On the Subway

Small child in stroller: Mommy, why did you wake me up? Don’t wake me up when I’m sleeping!
Mom: Fine. I’ll leave you on the train and you can miss your stop and then the rats will get you.

–Brooklyn bound Q train

Overheard by: djingo

MTA conductor: Hey, get off the train or we’re not moving. You can’t play here.
Panhandler playing the violin: You’re just jealous that I make more than you.

–R Train at 53rd St station

Community college student #1: What stop do we get off at?
Community college student #2: Canal Street
Community college student #1: Is that, like, a number?

–Downtown 2 train

Overheard by: not a community college student

Ghetto boyfriend: You better shut the fuck up unless you want to get your ass whipped in front of all these White people!
Ghetto girlfriend goes to the next car.
Ghetto boyfriend: But I’m still a G!

–F train

Disproportionately hot nerd girl: You know, I was scarred by a guy once. It was on a fur rug. With a knife.
Attractive nerd guy: Wow. Real fur?
Disproportionately hot nerd girl: Real knife too. Very ‘Kushiel’s Dart’ sort of moment.
Attractive nerd guy: He must have thought you were pretty special, I mean, what do you have to do to get blood out of fur? I’m guessing it’s dryclean only.
Disproportionately hot nerd girl: Anyway that was my first, and only, foray into S&M. After that I stuck to D&D.

— 6 Train

Overheard by: Scott Gresham

Blonde girl: But he’s in a relationship…
Brunette girl: This is how I feel about the whole girlfriend thing. The way I see it, everyone’s fair game as long as the girl isn’t one of your friends and you don’t get too attached. That’s really the only problem. Well, that and AIDS… But not many people have aids.

–E train at the World Trade Center station

Overheard by: ginalori

Little boy: Do you play basketball?
Black man: Yes I do.
Little boy: Do you play for the Knicks?
Boy’s mom: Yes, professional basketball players spend their time off doing sudoku puzzles on the subway. Let’s go.

–Downtown 1 train

Overheard by: Allisa

Hobo woman: Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for…
Non-hobo man: Oh, hell no!
Hobo woman: … for interupting you during your trip. I’m homeless…
Non-hobo man: I’m homeless, too! Shut-up!
Homeless woman: And I’m two months pregnant…
Non-hobo man: You ain’t pregnant! You just fat! Sit-down and shut-up!

–F train

Overheard by: Brooklyn Dodgy

Extremely large guy: Yo, I’m scared of clowns for reeeaaal.

–Court & Montague, Brooklyn

Mother to young child, after ghetto girl passes: No, honey, she’s not a clown. She just likes to dress that way.

–95th & Madison

Overheard by: Don Ricardo

Mother, watching a clown holding a briefcase walk onto the train: [to child] Look, honey, it’s a funny clown!… [to husband] Do you think he has a bomb in that briefcase?

–F train

Overheard by: and then i burst out laughing.

Guy #1: You should say excuse me!
Guy #2: I did say excuse me!
Guy #1: Oh…
Guy #2: What I should have said is ‘Don’t stand in front of the fucking doors!"

–Uptown 4 Train