Tube Etiquette: why shouldn't women do make up on the tube?

In response to The Londonist column about my book (see link http://londonist.com/2011/03/the-little-book-of-tube-etiquette.php), twitter has been alive with comments - mostly very positive, thanks for that - but also with rather a few people asking 'what is wrong with people doing their make up on the tube?'

I feel that, aside from clearly taking both The Little Book of Tube Etiquette and The Londonist article altogether too seriously, they have also missed the point.

Personally I don't care where people do their make up or what they look like beforehand.  What does irritate the crap out of me however is the continuous elbowing as one rummages through their exhaustive bottomless make up bag, then applies product after product for the entire journey to work, stopping only to brush blusher particles off their suit and on to mine.

I'm sure everyone has experienced this and I find it difficult to believe that those that asked why this is poor etiquette genuinely do not know the reasons behind it.  Perhaps they are opening up the subject to debate, hopeful that other women will back them up.

Well I'm a woman and I take two minutes to apply my make up in the comfort of my own home which I'm sure benefits everyone who has to look at me sans concealer anyway.

And for all those make-up appliers that protest, I also point out in my book that teachers marking homework in the morning with fidgety elbows should think twice too - do you agree?

Because the teachers seem to agree with me about make-up...funny isn't it?