Tom gets aggressive about Seattle’s passive-aggressive bus signs

Seattle isn’t too receptive to outsiders, but residents of the Emerald City probably won’t say that to someone’s face.

A person apparently fed up with how people wait and load on to public transportation made it their mission to let others know the right way. But instead of just telling people, the person made and posted a sign. It’s not just any sign, it’s a typed, laminated sign.

The sign on Eastlake Avenue is a perfect example of how people on the West Coast handle confrontation &#8212 they don’t.

“Who made you the boss?” KIRO Radio’s Tom Tangney asked.

Tom, who has been riding the bus for most of his life, said the sign is absurd.

The sign states: “Dear summer interns & visitors: We queue for buses here. Please allow those who have been waiting longer to board the bus first. Thanks!”

Nobody follows that rule, Tom said. Secondly, who uses the word “queue” to refer to a line of people waiting for the bus?

“We do not queue,” Tom said laughing. People typically board the bus en masse.

Read King County Metro’s safety and security guidelines

This is an example of passive-aggressive behavior exhibited by many West Coast people, Tom and John Curley concluded.

But what’s wrong with passive-aggressive behavior? Tom would rather someone be that than totally aggressive and start shooting people.

Curley would rather know someone has a problem with him or what he is doing. People from the East Coast will just address problems upfront, he said. West-Coasters will just blog about it, leave a note and walk away, or complain about it in the local newspaper.

Tom said he’s received emails disagreeing with him about lining up to get on the bus.