PTP — Public transport protocol

Jeff said to me, “I was looking around on the train this morning and I thought, ‘Isn’t it sad that people don’t talk to each other? Wouldn’t it be great if I had got onto the train or tram and everyone was just… speaking to each other?’ “

Yes, people on public transport do avoid eye contact and random conversation. I think that’s why Walkmans and iPods were invented — so that you can stare directly at others and pretend not to see them. And of course there is a protocol for the order of train seating. The polite order for seating yourself on public transport is:

  1. Window seat, facing the direction of travel.
  2. When all seating bays have at least one person in them, diagonally opposite the window seat, facing against the direction of travel.
  3. Diagonally opposite anyone already seated.
  4. Fill in other seats.

If there are empty bays in the carriage and someone chooses to sit beside or in front of you, you’re allowed to freak out.

I was the victim of a severe violation of public transport protocol today. I was reading the City Weekly on the train when suddenly, my ears were assaulted with not too-loud pop music leaking from headphones, but (gasp) live music! Sitting in the corner of the carriage, a man was strumming his guitar. He began quietly but as we rumbled by the stations, he abandoned all pretence of being ‘normal’ and played with the full power of his instrument’s acoustic body.

My first instincts were to be shocked and suspicious. Then, slowly, I was surprised to realise that I really didn’t mind. Live music on my 40 minute train trip — how… pleasant!

I smiled and went back to enjoying my magazine.

2 comments

  1. vera says:

    I read a book once on unwritten (er, no longer unwritten, I guess) social rules like that. I wish I could remember what it was called, because you would’ve found it amusing…

  2. Ee Leng says:

    Oh no! I wouldn’t have liked that, I value my peace and quiet on PT so I can sleep! Going to work and back again ^_^ Although I do appreciate it when people wake me up at Glen Waverley…

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