Smelly feet on a train

[AverageJoe]

Rail staff should never have a reason to be rude or aggressive to customers regardless if they are doing something ’wrong’. And the fact is that many rail staff are frequently rude and aggressive to customers because they like having the authority, same as any other job (bouncers, security, police etc).

An example of this I experienced was when I tried to travel EDB-GLQ during an evening peak with an off peak ticket (I was wrongfully sold this ticket by the GLQ ticket office, but that’s another story). I got my ticket handed back to me and told I couldn’t travel. I asked why, and was shouted at (at the gate line in front of countless members of the public) for a solid 30s. It was completely unnecessary when a ‘this is peak, you have an off peak ticket pal’ would have sufficed.

I also witnessed LNR conductor berate a young lady for her phone being out of charge (I believe she had a railcard or ticket on it) rather than going through the motions of calmly explaining and issuing a new ticket. Some rail staff just get kicks out of the authority, no different to any other profession with authority.


Literally no one is saying this person was right to do what they did, just that the guards actions (in this persons version of events) were over the top.

What proof do any of us have that the guard acted in this way?

 

[PacerTrain142]

It’s just the world we live in where the majority have to put up with the minority.

Like the thread we had on smoking/vaping.

The needs of the 1 smoker outweigh the feelings of the hundred or so other people.

To be fair there are so many areas where you cannot smoke now. In many workplaces and colleges you are not even allowed to smoke outside in the premises except in a tiny smoking shelter. And there are still several million smokers in the U.K. And nicotine is addicting! I’m a non-smoker btw but I can see the smokers pov to some extent.

 

[james_the_xv]

What proof do any of us have that the guard acted in this way?

We don’t. But this is a plausible story, and allows us to discuss the two main points of the story (Smelly feet, rail staff overreacting to minor issues)

 

[AverageJoe]

We don’t. But this is a plausible story, and allows us to discuss the two main points of the story (Smelly feet, rail staff overreacting to minor issues)

You said the guards actions in this case were over the top.

The likelihood is the guards actions were probably nothing like as described.

Without overly stereotyping when someone tattoos their face, happily exposes stinky feet in a train carriage and then takes all that info to the press… i prefer to see some evidence to the statements made before making a decision on if it’s true or not.

 

[AlterEgo]

Of course someone has suggested a bylaw against smelly feet. This country has such a disease with trying to legislate everything.

 

[james_the_xv]

You said the guards actions in this case were over the top.

The likelihood is the guards actions were probably nothing like as described.

Without overly stereotyping when someone tattoos their face, happily exposes stinky feet in a train carriage and then takes all that info to the press… i prefer to see some evidence to the statements made before making a decision on if it’s true or not.

You are overly stereotyping the this person. The fact they have tattoos on their face is neither here nor there, and if this person was in pain due to a condition as they describe, I doubt they took their feet out ‘readily‘ it would have been out of necessity to ease their pain.

If we go down your route, what’s your evidence the guards actions were not as described? Or have you taken this from the ‘all tattooed people are of lower class and lie’ school of thought?

My point is, the actions of the guard as described (I.e threatening to call the police) was over the top for the infraction. People take off their shoes whilst travelling all the time, some people have had an exerting day and might smell a bit of BO, but that’s public transport for you.

If we had some of you lot in charge of running the railways it sounds like we’d have mandatory sniff tests, compulsory showers, and guards armed with tasers who have orders to taser anyone who doesn’t comply with every railway bylaw to the letter.

 

[AverageJoe]

You are overly stereotyping the this person. The fact they have tattoos on their face is neither here nor there, and if this person was in pain due to a condition as they describe, I doubt they took their feet out ‘readily‘ it would have been out of necessity to ease their pain.

If we go down your route, what’s your evidence the guards actions were not as described? Or have you taken this from the ‘all tattooed people are of lower class and lie’ school of thought?

My point is, the actions of the guard as described (I.e threatening to call the police) was over the top for the infraction. People take off their shoes whilst travelling all the time, some people have had an exerting day and might smell a bit of BO, but that’s public transport for you.

If we had some of you lot in charge of running the railways it sounds like we’d have mandatory sniff tests, compulsory showers, and guards armed with tasers who have orders to taser anyone who doesn’t comply with every railway bylaw to the letter.

You lot? Can you explain that please?

I have absolutely no evidence to say the guard didn’t act in that way and absolutely non to say he did.

As regards stereotyping, well first impressions count but I would not hold appearance against a person.

Second impression is the action of taking shoes off when feet stink

Third impression is taking this to the press.

All a little odd and adding it all together I paint a picture of someone who doesn’t make the wisest of choices. I’m entitled to that opinion and it doesn’t mean I would treat him any differently other than I wouldn’t necessarily believe all his claims here without seeing proof. Which again I’m entitled to.

However I do think it happened but I doubt it happened as aggressively as he describes.

Which is why I won’t be jumping on the band wagon of accusing the guard of mistreating him.

But yeh I like to stick to bylaws because I think any reasonable person can follow them and if there is genuine reasons why someone can’t then that should be explained to those enforcing them beforehand.

 

[james_the_xv]

You lot? Can you explain that please?

I mean the people in this thread who have seemed to jump on this person as scum of the earth because how dare he not follow railway bylaws to the letter when his feet hurt and, lets be honest, probably doesn't realise his feet smell? Then go onto basically say that those who do travel with smelly feet/BO/choose to eat fish on a train etc justify the behaviour of overzealous, and occasionally aggressive staff who try and rectify the situation but end up inflaming it. There's a way to deal with something like this as a member of staff, and even if the person doesn't react kindly, the answer is never get argumentative or aggressive because that just further inflames the situation (It is the main point in most conflict resolution courses).

As regards stereotyping, well first impressions count but I would not hold appearance against a person.

Second impression is the action of taking shoes off when feet stink

Third impression is taking this to the press.

All a little odd and adding it all together I paint a picture of someone who doesn’t make the wisest of choices. I’m entitled to that opinion and it doesn’t mean I would treat him any differently other than I wouldn’t necessarily believe all his claims here without seeing proof. Which again I’m entitled to.

Whether you like it or not, you are holding this persons appearance against them, second and third are reasonable but you're just looking for justification for your bias. If this was a 20 something year old untattooed woman, dressed in business attire, with blisters from her new heels, we would not be having this conversation because you would not have though her appearance was relevant.

But yeh I like to stick to bylaws because I think any reasonable person can follow them and if there is genuine reasons why someone can’t then that should be explained to those enforcing them beforehand.

So, you're saying that this person should have got on the train, found the guard in question, and asked 'can I take my shoes off please' like some school child? Please...

 

[Siemens Trains]

It's not too much of a stretch to claim not wearing shoes is a "person in improper condition" if you ask me

There's a time and place to take your shoes off, and it's not on public transport.

I have a vague recollection of an old Intercity television advert from my youth which extolled the relaxing, therapeutic nature of rail travel and almost encouraged this behaviour.

The musical accompaniment began with the lyric "Anytime you choose, slip off your shoes....." and the visuals showed a person blissfully removing their footwear below the table of a train carriage.

Like many commentators on the thread, at the time I found it slightly off-putting as I wouldn't have done this at the time. However with advancing years I must admit I'm more inclined to take my shoes off on long journeys if there are few other passengers around, but I remain acutely aware of the potential for offence. I think in some cultures people can be rather sensitive to how others present their feet.

 

[AverageJoe]

James I’m not going to argue with you. Have a nice day

 

[Wolfie]

I can slightly symphasise as someone who does long walks often and I know how painful it can be, especially as this person has a condition causing this to be worse and he would probably walk long distances at work. My father is in a similar role to him and does lots of steps before then complaining occasionally when he gets home. I must agree that it was a bit too far if you have smelly feet but it did sound like the conductor was going a bit too far though.

Interestingly what about if he'd removed both shoes and socks and put on sandals. His feet would still smell, albeit likely not as badly, but challenging him would be overt sex discrimination unless women were also banned from wearing open sandals.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Sep 2023 ==

Maybe as well as first class and quiet coaches, we need a smelly feet coach for people who want to take their shoes off…

On a serious note, if your feet are prone to getting hot, why not just wear sandals or flip flops (without socks of course)? The smell happens because your feet have been sweating in your shoes/trainers all day.

Re your second para certain jobs would not permit that for H&S reasons.

 

[NoRoute]

I can't be the only one who would never dream of taking their shoes off on a train, because of concern about state of the carriage floor soiling my socks. Much like concern about resting ones head against the railway antimacassar and its patina from the tens of thousands of heads that have previously graced the seat.

I think it's high time a reciprocal bylaw was forced on the railway industry - "No railway company shall operate a carriage in such a condition that it shall soil a passenger using it".

 

[yorksrob]

Back in the day, the "Relax" advertising campaign for Inter City encouraged one to slip off ones shoes. Whiffy feet would have been frowned upon I expect though.

 

[Bevan Price]

I think that smelly feet is sometimes caused by some kind of fungal infection. You can sometimes cure this yourself if you can still buy potassium permanganate from a pharmacist. (It worked for me when I used to have smelly, sweaty feet.)

Part-fill a bowl with water. Add a very few small crystals of potassium permanganate **.
Soak your feet in the water for a few minutes. Repeat on the next few days if necessary.

** - Do not "overdo" the amount of potassium permanganate, or your skin will turn brown, which takes a while to fade.
Do not eat / drink potassium pernanganate or its solution in water. .

 

[Davester50]

Of course someone has suggested a bylaw against smelly feet. This country has such a disease with trying to legislate everything.

It's also got a problem with no self awareness and main character syndrome, where everyone else has to suffer selfishness.

A bylaw for taking off shoes on a train is over the top, but if those feet are reeking and causing annoyance to others, they go back on when told by an agent of the railway.

 

[dk1]

Unfortunately for us traincrew we have to cart some vile antisocial characters around.

 

[Davester50]

Unfortunately for us traincrew we have to cart some vile antisocial characters around.

Don't envy you in the slightest. Working with the public is an unenviable task at times.

 

[dk1]

Don't envy you in the slightest. Working with the public is an unenviable task at times.

Absolutely soul destroying. Thank the good Lord there's a door between me & this alien type of being.

 

[occone]

Bin the emergency glow sticks and install an emergency Oust

 

[ExRes]

Bin the emergency glow sticks and install an emergency Oust

And "an emergency Oust" is what?

 

[FGW_DID]

Rail staff should never have a reason to be rude or aggressive to customers regardless if they are doing something ’wrong’.

You miss my point, what gets reported as rude staff is usually because the staff member has not let them do something or, heaven forbid, asked them to buy a valid ticket etc!
The staff can be polite as anything, but the aggrieved person when reporting story in press, social media, internet forums labels the staff rude purely because they haven’t got their own way and if they get spoken to firmly then the staff are aggressive.

 

[occone]

And "an emergency Oust" is what?

Apologies, Oust is a brand of air freshener that claims to neutralise odours.

 

[Skie]

I once encountered someone with feet so vile the only way to make the area habitable again was to dettol every surface they had touched and open every window available. It was a weapons grade stench, probably not too far away from Surströmming.

​

 

[Ashley Hill]

As has been mentioned up thread this is probably something that has escalated in that the person objected to the suggestion that he had smelly feet. Yes he has a medical condition (fish odour syndrome is worse) which should and perhaps was taken into consideration but at the end of the day the person on the ground had to make a decision. We’ll never know the guards reasoning for the decision that they made so must keep an open mind. No matter how polite the member of staff was there’s no way of knowing how the person will react but if they were downright rude then no wonder it ended up on the media.