Cellist thrown out of train because of cello
Young Frisian cellist Dana de Vries who studies at a conservatory in Paris was kicked off the train in Groningen a few days ago because she didn’t buy an extra ticket for her cello. The female train attendant, the media specifies, said that the cello was too big and was not hand luggage, which is complete nonsense according to her employer’s house rules. She’s being travelling to Paris for years and this is the first time this has happened.
Dutch railways apologised for the incident, letting the cellist and her cello ride first class for one day.
The part I dislike is Dutch railways calling this a ‘misunderstanding’. A misunderstanding is when someone doesn’t understand someone else or when there’s a disagreement. Neither applies here, as the cellist didn’t misunderstand anything. The term ‘misunderstanding’ is far too often used to spread blame between two parties so that the one that screws up doesn’t feel as bad about doing so. Sometimes, you’re 100% wrong and need to say sorry like an adult, which I am glad Dutch railways did.
And if you though her cello is big, imagine if she was a double bass player.
(Links: www.waarmaarraar.nl, nos.nl, Photo of Cello by Grumbler %-|, some rights reserved)
“The part I dislike is Dutch railways calling this a ‘misunderstanding’”
“…and need to say sorry like an adult, which I am glad Dutch railways did.”
Now which of both is the true one?
The train attendant screwed up and Dutch railways fixed it.