When I was on the train yesterday coming home it was crowded as usual. King’s Cross, where I transfer, is a popular Tube station because so many lines intersect there. So as the train slowed down I started to move, making it clear that I would be exiting at this station. There was a woman sitting down with a big bag who appeared like she was on the train for the long hall. So I tried to shimmy past her until I realized she was actually getting up to leave the train, too. So I motioned for her to go ahead. It was something like a waiter might do when presenting a dish. My palms were to the sky and I sort of flicked my risk. I thought it was a good way to say “go ahead.” But the woman mistook my gesture. She thought it was a sign of annoyance. I know this because she apologized. “Let me just move my bag, and I’ll be out of your way,” she said.
In retrospect, it may have looked like I was annoyed (I think my facial expression tends to look that way even when I don’t intend it) and the gesture could have just as easily been saying “what the hell are you doing.”
So much can be said with gestures. For instance, “go ahead you have the right of way to make this turn,” all signified by a simple hand movement. A wave is as good as hello. A head nod quickly offers disinterest or interest. You get the idea.
The problem is that many gestures aren’t universal. Here, you can’t give the peace sign, at least not vertically, because in
But I noticed something else as well. When I was at a pub for Saint Patties Day earlier this week, it was very crowded and the bartender was getting frustrated with his till. In his momentary rage, he gave the machine the finger. I guess some things will always be universal.
Comments Welcome,
Andrew
4 comments:
Hi Andrew,Just think that people are always on there gaurd and do not think about you or care. I know you where taught to be nice but those people tired from a long day of work a and have been taking the tube for along time it is a little new to you when you started to do this.Wait in a frw years you might think the same way.Just be yourself. Alan
Here's another similar tale. I was headed to Heathrow one morning. In the early hours, the tube to Heathrow gets as packed as other lines do at rush hour. I tend to move quickly, squeezing through slower people without jostling them. It's all about agility. I imagine, Andrew, you're similarly at the upper end of the speed spectrum, as a pedestrian.
Anyway, we're piling out like clowns from a clown car at Heathrow. Suddenly a guy moving much faster then me dives past me into the crowd, knocking me sideways into a woman. I try to use that momentum to my advantage and keep going on my course, but from the woman's perspective it must have looked like I shoved her out of the way. She stops in the middle of the crowd and starts shouting at me. Of course, being Britain, the crowd is completely quiet so everyone nearby hears her complaint. I look back and try to explain that I was knocked into her, but there is no reasoning with her. I went on my way and felt guilty the rest of the day. Even now I can picture her face, horrified at my behavior.
doJust a thought, the German salute to Hitler was your arm forward with your arm slightly raised. Very much like a traffic cop telling you to stop.
While waiting on line at a well known restaurant in London grandma and I saw 2 cars crash into each other, instead of the drivers screaming blaming each other they each asked if the other were hurt and each driver blaming themselves. just like the USA!!!,
THE JETS WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE
LOVE DFB
Alan,
I guess I might be.
Paul,
That's a crazy story. i don't think you should be horrified though. It wasn't your fault.
Grandpa,
In a way, that is a very comforting story.
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