Guy #1: Can someone push eight? I guess I forgot. [Disembarks at eighth floor.]Guy #2: Something about the way he said that made me want to hit him.
–NYU dorm elevator
Guy #1: Can someone push eight? I guess I forgot. [Disembarks at eighth floor.]Guy #2: Something about the way he said that made me want to hit him.
–NYU dorm elevator
Teen girl #1: I mean, anything is possible.
Teen boy: So, you mean I could punch somebody’s head off?
Teen girl #2: I don’t think so.
Teen girl #3: Hey, I’m sure it is possible.
Teen girl #1: Yeah, like, you could punch a baby’s head off!
Teen boy: I’m not talking about babies.
Teen girl #1: Well, I’m sure you could!
Teen girl #3: Yeah! Totally! ‘Cause, like, their heads are so big and their bodies are so small… It’d just be like: Boom! And they don’t have a head!
–Gloria Jeans, Staten Island Mall
10-year-old girl punches her suit father in the arm.
Suit: You have no power. [Girl punches him again.] No power. [Girl winds up and punches him hard.] There, see? That hurt more, ’cause you used your body. [Girl turns around and punches her older sister.]Sister: Ow, what the hell?!
Suit: See? I told you — use your body.
–LIRR, Jamaica
Hipster to friend: Sometimes I feel like jumping into a bush, curling up into a ball, and punching everything.
Passerby: I dig that.
–Sheep’s Meadow
Overheard by: lenty
Girl #1: Well, he only went out drinking that one time.
Girl #2: Yeah, and he got into a fight!
Girl #1: No, not really, he just knocked this guy out. That was it.
–Subway entrance, 14th St & 6th Ave
Pilot on intercom: This is a non-smoking flight. Please do not smoke until… ever. Smoking is bad for you.
–American Airlines flight
Ghetto mom to lady with cigarette: Bitch, you just ashed on my baby!
–Outside Times Square Toys ‘R’ Us
Overheard by: trying not to ash on the stroller myself
Professor arguing with student: I’m just giving you a hard time. I accidentally bought the low-dose Nicotine gum, and it’s just not cutting it.
–100 Washington Sq East
Little girl: Mommy, you know how it’s cool to wear black? Maybe having black lungs is cool, too!
–Bodies Exhibit, South St Seaport
Conductor: As a reminder, there is no smoking allowed in the train restrooms. We know who you are.
–Amtrak Acela approaching Penn Station
Overheard by: wasn’t me
Red-faced white guy: Augh! I was just so mad at him! I couldn’t take it anymore. I hate that guy so much! I want to bust him in his face and take all his teeth. I’d grind ’em up and smoke them. Smoke his teeth right there in front of him.
–PATH, 9th St
Overheard by: Zenana
Chick: I think I’m going to take up smoking in order to make friends.
–Christopher & Bleecker
Patient camp counselor: Instead of punching Timmy* next time, can you think of a better solution to your problem?
Sullen six-year-old: Yes. Next time I’m going to rip all his hairs out.
Patient camp counselor: Assuming that ripping hair out is camp-inappropriate, what’s something else you could do?
Sullen six-year-old: Fine, then. I’ll rip out his eyeballs and piss on his face.
–Central Park
Overheard by: Glad I’m on his good side
Boy: Yeah, I mean, the only way that I’d be pissed is if you stabbed me…
–Butler Library, Columbia University
Dude: He threw a bagel at me — knocked me the fuck out!
–15th St & 9th Ave
Overheard by: Michael Pantozzi
Guidance counselor mediating a conflict between a flock of tween girls: Okay, Yamira* can still go on the field trip, because she told the truth about punching Janalin* in the face.
–PS 8, Washington Heights
Little boy: Smack that, lalalala! [Smacks brother in stroller.] Smack that, lalalala! [Smacks brother again.] Smack that! Lalalala!
–Macy’s
Overheard by: amused sales associate
Guy on cell: Yeah, after that hug I wanted to punch her.
–Walgreens, Union Square
Homeland security cop #1: Bleah! Bleah! Bleah!
He leans over and pretends to vomit in the gutter. Homeland security cop #2 laughs.
Homeland security cop #1, laughing: That was great! Punch me again!
–Federal Plaza, Duane & Broadway
Overheard by: Rich Mintz
Mother: Katie, why did you punch Audrey?
Young girl: Um, because she didn’t want to fight with me.
–15th St & Prospect Park West, Brooklyn
Overheard by: Gary Wax
