New Courtesy Campaign from Metro

Forget the indiscretions by tourists, Metro is aiming its new courtesy campaign at locals. Are you the anarchist in the video below sitting in the handicapped seats? Are you the obnoxious guy screaming on your cell phone about picking up the kids from soccer practice? Metro features a new YouTube video (no adorable Peeps, this time we get slightly scary Second Lifers) just for you, about common courtesy practices on the train.

The Washington Post has a lengthy feature with anecdotes about all the jerks that people with needs run into everyday, like the guy in his 20s who sat in the reserved seats "wearing an American Eagle striped polo shirt, reading a newspaper," while a seven-month pregnant woman stood next to him. The gist of the story being: we don't value public shame enough anymore, like Japan and its volunteer "etiquette police" deployed on subway cars. The hilarious/sad quote: "I don't know if etiquette police would be taken seriously," said Patrick Sheehan, chairman of Metro's advisory committee on seniors and the disabled ... "I wonder if public shame works in Washington, D.C."