'Silent' Rules of Traindom

I guess you now know the drill. I do a review one week and the next I do something else, just to keep it interesting. I decided that since this blog encompasses three elements; books, photography and trains...I hope to cover all three. So, I will do a review of a book one week and the next, indulge you in my train experiences. Of course both take care of the photography bit. Sounds good? Great.

So today I speak on one thing I have observed in the world of 'traindom' (just made that up). Rules! Am not talking about the usual rules the transport authority has in place. Its those other 'unwritten' rules that kinda just apply. Let's call them 'silent' rules, or better yet, 'courtesy' rules. I bet you're trying to figure out what am talking about. Let me demonstrate. Every morning as I prepare to board the train, I alongside with others will do something that may seem completely normal; pave way for the alighting passengers before we ourselves board. Well maybe you might be thinking...that's not a rule! People are just nice. I beg to differ...and am no expert in the field of figuring people out but I can easily say...people over time do things out of habit or rather because someone did it first. Like the art of standing in line. Another concept I'll get to shortly. So, try to imagine it's rush hour and people are in a hurry to get home. The oncoming train is packed with people waiting to alight. So the minute the train stops, they alight. Then you notice one thing, the passengers outside paving way for the alighting passengers and no matter how many people alight, the waiting passengers do just that...wait. Once the last of the alighting passengers alight, then the waiting passengers board on. It's amazing. Okay, maybe this concept differs with cultures...and maybe Perth's culture is courteousness. But why do you think people do this? Out of habit? Or maybe they're just following the first persons lead. Don't you agree however that it makes things so easy and even sane. Wouldn't you agree that it in a way, its kinda a 'silent' rule? Maybe it was once a habit and slowly, it grew into a kind of rule. 

Let me walk you through another example...standing in line. The first time I saw this was during one
rush hour in the platform I take my train home at. At first, I didn't seem to notice. But then it became clear as I saw one after another person line up behind another. You might be thinking...not new at all! Let me tell you why I was amazed... Having grown up in a country where people don't really like waiting in line (and if they absolutely have to, someone would always be complaining), I was amazed that the concept works beautifully at the train station....the one place where lots of people converge all at once. That's another thing about my lovely country...the art of patience. People only exhibit patience to situations or people when they absolutely have to. Am I right fellow Kenyans? :)

However, I have a theory about this level of courteousness. It's a choice...and fortunately, most people in Perth, rather, most train passengers choose to be courteous. So whether it grew out of habit or by following the first persons lead, being courteous especially in 'traindom' has its benefits. Things certainly move along and sanely at that! And like I said before, as long as you don't disturb the peace, no one really cares where you came from or even how you look. That's one other thing I have come to appreciate Perth for...how accepting they are. A topic for another day!

Have a sane week :)