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Who’s Sitting Next to You on the Subway? An R Train in September

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Re: Who’s Sitting Next to You on the Subway? An R Train in September

#61

Post by brndnmtthws »

Spooky23 wrote: post #47
brndnmtthws wrote: post #2

This is great. People everywhere I go are incredibly friendly, especially in New York. It's always fun to take a moment, act like a human, and talk to people. Not because you want to sell them anything or buy something, but simply because being social is part of being human. One of the things that bothers me about individual automobile travel is how isolating it is. I want to interact with people and experience local…

Do you live in NYC? Spend actual time in the subway? How long?

I live in NYC and take the subway almost exclusively.

Re: Who’s Sitting Next to You on the Subway? An R Train in September

#62

Post by Eyas »

crazygringo wrote: post #52
brndnmtthws wrote: post #2

This is great. People everywhere I go are incredibly friendly, especially in New York. It's always fun to take a moment, act like a human, and talk to people. Not because you want to sell them anything or buy something, but simply because being social is part of being human. One of the things that bothers me about individual automobile travel is how isolating it is. I want to interact with people and experience local…

As a response to the children comments who don't believe this... I also love the (NYC) subway when it's not completely packed. I very rarely interact with someone on the subway, but the people-watching is fascinating -- I can't think of anywhere else in the world where you can see such a cross-section of humanity, of so many races, cultures, clothing styles, income levels, and everything else. And I feel the same way…

And once in a while, you do interact-- often out of the blue, and briefly, but those conversations can be much more real than anything you'd expect.

I'm not approachable by any means, but I've had interactions where people told me about losing a significant other, how uncertain they feel having just moved to the city, dealing with illness, etc.

My impression is that many areas where the culture is social/polite, brief interactions with strangers are usually pleasantries and small-talk. Perhaps some in this thread had such experience, and are unsure how a place where the people are seen to be so rude to strangers can possibly have positive, enriching, interactions with strangers on a packed subway.

Re: Who’s Sitting Next to You on the Subway? An R Train in September

#63

Post by ggghvggtff »

brndnmtthws wrote: post #2

This is great. People everywhere I go are incredibly friendly, especially in New York. It's always fun to take a moment, act like a human, and talk to people. Not because you want to sell them anything or buy something, but simply because being social is part of being human. One of the things that bothers me about individual automobile travel is how isolating it is. I want to interact with people and experience local…

What are you, 12? Wait till you get mugged, then we’ll see how fast your attitude changes.

Re: Who’s Sitting Next to You on the Subway? An R Train in September

#65

Post by BackPropagate »

ordinaryperson wrote: post #45

Two years ago I got on the NYC subway, the 3 train, headed to work near Columbus Circle, and after a few recent arguments (people stepping on my feet, accidentally dumping water on me) I'd resolved to be more zen during the crowded morning rush hour. I'd just read this article ( http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2960791/Commuter-swe... ) that morning about a guy who said FU to a commuter, only to be interviewed…

I don’t hire fat people. You shouldn’t either. They are immoral.

Re: Who’s Sitting Next to You on the Subway? An R Train in September

#66

Post by scirocco »

mvdwoord wrote: post #10
guruz wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a German living in Germany. Can you clarify your comment for me? :-)

As a Dutchie who just spent three years in Germany... You are perceived to be very closed, at least initially. Nice when you want to be left alone, going about your business. Not so nice when you are used to more interaction with strangers.

I'm from Scandinavia and it's pretty much the same.

Re: Who’s Sitting Next to You on the Subway? An R Train in September

#67

Post by PoachedSausage »

brndnmtthws wrote: post #2

This is great. People everywhere I go are incredibly friendly, especially in New York. It's always fun to take a moment, act like a human, and talk to people. Not because you want to sell them anything or buy something, but simply because being social is part of being human. One of the things that bothers me about individual automobile travel is how isolating it is. I want to interact with people and experience local…

Commuting by bike is also a much more communal experience.

Its easier to stop and help or talk to someone when you're not enclosed in a box. My best experiences are stopping to help people with punctures and once while waiting at a junction stopping for a chat with a friend that I had not see for a while.

Re: Who’s Sitting Next to You on the Subway? An R Train in September

#69

Post by theWatcher37 »

gz5 wrote: post #15

The fact we are all on the subway for the same basic purpose subliminally provides a democratizing, unifying and human environment. The person next to you is different than you but is also the same as you. The person is real - not a media concocted persona based on how the person may look, what groups he may belong to or how the media interprets and communicates her assumed motivations. Digital is great but there are…

Except from an individual experience a train is one of the least efficient methods of travel.

Long waits at each stop, and tons of stops in between me and my destination, never reaching top speed for Long...

Meanwhile when it does stop I still need a car or bus to get to my destination. This is true in European cities as well, where the stop count gets absurd.

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