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the corner, a small child flipped a nearly-full milk carton my way but, like a slapstick comedian, I dodged the flying object and the person behind me took it smack in the kisser.

The absolute low point, though, came when someone standing directly above me one morning ate an entire fish head, skin, tail and all leaving only the carcass. I didn't know which was worse: The sight and smell of that cold carp at 7:30 AM, or the realisation that someone thought chomping on a whole fish was the perfect breakfast. I tried looking out the window but kept glancing back. Watching him eat held the same kind of morbid fascination as slowing down to look at the remains of a horrid car crash: The sight was understandably revolting yet alluringly hypnotic at the same time.

Along with "Don't talk with your mouth full," I was taught early on that it's impolite to eat in front of others unless they're also eating. By itself, eating on buses, streetcars and trains isn't rude. But eating where one's food or beverage is likely to end up adorning someone who has no interest in finding your coffee on their clothes is rude and thoughtless.

But wearing a backpack large enough to conceal a good-sized child also is thoughtless, and plenty of people do that in public. They forget that they're suddenly two people deep. When they bump into someone, many take the attitude that it's the other person's fault. You cannot imagine the number of dirty looks and rude comments I've received when I say "Excuse me" to someone who's just body slammed me with their backpack. Like large trucks, urban backpackers should be required to wear signs warning "Caution: Wide Turns."

A fellow who shops at a local market every Saturday wears the mother of all backpacks: A blue, plastic barrel, about the size of a 55-gallon drum, strapped to his body. When he buys something, it gets tossed into the contraption. The problem is that the man is totally oblivious to his big blue appendage. He'll swing around to look at something, knocking shoppers over like bowling pins. If driving, he'd be charged; on foot, he moves with impunity.

Whether it is eating and drinking in inappropriate places, creating a moving hazard with backpacks, talking on cell phones in restaurants or chatting during movies at the theatre, a disturbing number of people seem to be oblivious to anything other than themselves. Yes, we live demanding lives, and the less time we have increases the demands. But, please, if you're going to eat a fish for breakfast, do it at home before getting on the bus.

Learn more about this author, Charley James.
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