previous poster said fare dodgers push prices up for others so fare payers are actually subsidising these people. Would it be OK to just steal from the drinks trolley? No, so why is it OK to not pay your fare as this is stealing also.

I must admit though I wouldn't have had the balls to point him out if he could see me ha.

[isittheholidaysyet]

If you are going to call someone out for this be careful.

I used to travel on local trains. Had monthly travel card/pass that would cover travel in an area of the city.
Once I was traveling from city centre to station H. The pass only covered to station F. So when ticket collector asked for tickets from station F, I showed him my pass and and bought a ticket from F to H, as required.

Lady opposite didn't see me showing the pass. Thought I was fare dodging from city to F.
Let's just say it wasn't me who was embarrassed.

[BananaThePoet]

Tagomago - exactly. Cost/Benefit analysis. I wouldn't risk my own safety for the dubious satisfaction of feeling smug and spiteful.
You never know when something like that will rebound on you, nor how that rebound will impact.

WankingMonkey - I agree with you entirely.

If someone is desperate for food and they are starving or have starving children and shoplifting is the only way they can keep alive then of course everyone should turn a blind eye. Somebody's life/health is more important than whether a supermarket loses a couple of items.

I mean there are thousands of people turning a blind eye to the government stopping benefits via their sanctions which lead directly to people dying. I'd rather people turned blind eyes to things that helped people instead of those that kill them.

I will never understand people who think money is more important than human lives.

[nopunin10did]

Good for you OP, he's a cheeky freeloading fucker.

Greyponcho No he's not because he paid of a ticket, albeit through gritted teeth but he still paid. OP is assuming he didn't have a ticket on previous journeys but unless they sifted through his pockets that can't be guaranteed.

[JustAKitten]

I mean there are thousands of people turning a blind eye to the government stopping benefits via their sanctions which lead directly to people dying. I'd rather people turned blind eyes to things that helped people instead of those that kill them.

Exactly

[Increasinglymiddleaged]

Yabu the real villians here are the train companies and the ££££ that they charge. It isn't other passengers fare dodging that make it expensive it is large corporations taking advantage of their monopoly positions to rob people blind. But yeah pit the little man against the little man instead of looking at the real problem.

[BBCNewsRave]

foodtime God you sound like such a chav op.
Why do working class people seem to take real pride in hurting each other.


I don't think they do. In fact, IME the whole "don't be a snitch" thing seems to be stronger in working class people.
People with limited resources will naturally be suspicious of others getting more than their "fair share", so you'd expect suspicion and gossip, but IME there's also a suspicion of authority (whilst still a deference, presumably due to powerlessness). Whereas the middle class will be understanding (champagne socialist style) up to a point, but be more comfortable reporting to authority when they feel it crosses a line.... Or something.

I find the whole "don't be a tall tale" thing weird, and have since I was little. "Telling tales" to me implies lying/exaggerating the truth purely to get someone into trouble. But it seems to get blown out of all proportion to encompass teeling the truth for good reason! I mean, where's the line drawn? "I saw my neighbour lugging a sack with an arm hanging out and driving off with it at 2am, but I don't want to be a tell-tale"?!