To want a particularly heinous punishment

[Commuterface]

For people who lean with their whole body braced against handrails/poles on the tube, particularly on the Central line where there aren't enough hand rails at the best of times.

I'm 5 foot nothing so can hardly reach the overhead rail and 'bracers' tut and mutter when I try to squeeze my hand between their back and the pole. It's so bloody inconsiderate.

Perhaps they need the support and a handhold wont cut it?

Yep, I'm just over 5ft and have dodgy knees. If I can't find a seat, you can bet I'll be bracing myself against any available solid surface. YABU.

Yesssssss!!!! This drives me crazy too! It's a HAND rail/ pole not a leaning post-war if you need to lean go and lean on the end of the carriage!

Does heinous rhyme with anus or penis? I can never remember.

I don't mind bracers so on as they realise that they are being burdensome. Tutting at you when they are the ones hogging the pole is just rude.

It's the one time having awful bony fingers is a plus

You can usually work out when the movement of the train means they will lean off the pole for a few seconds, which is enough time to slip my hand around the pole and make a knuckle duster from my erm knuckles

So when they lean back, they know about it...

I always rhyme it with penis, but now I think of it I have heard the anus rhyme.
So, no help here then. :)

Ttbb Got it in one! I understand that someone might need to lean but have a bit of awareness for others than need to hold on.

redexpat I've always said it to rhyme with penis.

This really makes me mad. I call them the pole hoggers. It's usually tall people too - just wrapping themselves casually around the pole when the overhead bar is well within reach.
I do a loud 'excuse me - I need to hold on too' nowadays.

Definitely rhymes with anus have you not seen the Simpsons episode where Marge tells Homer his behaviour is heinous and anus echoes around the silent church (grin)

As a 4' 11" person, I agree. I do things with my knuckles to make it as uncomfortable for them as I can. If they're that in need of support, they need to ask for a seat.

To be fair, they don't last more than 1 stop in my route. There's usually 5-6 people to one pole. Short folks with dodgy knees need to look out for other spaces to lean against. (I know cause I am one of them myself.)

I thought it rhymed with penis?

I just smile and murmur 'excuse me' while reaching for the pole. This lack of the word 'sorry' and general politeness throws people enough that they stand upright in sheer surprise.

For people who lean with their whole body braced against handrails/poles on the tube, particularly on the Central line where there aren't enough hand rails at the best of times.

YES!

I do things with my knuckles to make it as uncomfortable for them as I can. If they're that in need of support, they need to ask for a seat.

YES YES YES

I do quite well at working my hand behind their back to hold onto the pole and do some good, constantly shifting knuckle shapes.

I grab the pole and poke my knuckles out... make it really hard for them to lean and usually they move...

@redexpat Penis.

Worst are the ones who then bump against your hand to try and get you to move.

Consensus is penis. I think anus is the american pronounciation, hence the Simpsons.

YANBU to want to hold on but YABU to make someone’s back uncomfortable.

They’re leaning on the pole, which means that a maximum of half their back (almost always less) is actually on the pole. The rest is angled away giving them some balance. That’s a maximum of 40cm of pole in use.

Put your hand where the pole is free - that should be easy for you if you’re so short.

I do the knuckle thing too. Squash my hand in then poke out a knuckle of something so its painful.

I also want a punishment for tall people who hold onto the hand rail and waggle their elbows around without at least looking around and trying to be sympathetic to the 5'1 person standing next to them whose face is thus at exactly the same height as their waving elbow...

Am I the only fan of of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit?!

In their opening credits, heinous rhymes with anus

ClaudiaWankleman I'm not sure you how you have come to that conclusion. Every 'bracer' I have ever encountered (at least 3 per week) has their back in such a position so that the pole is right in the middle of it. There is no free area of the pole within reach!

YES YES YES.

These people should be shot.

And agree with Thurlow. Worst I had was a handrail-holder bringing his hand crashing down on my head (five feet nothing high) when he didn't see me.

Put your hand where the pole is free - that should be easy for you if you’re so short.

Not really, as it tends to involve having your hand somewhere around their bottom unless you crouch down.

One of the best tweets I ever saw was someone asking if heinous rhymes with anus or penis and asked them to send their answer to Piers Morgan.