Rude Commuter Discovers What Karma Is

He tells someone to 'F off' on Tube ... and it's an unfortunate someone
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 20, 2015 2:16 PM CST
Rude Commuter Discovers What Karma Is
People in a Central Line underground train wait for the departure at Liverpool Street underground station in London.   (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

How Matt Buckland defines "karma": "The guy who pushed past me on the tube and then suggested I go F myself just arrived for his interview...with me..." Such is the start of a job interview horror story that has quickly gone viral. As the head of talent and recruiting for the London-based Forward Partners tells the BBC, his Monday started off with a rather unfriendly Tube encounter. "I stood to one side to let a lady get by, and ended up blocking a man momentarily," says Buckland. "He shoved past me, almost knocking me over, and shouted." Fast-forward to 5:15: Buckland spots his 5:30 interview. It's the guy. Buckland posts the aforementioned tweet (which began with the word "karma") and then heads into the interview.

The guy was initially oblivious, Buckland explains. "I approached it by asking him if he'd had a good commute that morning. We laughed it off and in a very British way I somehow ended up apologizing." The guy didn't get the position, which Mashable reports was for a Python Developer role, though Buckland maintains it's not because of the events of the morning. His tweet has since been retweeted more than 19,000 times, and tweeters have been proving Buckland's experience isn't a singular one: They've been sharing their own similar encounters. (For instance: "I was once knocked off bike by van driver. Police prosecuted. He lost job & home. Then needed rehousing - by me.") Buckland says the interviewee is OK about the tweet, though he wants to remain anonymous. (Here's another factor that can affect a job interviewee's prospects.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X