Public Transport Minutiae

        Public transportation interests me greatly. Not because the lives of millions of people depend on it in some cities, nor because people from all backgrounds, cultures, and economical status are brought together for a common purpose. A subway car may indeed be the best representation of a city you can get (since cities are divided in a socioeconomic manner), but that is not my fascination either. I happen to be pulled in by more unusual topics, maybe best described as minutiae.

  I think an overlooked topic on public transportation has to do with general behavior. Have you ever noticed how some people purposely sit in a certain way in order to lessen the chance that someone takes the adjacent seat? The methods include slouching excessively, putting feet up on a seat, sitting in the middle of 2 seats as to take up half of each one, or giving a bag it's own accommodation.

  It's quite a ridiculous move really, but we have all been guilty of it at some time. I even once faked sleeping on a plane with my bag in the other seat, while new passengers got on. That way people wouldn't bother waking me up to ask me if the seat was taken. What? Those seats are far too cramped to have a large person leaning over me for 3 hours. I only pull out the stops when I really need it though. I even find it funny how people ask if they can sit next to you. “Excuse me. Is this seat taken?” I feel like answering “No, but I don't really want anyone sitting next to me”. If I need a seat, instead of asking the generic question when someone is trying some seat maneuver, I might call them out and say, “Listen buddy, I know you left your jacket on the seat so that no one would sit here, but I'm onto you. I see right through your strategy”. This would make for excellent shock effect. It's really amazing to see what people try if you are perceptive so try it. Another good one I've seen is a guy sprawling himself out with arms extended across the next seat. This is a real good deterrent.