Certainly the slightest deviation from the “norm” in such group situations seems to break down the usual isolationist tendencies in transit, whether bus, streetcar, subway, rail or airplane.
People look up from their books or devices if, for example, the lights flicker or dim, if the vehicle seems to be turning in an unaccustomed direction when no announcement has been heard, unintelligible understood any of announcements which lead people to ask others whether THEY’VE
understood any part of what was said. Even what might seems an unaccountably long wait for a bus breaks the usual “don’t talk to strangers” “rule”.
All such situations create a moment of Communitas.
In Montreal, where I grew up, language was an added impediment ,as one could not be certain which language to use if “forced “ to greet or ask a question of a stranger.
Certainly the slightest deviation from the “norm” in such group situations seems to break down the usual isolationist tendencies in transit, whether bus, streetcar, subway, rail or airplane.
People look up from their books or devices if, for example, the lights flicker or dim, if the vehicle seems to be turning in an unaccustomed direction when no announcement has been heard, unintelligible understood any of announcements which lead people to ask others whether THEY’VE
understood any part of what was said. Even what might seems an unaccountably long wait for a bus breaks the usual “don’t talk to strangers” “rule”.
All such situations create a moment of Communitas.
In Montreal, where I grew up, language was an added impediment ,as one could not be certain which language to use if “forced “ to greet or ask a question of a stranger.