[AnimalMuppet]

Unfortunately, you cannot now fix it by removing the automobile. Now, even when you bump into people, you don't have a conversation, because they're on their headphones or texting on their phone or whatever. Nobody's available to talk to, even if you would be willing to do so.

[a3n]

When I see people standing with their head down, cradling their device in their hand, I imagine Cthulu's tentacles reaching up from the device, sucking their souls out.

Cradle Your Device: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-GhETtqN_I

[scoofy]

Yes, you can. If everyone is walking to a centralized transit location, then those that would like to know each other will easily identify themselves. Catch the bus at 8AM? You'll soon learn who else is walking that route. Headphones or not, human interaction isn't that awkward. Even if you never talk in that context, it only takes one out-of-context interaction to end that. At a coffee shop: "hey, don't we walk the same route from the metro every day?" or "Didn't i see you at the farmers market on Thursday?"

To know people locally, you need to live locally. If getting dinner involves a commute, then you're never going to meet people. It takes more than one or two instances to get past the earbuds. Remove the automobile and immediately you're seeing the same people dozens of times a week.

[jiggy2011]

When I used to take public transport to work, I'd see lots of the same people every day but never spoke to any of them. They didn't speak to each other either.

[Systemic33]

It's quite the paradox that humans are incredibly dependent on social interaction, but we would rather avoid contact because we are afraid of the what consequences it might have on our life.

[Dewie]

http://also.kottke.org/misc/images/kubrick-subway-newspapers...