Friday 19 January, 2007
Politeness
One of the striking differences in behavior between Vancouverites and Helsingers (I just made that word up) is politeness, or maybe it's unselfishness. I was thinking about it the other day in the crowded number 5 bus - the new busses have half the seats the old ones used to have so most people have to stand now. A seat became available, but no one sat down. People nearby looked at each other, but no one dared to sit down in case, I don't know - someone needed the seat more than they did? This went on for several stops, the bus is crowded but there is one seat available and yet no one sits down. It's totally bizarre.
Posted by kolibri at 19 January 19:45, 2007This seems to be pretty much a west coast phenomenon, though. For example, my friend from Toronto managed to drop her pomegranates in a crowded number 99. Instead of getting a deserved (as she thought) big cup of "serves you right, you idiot", the crowd self-organized to perform a military-style rescue operation. She was pretty impressed.
On the other hand, while people are thanking the bus drivers out loud (a nice, if a wee bit excess gesture IMHO) they sometimes seem to totally lose it for something seemingly trivial. Of course not here on the civilized West side of the city, though :-)
# 2 - kolibri
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(on January 20, 2007 07:30 AM): Yeah, I've started talking to the bus drivers (shock! horror!). I greet them and almost always thank them afterwards :) But bus drivers here are exceptionally nice (unlike in Helsinki where they are exceptionally rude)... you know how they wait for you if they see you running, have a smile for you, start conversations. Love it.
# 3 - Chu (on January 23, 2007 07:57 AM):
Oh, the empty seat syndrome occurs here, too. My theory is it's for the same reason no-one wants to go first to buffet table etc: no-one wants to look like a greedy pig :P.
Sellaista valekursailua, tiedäthän.