Between the hours of 6 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m., subway-goers transform into bloodthirsty savages, running, pushing and shoving their way onto trains-- or packed cans of sardines on wheels.
And when I mean packed, I mean booty-to-booty, face-squashed-into-random-sweaty-stranger's-back packed. If you ever want to... you know... get to know someone (nudge nudge), getting on the subway during rush hour is the way to go.
Not for those scared of intimacy.
Anyways, all that means it's nearly impossible to find an open space to sit down. And with so many people competing for a seat at every stop, the whole seat-finding process becomes a vicious, high-stakes game of strategy, foresight, and skill.I hereby introduce SUBWAY MUSICAL CHAIRS.
How to play:
1. Immediately upon entering the train, quickly scan the area for an empty seat.
2. If there is an empty seat (psh, yeah right), push/shove people out of your way (dignity? what dignity?) and get your booty in said seat AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. In the inevitable case that there are no empty seats, swiftly navigate to the least crowded area.
2. After arrival at this spot, examine/rank all seated passengers in your vicinity in order of probability of impending disembarkment. Strategically place yourself in front of the ones you think are most likely to get up first.
Tips:
A passenger is not going to get up anytime soon if he/she is:
- watching Pirates of the Caribbean on a handheld device.
- watching a sappy Korean drama on a handheld device.
- reading a newspaper.
- talking/texting on a cell phone.
- listening to music with his/her eyes closed.
- looking around with a blank expression on his/her face.
- snoring and/or drooling.
A passenger is prob going to get up soon (so move in for the kill) if he/she is:
- holding his/her handheld device/cell phone, but not using it.
- holding his/her purse tightly (man-purses are cool here).
- clutching a folded-up newspaper.
- leaning slightly forward with his/her feet firmly planted on the ground.
- frequently checking his/her watch.
- staring determinedly in the general direction of the door... as if visualizing the most efficient exit route.
The game isn't so fun if you lose (standing for a 30-minute subway ride blows), but victory is so, so sweet.
How to play:
1. Immediately upon entering the train, quickly scan the area for an empty seat.
2. If there is an empty seat (psh, yeah right), push/shove people out of your way (dignity? what dignity?) and get your booty in said seat AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. In the inevitable case that there are no empty seats, swiftly navigate to the least crowded area.
2. After arrival at this spot, examine/rank all seated passengers in your vicinity in order of probability of impending disembarkment. Strategically place yourself in front of the ones you think are most likely to get up first.
Tips:
A passenger is not going to get up anytime soon if he/she is:
- watching Pirates of the Caribbean on a handheld device.
- watching a sappy Korean drama on a handheld device.
- reading a newspaper.
- talking/texting on a cell phone.
- listening to music with his/her eyes closed.
- looking around with a blank expression on his/her face.
- snoring and/or drooling.
A passenger is prob going to get up soon (so move in for the kill) if he/she is:
- holding his/her handheld device/cell phone, but not using it.
- holding his/her purse tightly (man-purses are cool here).
- clutching a folded-up newspaper.
- leaning slightly forward with his/her feet firmly planted on the ground.
- frequently checking his/her watch.
- staring determinedly in the general direction of the door... as if visualizing the most efficient exit route.
The game isn't so fun if you lose (standing for a 30-minute subway ride blows), but victory is so, so sweet.
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