Subway psychology observations

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 9:29pm

For those of you who don't spend much time on NYC subways, I thought I'd post what I've observed over the years about subway behavior.

The main objective is to prevent anyone from sitting right next to you. This is achieved by doing one or more of the following:

1.Place your purse, backpack, shopping bags, attache cases, in their own seats next to you.

2. If there is room for two people in an empty space, sit right in the center so that there isn't really room for anyone on either side of you.

3. Sit down and spread out your legs far enough to extend into the space on either side of you.

4. Sit at a slight angle, and cross one leg over the other.

5. If someone does happen to sit right next to you, start fumbling around in your purse, or hold your magazine or newspaper out far enough so that you arm keeps crashing into the next person, forcing them to move over or leave the seat.

6. Pretend to be asleep while practicing any of the above.

Now these tricks are successful plenty of the time since many other riders are too timid, polite, or don't want to make waves, so they stand.

When I'm riding to work, it's rush hour, and to see so many people using those tactics when so many others are standing is remarkable.

Updated On: 10/22/09 at 09:29 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 9:33pm

Jane,
That's really funny. I do each and every one of the things you mentioned. Of course, I have too much courtesy to do it during rush hour but at all other times, yep. :)

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 9:34pm

So true to all of the above! I spent the past few years in Boston and saw the same things.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 9:41pm

I'm such an obedient nerd. I don't do any of those things.

A while back they claimed that it was illegal to take up a seat with your bags. Ever since then, I've been careful not to take up two seats! oy.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 9:43pm

If there are many seats available and barely anyone on the train, I will put my stuff next to me. I don't do this when the train is packed, though.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 9:48pm

I'd never deny anyone a seat, however if there are numerous seats, like anyone, I would prefer certain people didn't sit right next to me.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 10:14pm

I do that on the bus when it's not full. I mentally justify it as compensation for the fact that my stop is very early in the route, so I have to sit on the damn thing longer than almost everyone else.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 10:28pm

On the other hand, what about the people that try to squeeze into a space that's too small for them? I used to hate the old 7 trains because they were just long benches (designed to haul crowds to Queens for the World's Fair). Since there were no divided seats, people used to try and squeeze into spots where there really wasn't room.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 10:34pm

I hate that^. Very often I see a large person use better judgment and not even try, but every once in a while, you get the person who is going to sit there no matter what. Sometimes I just get up and stand if I'm really squeezed in.

[Craig]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 10:44pm

I just start coughing and sneezing without covering my mouth...

kidding...

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/21/09 at 11:52pm

I never do that on the train, but I'll use those tactics (and make faces) when I'm on a Fung Wah/ Greyhound/ etc. bus that's not 100% full. Hey, if someone's gonna have a seat to himself, it might as well be me!

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 12:08am

Oh yes, on buses and trains, there are different tactics.

1. When there are seats for two, sit in the seat on the aisle rather than next to the window.

2. Place all bags, drinks, food, newspapers, etc. on the seat that you are not occupying.

3. stretch out across both seats and pretend to be sleeping whenever the train/bus stops to let passengers on.

4. on trains, swing the seat backs to the opposite direction so that there are now six seats which you and one friend can occupy.

5. encourage your baby/child to scream loudly by tickling it and laugh with the child.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 12:23am

This morning I had one of my favorites! Friends yammering during rush hour! Shut the F up! I do not care if your aunt is doing well, or have you seen Sally, or did you hear that Jimmy is dating Johnny! Shut UP!

Seriously, rush hour is sacred, read your paper, listen to your iPod and be quiet!
Updated On: 10/22/09 at 12:23 AM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 12:37am

Threads like this make me love the DC Metro even more. Rush hour on the metro here is like Sunday Mass in comparison to the New York subway. Maybe because everyone is wearing their ID tags from work, so if somebody is hogging three seats, you could call out Greg Simmons from NIH by name.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 9:12am

brd - friends talking? how about when you're trying to veg out and suddenly a troupe of bongo players jumps into your train? Or a bad quartet of doo wop singers who sing the same line over and over again? Or the break dancers?

[p.s.]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:01am

My observation ---


p.s.
Observation /Observance

[Marianne2]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:01am

I have witnessed 1 or 2 people taking up 4-6 seats before on the train. That's why I prefer the double decker trains that NJ Transit has because you can't do that. And, I can easily find a single seat near the stairs so I don't have to worry about people sitting next to me.

My other favorite thing from the subways are the people who get on and carry on about needing money and how people just tell them to find a job. Those are the people I always hope will not be getting off where I am.

[James885]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:20am

I'd never deny anyone a seat, however if there are numerous seats, like anyone, I would prefer certain people didn't sit right next to me.

I feel the same way. Once on the Metro in DC, some guy took a seat right next to me in a car that was half empty. And to make matters worse, he didn't smell the best either.

Rush hour on the metro here is like Sunday Mass in comparison to the New York subway

Yeah it's much less chaotic. Most of the time. Those rush hour Red Line crowds at Metro Center can be rough sometimes!

Sort of off topic, but does this seriously annoy anybody else? When you're on a train about to get off, the doors open and the people waiting on the platform immediately bum-rush the doors trying to get on. It's been happening to me a lot lately here in D.C. Whatever happened to letting the people on the train get off first?

Updated On: 10/22/09 at 10:20 AM

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:28am

p.s.-just to let you know - I changed the title of this thread to observations about 30 minutes before you posted, as I had second thoughts about my word choice. But thanks anyway~

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:34am

1. When there are seats for two, sit in the seat on the aisle rather than next to the window.

Oh, I love it when people do that! If I get on a bus and see that, I usually go right up to the person sitting in the aisle and ask them to let me through so I can sit next to them. What gets me is how people will stand in the aisle rather than simply say, "Excuse me" and sit in an empty seat.

What really drives me nuts is not during rush hour, but rather when trains are mostly empty and two or three girls decide to sit across the aisle from each other and SHOUT their conversations.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:41am

oh, I love that one, Matt. When people sit across from each other and shout across the train, I always think they're doing it on purpose to annoy the other passengers.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:46am

Hoo boy...dont get me started on subway/bus/train etiquette. People are animals, and I am amazed how badly grown people can behave. I've seen people refuse to move their crap to let someone sit, and am really amazed at how much noise some are willing to make.

I ride NJ Transit 2 hours each way most days and, like brdlwyr said, it should be quiet except for the occasional quick phone call saying what train you are on or what time you'll be in to work. It is NOT the time to plan the next family picnic with your sister in-law in an "outside" voice.
Another noise that I dont understand is the paper/magazine snapping. I cant believe people cant hear themselves rustle their papers so much it's as if they are making oragami or paper hats. There's one woman who often sits nearby me who loves ripping out articles...honestly!

My one theory is that people actually dont realize just how much noice they are making.

My other theory is that people are self centered aholes.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:15am

When you're on a train about to get off, the doors open and the people waiting on the platform immediately bum-rush the doors trying to get on.

This is the easiest rudeness to counterattack, however. If I'm carrying a bag, which I usually am, I make it a point to push my way through the bum-rushers and "accidentally" whack them as hard as possible with my bag. Throw in a few choice words if you like. It doesn't even matter if they're big brutes, because the likelihood of retaliation is low. They'd have to miss the train to come after you.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:23am

I take more than trains, and this is Chicago and not NYC, but so much of this stuff is universal.

I'd like to add a few - I don't understand why someone will be sitting or standing near the rear door, but when the bus stops, will push his way to the front door to get off.

Similarly, I don't understand why people will congregate and stand near the front of the bus, forcing me to push my way through to the back (where there are usually seats or at least more breathing room for standing). Then they act indignant about it.

[James885]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:34am

Calvin, that sounds like a good method. I'll have to try it the next time it happens!