Robots on the train!

Last week I helped out at the Bourke St accident site as a personal support person as I have been trained to assist in emergency events. I had to travel in by train which is something I have not done on my own in rush hour for about 30 years so I was absolutely stepping out of my comfort zone.

The station I needed to go to was the very first stop and the train was about to leave so most of the travellers were already on board there were just a few including myself that were hurrying as not to miss this one. At least I would get a seat as standing with my bung hip I knew for certain I would get thrown around and land in someone's lap.

What I did notice by the 3rd stop there was a new rule for travelling on the train that I knew nothing about. Was this new rule just for trains or for all public transport? I observed for the next few stops and it seemed like everyone knew this new rule but me but I hadn't seen it advertised in the paper on the news or for that matter facebook.

On what date, in what year and by whom did it get decided that once entering a train you sit or stand and you put your head down and then freeze like a robot. No eye contact, no conversation, no emotions. It didn't matter if you were dressed in business attire, trackies. had kids with you or a bike, you all did exactly the same, you entered the train, head down and froze into position.

I was the only one that wasn't being involved in this new arrangement and I can tell you I felt like I had just landed on another planet and I was the only human in the carriage. Every single person was wired up to a phone, head down, silent and frozen like a robot and only every now and then I could hear the ping of a message that had come through on a phone.

I must be really from the dark ages because when I sat next to someone on public transport you were greeted with hello or good morning and you most likely had a conversation with that person unless of course they were ready the paper and then you got a grunt.

What a shame the art of having a conversation with a stranger has gone as you learnt so much about others, what was happening in your area and beyond. Yes, I know you can do all that on a phone but effortless, emotionless like a robot.

Today if you sit next to a person you have never met please say hello or good morning and see where the conversation takes you.