Hund’s Bus Seat Rule

I don’t remember much from high school chemistry but one of the few “laws” that I recall is something called Hund’s bus seat rule.  This law described the behavior of electrons in orbit around a nucleus.  If an orbit was already occupied than a new electron would find a new orbit to occupy rather than joining a lone occupant of another orbit.  I’m sure that I am messing this up but it does describe some particularly obnoxious behavior on my bus route.

I board my bus near the beginning of its run in Westfield, New Jersey.  It runs local from Plainfield to Cranford and then gets on the Garden State Parkway for the “express” part of the trip.  When I get on, the bus is pretty empty with a wide selection of seats available.  I usually find a seat towards the middle of the bus, slide into the window seat, turn on the overhead lamp, and settle down to an hour of reading.  I don’t need to move or talk to anyone until I get to work.

Some of my neighbors prefer a different approach.  One guy in particular who I’ll call Bob (I don’t have any idea that this is really his name) is often on the bus before me.  He’s got a different strategy.  He sits himself down in an aisle seat and proceeds to spread himself out over onto the window seat organizing his backpack, newspaper and himself for maximum comfort.  What I did not mention above is that our bus route during the morning rush is almost always filled to capacity with folks often standing by Cranford.  Bob, a regular, knows this but consistently does the same thing.  I know he’s hoping that no one will have the nerve to ask for that window seat preferring to sit next to someone more accommodating.  When all other seats are taken and someone asks Bob for the available seat., he gives an exaggerated sigh and roll of the eyes and slowly makes room for his fellow commuter.

I don’t know that anyone loves commuting but it always seems a lot more pleasant when we make room for each other.  I would love to see into Bob’s head to understand his selfishness.  Perhaps he believes that he is working for the common good?