Accused of being a racist yesterday (buying, living in, bills)

[rlrl]

yesterday I was in the 34th street station of the 1 line trying to add money to my metrocard in a crowded station. My wallet was open and as I went to feed the machine with bills a black gentleman starts asking me if I'd like to purchase a $5 metrocard from him

I shrugged and made an annoyed non-verbal gesture and drew a deep breath of annoyance at his presence. I would do this to anyone who did this regardless of color, race, religion etc because I don't like taking my wallet out in public while i am concentrating on the machines, which can be frustrating and half the time don't even work right. In fact due to my humble reticent nature this type of things happens to me on the job but in a different context but I won't go into detail

this man seeing my exasperation, says "well what do you know we have a racist here, a pure racist!".

not even wanting to deal with what i just heard, i simply found another area with machines to add money to my card. i had enough

i suppose i am not allowed to have a bad day or have my own personal quirks and preferences when it comes to taking out my wallet. i am supposed to just say 'yes' or act in a way that i don't wish to act

then this AM i was buying a metroocard in my local station and i see a notice atop saying that selling or purchasing a metrocard from anywhere other than the MTA or a retailer is some type of offense punishable by some fine or other

any comments about this incident?

I don't consider myself a prejudiced person nor a racist. I myself work with the indigent and underprivileged and have found that working with minorities both as clients and colleagues has enhanced the depth and breadth of my life experience

[SeventhFloor]

LOL. The guy was just trying to make you feel guilty. Please, that's the most annoying thing in the subway, the guys offering to swipe you through, I've gotten loud with several of them at Mott Avenue on a Sunday night while getting my monthly MetroCard. That's why they have the little mirror on the machine so you can see who approaching you from behind. Those guys are very persistent, and they're like the modern-day squeegee men, they're just underground. But trust me, you're no Grand Wizard or anything.

[rlrl]

But trust me, you're no Grand Wizard or anything.

Far from it, I'm a Jewish guy with hair loss with glasses!!

Another thing i forgot to ask is why would anyone try to sell you a metrocard that's not from the source? Did he mean $5 to purchase from him but with less $$$ actually on it?

[SeventhFloor]

Just chalk it up to this at the end of the day:
People need money.

[NadjaBreton]

Absurd! It's sad when people resort to calling people racist based on the fact that they didn't get the reaction they wanted from a person. Unfortunately, we can sometimes make meaningless incidents mean something simply by dwelling on them.

Rest assured, it's he who has the problem, not you.

Cheers.

[Carbro]

I agree that the guy was just trying to push your buttons.

It's a full moon. The loonies were out in droves Sunday. I won't bore you with my encounters.

I see you snickering! Yes, you! But there's definitely something to this full moon=lunatic season business. My dog never got into a squabble with other dogs except the three or four days around a full moon.

[NooYowkur81]

I'm surprised you even let this bother you. The subways are full of lunatics and crazies.

[rlrl]

I'm surprised you even let this bother you. The subways are full of lunatics and crazies.

Strangely I have not encountered this before.

[TeaJay]

My first thought was that had you bought that Metrocard, you may have found that there was no money on it at all. There would have been no way to verify on the spot that there was definitely money on it (unless they've added those card readers to the vending machines since I've last been there).

[Guywithacause]

Why is this even an issue...I hear far worse from crazies on a daily basis....you are living in NYC...get used to the dummies.