Commuting
Warning - controversial views, those of a sensitve nature may be offended...possibly.
I've been a commuter into london for a good 7 years now, and I've become hardened to the pitfalls that await my fellow commuters and myself on our daily toil. However, there is something just a little unsettling about safety on the tube right now. I'm not very frightened (for myself that is) of the fear of more suicide bombings on the tube. My view of life is different to most, in that I view risk as something that is present in abundance when you live in a metropolis. However, my worries are largely for those who cannot deal with this fear, and who may not be able to resume a normal life following such incidents. Anyway, I digress.
There is something a little unsettling right now, and it pertains to the reactions of commuters and the public towards Asian Men with Rucksacks. Do you see where I'm going with this? I like a rucksack, it distributes the weight of my laptop evenly across my back. I also use it to store my paper, phone, keys etc. especially on hot days such as today. So I need to keep accessing it whilst travelling over and underground. I also am very possessive of it, ensuring I am in touch with it and keep moving it to remain in my personal area. Right now, I'm noticing people looking at me and possibly (or its my paranoia) looking uneasy as I do this.
So here we have it. Fellow commuters: Please accept that the underground is polluted, bad for your health, and generally not a nice place to be. Please accept there are pickpockets, people with contagious diseases, and bad BO. Please accept there are going to be men and women who will fidget with their rucksacks during their journey to and from work.
I will be doing my utmost to ensure I am vigilant and will help ensure all of our safety as much as possible. In return, all I ask is that you control your prejudice a little bit - but dont become lax in your awareness of whats going on! Please dont assume we rucksack carrying men are evil, or wish you harm. And try not to focus hatred in our direction.
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dp
I've been a commuter into london for a good 7 years now, and I've become hardened to the pitfalls that await my fellow commuters and myself on our daily toil. However, there is something just a little unsettling about safety on the tube right now. I'm not very frightened (for myself that is) of the fear of more suicide bombings on the tube. My view of life is different to most, in that I view risk as something that is present in abundance when you live in a metropolis. However, my worries are largely for those who cannot deal with this fear, and who may not be able to resume a normal life following such incidents. Anyway, I digress.
There is something a little unsettling right now, and it pertains to the reactions of commuters and the public towards Asian Men with Rucksacks. Do you see where I'm going with this? I like a rucksack, it distributes the weight of my laptop evenly across my back. I also use it to store my paper, phone, keys etc. especially on hot days such as today. So I need to keep accessing it whilst travelling over and underground. I also am very possessive of it, ensuring I am in touch with it and keep moving it to remain in my personal area. Right now, I'm noticing people looking at me and possibly (or its my paranoia) looking uneasy as I do this.
So here we have it. Fellow commuters: Please accept that the underground is polluted, bad for your health, and generally not a nice place to be. Please accept there are pickpockets, people with contagious diseases, and bad BO. Please accept there are going to be men and women who will fidget with their rucksacks during their journey to and from work.
I will be doing my utmost to ensure I am vigilant and will help ensure all of our safety as much as possible. In return, all I ask is that you control your prejudice a little bit - but dont become lax in your awareness of whats going on! Please dont assume we rucksack carrying men are evil, or wish you harm. And try not to focus hatred in our direction.
--
dp
You're far better behaved than I would be. I'm afraid my sense of humor can be a touch evil and, if I saw people looking at me that way, I suspect I would pick up my rucksack, look at the people around me and say "Does anybody else hear something ticking in here?"
I suspect my backside would be tossed in jail however, so I think your way is better. *G*
Fox: Probably. I heard yesterday that since the London bombs, as well as a large number of criminally stupid people attacking mosques and directing personal abuse and violence towards harmless Muslims, some even more criminally stupid people also attacked a Sikh temple. (You can hear it now, can't you: "Oh well, they all look the bloody same to me.")
God (or whatever deity/deities you choose to believe in) help us all.