/ponderings/i-found-another-human-on-the-tube
I FOUND ANOTHER HUMAN ON THE TUBE
When I first moved to London in 1997 I explored the city by using the “tube” (underground). It’s an amazing system, and over the years it has both improved radically… and not.
I’d get on the tube at Earls Court, ride for a number of stations, and then just get off at random, take another line and get off and exit at random. Once above ground I’d find myself in some part or other of London and simply explore.
Of course some areas where seemingly full of charm and treasure, and others quite
disappointing or ugly or even just plain dangerous.
Nonetheless, it was a great way of working my way about this enormous complex city.
I’d often read a book while riding, as did just about everyone else. Businessmen read the newspapers that in those days were thick and huge, not the advert filled right wing propaganda of the free 10 paged flimsy editions of todays tube reality.
Others read books, magazines or the like.
These days I rarely take the tube unless I absolutely have too. I just don’t like being surrounded by that many people.
I tend to take the overground if possible, preferring to be above ground and with a view.
I ride with beloved dog, Rufus, a 12 year old spritely and happy Lakeland terrier. He loves the train, and behaves himself so well.
Recently on a tube journey by myself, I did my usual “people watching” thing that I love to do if I’m not reading a book. But I was really shocked that almost nobody was reading anymore, like they used to on the tube. Packed in like sardines in a tin, commuters are all plugged in to their “devices”.. mobile phones, tablets etc.
OK, a few have a kindle or likewise to read, but even that creeps me out. I love the smell and feel of a book, and to flip the pages, especially a well used edition.
No one looks at another person, no one even seems human anymore… just mesmerised by their device screen, hooked into their earplugs, faces down at the glow on the screen, perhaps tapping madly on social media, for FOMO’s sake.
It really struck me, that I was apparently the only person not “hooked” up to something electrical. At one station the carriage half emptied and I could see all the way down to the other end. There I spied a man in the diagonally opposite end from myself, also looking at the “zombies” on the tube, with no doubt the same look fo despair that I must have been wearing on my face.
We saw each other, and without question, we smiled at each other. Human to human.
He nodded to me his recognition of my existence, of my being there. It was truly heart warming. I nodded back and acknowledged him. In that moment the communion between us was more deep and magical that any wi-fi, terabyte or media could hope to achieve.
It restored my faith in our innate ability to communicate without words, without tech, just using our own selves as the medium, the technology, for saying so much in an instant.
