“I’ll punch you in the fuckin’ mouth,” said one young male bus rider to an older male bus rider.

The older rider asked the younger to move farther back on the standing room only bus—the 2 to downtown Seattle, which is always eventful.

The older man yelled up to the bus driver that a passenger was threatening to assault him. The bus driver mumbled something in the microphone and eased the bus back into traffic. Nothing happened.

What I couldn’t believe was that the kid (no more than 21 yrs old) was so aggressive in his clean-cut appearance and tailored-fitting North Face jacket.

My first thought was, ‘I hope that kid gets a beating to teach him a lesson.’ Then I thought, ‘I wonder if he gets beatings at home.’ Perhaps he gets the same violent reaction when he talks back to his dad or mom’s boyfriend—”I’ll punch you in the fuckin’ mouth.” Who says that with a straight face? Most likely people who have actually been threatened with similar force.

It’s easy to judge people. I mean really easy and sort of fulfilling in a wretched way, but it accomplishes nothing. Inevitably judging others circles back around on the judger.

Sure that kid might be a punk ass, but there’s probably a reason for his actions that I know nothing about.