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I took the DART into Dublin City recently. Been a while since I have. On the BUS home I took this picture and thought it would be a great poster to be put on all DART trains.
Reared with 4 sisters [& 3 brothers] I don’t wish to suggest a ‘National Peter Day’ of celebration but I feel compelled to say something.
I must have been one of very [very] few to stand and let a lady sit [age irrelevant] on a morning journey. The coach was full. One girl fainted a few seats down and still ended sat [slightly squashed] beside two ‘gentlemen’ who hunched hesitantly a little tighter on their seat whilst other people sat and read their newspaper. Two ladies did assist with water and such – agus bualadh bos – I applaud you.
More carriages – for sure. But it does not change the manner[ism]s of some who push and shove impolitely through their life. Is chivalry a characteristic of Irish history? Do we not perform random act of kindness at all? Or should we still blame Iarnród Éireann.
Maybe I just love going to work [incorrect by definition possibly hobby?!] and I’m slightly disillusioned believing it’s always great to see a smile….?
http://www.taz.de/blogs/wp-inst/wp-content/blogs.dir/44/files/2007/02/043%20overcrowded%20train%20India.jpg
The 5:30 from Connolly?
Give it time…
A Chara C
a sense of humour on the 5.30 is definitely a must and your photo is probably not far off the mark!
excellent!!
peter
While the transport systems and planners (moreso!) are heavily to blame, and we could be ages deciding who to lay blame on, you’re definately right on focusing on the mentality of passenger too.
Perhaps the chaotic, sardine tin-esque journey has totally affected some passengers mindset, and gives a ‘every man/woman/child for him/herself’ mentality. Everyone seems to be in their own little iWorlds, with headphones cutting off sounds, and mobile phones and mini video players making it handy to never even make eye contact with anyone, let alone utter any words to a stranger, even if they seem in need.
There was a case a couple of years ago where a man died on the New York subway, but it was found that he had actually died 6 hours previous of a heart attack before being ‘discovered’ by a subway employee. I wonder if those who sat near his then lifeless body even looked at him… coming to a Dart near you perhaps?
A Chara ‘C’
talking at lunch time one comment was there was a time when your mother would ‘clip’ your ears if you didn’t offer up your seat. This however is not children! it maybe those caught up in their little ‘i worlds’ that cram their way onto a train, before people get off etc. When compared with, unusually possibly, Londons underground it’s amazing to see that whilst Englands capital & its people out-number us here in dublin by about 17 times, the commuters stand back and let passengers off. The minimum requirement to be mannerly.
The fact that I can contrast is because I haven’t been on the DART in so long. Quite unfortunate that this is for some considered a way of life. Don’t misunderstand – I WORK EXTREMELY HARD AT WHAT I [and my team] DO, the same as everyone else – but, I know I enjoy life, I smile every morning and whilst life always has its ups and downs [?!!], I’m still still considerate of the people around me – the whole point of this piece.
Ireland shouldn’t need signs requesting ‘this’ seat be offered up to an elderly [or any for that matter]person who does or doesn’t need it!
Happy Tuesday! and lets hope next week is even happier!!!
slán agus beannacht
peter
You’re damn right Peter. Many people just don’t understand the dynamics of letting people off before they scrum onto a train/bus/luas. I’ve seen near fights break out in such cases as people push heavily by, knocking people in a tough manner with no regard for their fellow passengers whatsoever.
Maybe more people will ‘give up’ seats for lent!
)
Happy pancake day!
C