Why don't I like to help people on the subway? Because it always comes back to haunt you. ... Today on the 2 train, an old man with a cane, seemingly drunk, got on and sat down. All is fine, until his stop came up. Rather then use the handicap pole to get up, he chose to use the open door. Which would have been fine, if he could have actually gotten up. Instead, he just kept trying to keep the doors from closing, and unable to gather the strength to actually get up. If he had used the special rail he might have been able to get up, but then the doors would have closed. 5 minutes of this are finally enough for the nearby people, one of whom keeps the door open, and another two who helps the old guy get to his feet. Result: The old guy takes one step forward under his own power and promptly falls backwards. Luckily, the strangers caught him or else he might have broken something. But now he's lying on the ground in the middle of the door. Of course the conductor comes by, and promptly declares that he can't just leave the old guy on the ground. The old guy, as the slightly inebrieted are, insists he's just fine. Of course, we have to wait another 5 minutes until the conductor is satisfied that the old guy really doesn't need/want any more "help". So, just for the record, the 9:49 pm #2 or #3 train #6421 and her conductor had nothing to do with the old guy falling or being abandoned at Hoyt St. The guy fell on his own, and insisted he be left alone. Which is how I would have left it in the first place.