We got on the 26 at Hackney Wick and the driver turned off the engine and announced that the people at the top at the front had to pay or we weren't going anywhere. Cue lots of shouting and complaining and entreaties for the dodgers to come down and sort it out. Eventually a girl came down and explained to the driver that she had in fact paid, and showed her ticket receipt. Driver wouldn't accept it, saying it took her too long to come down. So she freaked.
After many minutes of the girl screaming "I'VE GOT A FUCKING RECEIPT" and a bloke backing her up, the driver emerged and started on about how he needed to make a point. At this point people started to figure that the point was for him to drive the bus. They started remonstrating with the driver, who was by now a driver in name only and seemed like he was quite literally immovable.
Quite a few people had got off by now, seeing no end to it, and I should have done the same but I went and joined in trying to get the driver to do some actual driving and asking what the problem was now things had been resolved. I wasn't impolite or sweary but I was exasperated. The driver told us all to get off after this, but allowed two people to stay on because they had been plaintively asking people not to be howwid to him. Eventually the police turned up (four or five of em) and ordered us all off the bus, saying "He doesn't have to take you". The driver at this point was whining "I HAVE BEEN HARASSED AND ABUSED BY THE ENTIRE BUS". I pointed out that I had paid and hadn't bloody done anything (and was sober) but there is no use arguing with the cops so it was more of a parting grumble as I left.
A French girl who looked exactly like a young Kate Bush was very sang-froid about it and tried to get everyone to stop shouting but in vain. She wore an expression of such weary contempt for humanity she must have been from Paris.
So yeah, that was amusing. I've never seen an entire bus be accused of harassment before. It was bullshit, though - it was a stupid situation but it wasn't *ugly* or threatening at all. People were just very narked and tired.