The sad truth is that making eye contact in public may be welcome but is most often considered an invasion of one’s private space. What’s worse is that an innocent smile or finger wave to an adorable child too young to be so inhibited might be considered child-molestation.
’twas my exact thought last friday on the ferry. then, in an instant, nearly all said negative thinking was shattered as one the said “sheep” sitting next to me asked me a simple and polite question. Immediately the ride home was more enjoyable as I remembered that we are all conscious beings. perhaps agencies and transit systems could do more to foster positive or sincere passenger interaction? a sense of shared comfort…?
Note: it’s XKCD, not XLCD.
All hail XKCD. It typifies Western geek culture so well.
Corrected, thanks.
The sad truth is that making eye contact in public may be welcome but is most often considered an invasion of one’s private space. What’s worse is that an innocent smile or finger wave to an adorable child too young to be so inhibited might be considered child-molestation.
’twas my exact thought last friday on the ferry. then, in an instant, nearly all said negative thinking was shattered as one the said “sheep” sitting next to me asked me a simple and polite question. Immediately the ride home was more enjoyable as I remembered that we are all conscious beings.
perhaps agencies and transit systems could do more to foster positive or sincere passenger interaction? a sense of shared comfort…?
Relevant, interesting: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2011/01/14/2011-01-14_lets_talk_stranger_why_our_subways_should_have_conversation_cars.html#ixzz1B2gCKYVg