[walrus01]

In a really big and busy city it's emotionally exhausting and not reasonable to have an interaction with everyone near you. The only way a lot of people can tolerate being packed into busy public transit systems on a daily basis is to intentionally ignore each other to a certain degree.

It's essentially the same unspoken etiquette rule as what you're socially expected to do if riding a crowded elevator.

Go commute by NYC subway 10 times a week, M-F especially during peak tourist season and you'll understand.

I intentionally behave completely different if I'm in a small town of 3000 people or walking down the street, shopping, riding transit in a large city.

[tcoff91]

100 years ago they sold pocket sized books so people in cities could ignore each other by reading books.

[walrus01]

Also there's plenty of old timey black and white photos of people riding the LIRR or similar where everyone is holding and reading a newspaper.

[jagged-chisel]

Ah, it’s reading that’s the problem. Plato/Socrates/Thamus was onto something!

[huggert6]

Imagine living in a city lol

[HDBaseT]

and people still try and suggest public transport is great, when its a hellhole..

[inigyou]

because it has other people on it? personally I find that sitting down and getting passively carried near to my destination is way less stressful than paying attention to the road that whole time - not to mention finding parking. You don't end up exactly at your destination, but a little bit of walking is good for you.

Assuming you live in a locale with a reasonably efficient system. I've heard some horror stories about north american public transport. Other countries tend to do much better with timetables and routes.

[HDBaseT]

I've never caught a train nor a bus in my life and intend to never do so. I value my privacy and don't want to get stabbed or sit on a chair where someone has pissed all over.

[walrus01]

Tell me you're an American that lives in a 100% car dependent community without coming right out and saying it. Say no more, we get it.

[HDBaseT]

Australia.

[inigyou]

how can you read this comment back to yourself and not see the delusion?

[walrus01]

It really depends, I would much rather travel by NYC subway or Vancouver SkyTrain or Seattle light rail if my origin and destination are within walking distance. It's the least horrible option in many cases. Good luck to anyone's stress level and pocketbook trying to commute by car in much of NYC and pay $550 a month for parking.

[oogali]

$550 is a steal.

[walrus01]

Right, I could have written that much more pessimistically with 850/mo parking, insurance, congestion charges 5 days a week x 2, cost of car insurance, maintenance, fuel, cost of the car itself, etc.