The Do's and Don'ts of the Bus

   

     Everyday I get the privilege of getting on a twenty five minute bus ride from the A&M campus to the Blinn campus. In my recent experiences, I have seen all kinds of bus behavior. From the weird, smelly guy to the girl who feels the need to yell while talking on her cellphone. I am here to give you several helpful hints so you aren't that person that people absolutely despise on the bus.
   

The Don'ts

• The Sleeper- It's alright to sleep but don't lean on neighbor when you're in a deep slumber. Nobody wants to be a human pillow.
• The Yeller- We understand that you have friends. That's great! However, when it is early in the morning, nobody enjoys it when you are shouting to your buddy. Chances are people on the bus were out late studying or partying. Either wait till you get off the bus or just keep it to a low tone.
• The Stench- Unfortunately, there are people that just naturally smell bad. If you are one of these people I am deeply sorry. You should at least make an effort to smell good though. Please wear deodorant and bathe regularly. It not only makes you feel good but the people around you will be much more comfortable as well.
• The Gum Smacker- People like chewing gum. It's tasty and it makes your breath smell good. That doesn't mean the whole world has it hear it though. Don't chew your gum so loud that the whole bus can hear your weird chewing habits.
• The Conversation Sharer- This kind of falls in the yeller category. Talking with your friend on the phone is a great way to stay in touch with old pals or family. Yelling about how "there is a sell at J.C. Penney's" or how "Jan is such a slut" is not exciting for your bus mates to hear about.

The Do's

• The Student- The big reason your in college is to receive a education. Yes you can have fun along the way but studying is the biggest priority. The bus is a great way to review notes or get in reading from the textbook. Either way this is probably the best use of your time.
• The Music Discoverer- Another productive use of time is to listen to music. Thanks to stations such as Pandora and Spotify, people have access to a wide variety of music. Bus rides are a great way to find out about new artists. Just make you are wearing headphones in the process. 
• The Reader- In college it's hard to find time to read a good book. Reading on the bus is not only enjoyable but it can also help the imagination run wild. Whether it is reading a textbook or just simply reading a newspaper, it's a great way to get the brain flowing.
• The Conversationer- This one can be tricky. Usually you have to be a good judge of people when trying to start a conversation with someone. There are people on the bus who would love a decent chat and meeting new people. There are also the people who have had a long day and simply don't want to be bothered. As long as you use your inside voice and know your limits, it is always worth a try.
• The Gentleman- Buses have a nature to fill up quite quickly. If you are sitting and there is a girl standing, be a gentleman and offer her your seat. However,this can be quite tricky at times. If there are multiple girls just pick one and hope the other girls don't give you a dirty look. If a girl says no to you then it's a win-win situation. You get to keep your seat and the girl is thinking to herself "Dang! This kid sure is polite". 

     Next time you are a busy bus take these behavior types into consideration. You can choose to fall in the Don'ts but chances are people will probably hate your guts. On the other hand, you can be a Do kind of guy. Not only will people like you but they'll also respect you.