Television on The Trains

They've installed TV's on our GO trains, Ms J. Not on every train, and not in every coach, but still ... Four 19" LCD monitors are suspended with fancy chrome hardware from the ceilings on both upper and lower levels of some of our bi-level coaches. I assume it's a trial to see if the travelling public fancies them or not. There was no sound, only advertising, news and weather and sports. Count me among those opposed to the idea.

Have we become so wrapped up in ourselves, that we must seek out new reasons to ignore each other? We have Walkmans and Discmans, and now mp3 players to blot out the world around us and allow us to withdraw from Life. Cell phones are ubiquitous. A few old fashioned souls sit quietly on the train and read a book, or the newspaper. Very seldom does anyone attempt conversation with a seat mate.

It's sad, Ms J. Nearly 2000 commuters ride on a rush hour train. The same people each day, many of them in the same seat each day. You'd think they might strike up a conversation. You'd think they'd all be friends by now.

But no. Each of them has his or her own set of cares and can't imagine sharing them with a stranger. And now they can sit and stare at the coloured lights and moving images being fed them by wealthy corporations and government. Do this. Don't do that. Buy this product. Use that service.

Remove the cursed televisions, say I. Put down your newspapers, friends. Unplug yourselves from your electronic masters. Lift your face from your laptop computer and meet the gaze of the person across from you.

"Hello. How are you today?"

How difficult can it be? I do it all the time. That's how I met my GO girls. Try it, people. Try establishing contact with a stranger today. Tomorrow, you may call them friend.

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