I’m wondering if it’s a Midwest thing, and depends on the cohort, but I’ve noticed that people will spontaneously meet and chat about all sorts of things (from inane to WILD trauma dumps). Anyways just my amateur anthropology lol I typically hear transit reflected as an experience where everyone keeps to themselves
From what I’ve seen in desert west, unless you’re hot or the person sitting next to you is trying to peddle something or just has a very loose filter, strangers are far more likely to chat up the bus driver.
The most interaction I’ve seen is when a group of Mormons started a cringey debate with a group of Mennonites on the train. Everyone else around them very intentionally put on their headphones or stared out the window.
desert west, unless you’re hot
I mean everyone is right it’s a desert
As a Midwesterner, we really do seem overly gregarious. The bus tends to be a bit more cold-shouldered compared to the average population outside of transport, but I think that’s largely how miserable and cramped it can be.
Still, I’ve struck up coversations or been invited to some myself. It’s usually more small-talk, but chatting about citylife or books can be a good time.
As a Midwesterner, we really do seem overly gregarious
For Americans. Probably closer to average in some other countries
In Rio de Janeiro this happened a lot. Me and my wife are immigrants in Brazil so if we were talking between ourselves some people just start talking to us, with broken Spanish, and we were like ehh. Now that we live in São Paulo dosen’t happen anymore.
No way in NYC. I live in the outer boroughs so they’re a bit chattier the further you ride away from Manhattan but people still prefer reading a book or listening to something.
Here in Wales it’s absolutely the case that people’ll just dump their entire life story to strangers on public transport (and also at bus stops, train stations, queues in shops, and in the middle of the street if you don’t walk away fast enough).
From what I’ve experienced of England, it’s the exact opposite where strangers won’t even look you in the eye unless they’re drunk in which case they’ll suddenly become incredibly chatty.
I happened to be in London right as Brexit was popping off. I was standing in line at a restaurant outside an anti-brexit protest and started chatting with an older guy in front of me about it. He looked at me as if I was absolutely insane.
I regularly make use of my local paratransit service and it basically turns into a rolling social club when they start picking up retirees.
Honestly, it’s pretty cool. I’ve heard a lot of really interesting historical stories about the area that aren’t in the history books.
I have no public transit where i live but if i did id spend every second praying some fucker doesn’t try to talk to me
On the West Coast, not usually. Most people who talk on transit to someone who is not their companion are dealing with something.
Lol when I first moved to SF from another country I made the mistake of letting a woman on the bus know her shoelace was untied. She gave me the dirtiest look and ignored me
Out the corner of my eye a few minutes later I noticed her bending down to tie her shoe
A little bit (also in the central us) but its not that frequent
much more common on amtrak
Amtrak vibes are also incredible - the last time I rode, people were cracking drinks and pulling out chips and guac etc. Gotta love a train hang with the train gang
absolutely not in southern England
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it’s a thing in Dublin for sure but usually older people who are doing it
Every so often there’s that one guy (and yes it’s ALWAYS a man) who surveys everyone on the bus, and whatever sucker is unfortunate enough to make eye contact with them is their next victim. The dude will go up and sit next to them and just talk at them ad nauseam until the poor bastard is lucky enough to arrive at their stop. I’ve seen this happen about three different times and it’s always highly uncomfortable for everyone.
Other than that, there’s a few regulars who take the same route every day that we chat with, but not usually to strangers.
to themselves, yea
i have no idea because i would never, ever ride transit without noise cancelling headphones
Mood. The potholes alone are enough to kill my entire vibe, let alone the threat of conversation
