Yesterday I had a very unpleasant encounter with two underground train inspectors. I was returning from Dahlem-Dorf to Nollendorfplatz on the U3 after a very nice meeting with Holger Dessing from Halle to discuss cell walls of fungi. I was asked to show my ticket which I did - I had purchased a day ticket. Lots of discussion followed including showing me the ticket of the lady next to me and asking me what was the difference between my ticket and hers to be told I had not activated the ticket in the machine on the station before boarding the train. Despite trying to explain this was an oversight on my behalf with no intention to deceive they ignored everything I had to say and just kept saying "the rules are the rules" and "don't you have to obey the rules in your country". They asked me to leave the train at Wittenberg-platz where they wrote out a fine for me of Euro40. I thought the way they conducted themselves was quite unprofessional - clearly their intention was to make an example of me in front of others on the train by making it clear my ignorance was insufficient excuse. Very unprofessional I thought.
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