Hey, there! Log in / Register
It's a wonder anybody in Harvard Square can get to work
By adamg on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 10:17am
Jennifer Strong, who has an office in the square, reports on the Mass. Ave. Gauntlet: Tourists, locals who don't know which side to stand on on escalators, student herds and, of course the Save the Whatevers people:
I've tried ignoring them, but sometimes this makes them more insistent. I've tried pretending to be on my phone, but sometimes they ignore this and try to get my attention. (What if I was having a Very Important Conversation?!) I've also tried to pretend that I don't speak English, which even once involved breaking into an invented language with my companion at the time, The Irreverent Psychologist. This kind of worked, but I think those petitioners knew what we were up to. Eventually, I decided to stop all this passive-aggressive business and just say "No thank you" every time they speak. And guess what? (Here comes the Important Lesson of this post.) Being direct is more effective than being passive aggressive. And I should know. I'm a psychologist.
Neighborhoods:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
Stand to the right
I am glad the writer finally brought up the unspoken escalator rule. Stand to the right if you wish to stand, so those who wish to walk up can do so on the left. Likewise, I thought it was always an unspoken polite rule to keep to your right when walking up a flight of stairs in a public place such as the T, while people walking down stay to their right, so things move smoothly. In recent times this practice is falling off, and public stairs become like traffic jams. Its a good rule to follow, just like letting people off the train before you get on, which is now also going the way of the dinosaurs, especially at the Downtown Crossing and Park Street Under stops.
Boston's train fail
I've been on the subways in London, Barcelona, D.C., Paris, NYC, Chicago and elsewhere. Boston is the only place where people think this is common practice. It's also the only place where folks feel it's okay to dawdle and spend five minutes picking seats while they hold up the entire train. Someone taking that long in Paris would get a friendly push into the car for their trouble.
It's not hard: You know your stop is coming, get up sometime before the second the door opens and get the hell out of there. Incidental contact is not the end of the world. Squeeze past, for god's sake.
I much prefer waiting until I
I much prefer waiting until I have solid footing before making other people move out of my way, particularly when it's a crowded train and there really isn't anywhere for them *to* move. If the train's empty enough that you can easily make it to the door while the train is in motion, you should be pretty close to the door when the train stops. Otherwise, the stop is just going to take a bit longer, and that's life.
If you want to walk
If you want to walk, take the stairs. The escalator is for standing.
I take it you're not in the
I take it you're not in the Porter Square station much.
Common misconception
The
is for standing. The
is to assist people in climbing steep or lengthy grades of stairs. It's not a ride, but the London Underground sets a simple rule for those who choose to treat it like one: Walk left, ride right.
It's amazing how many riblet eaters don't understand this.
Not in most of the world...
... but I guess special places can have special rules.
Sheesh.
Problem is
We're not like the rest of the world. Frequently one person takes up the space of two, thus making the move to the right impossible.
I agree though, the elevator is for standing. The escalator are stairs that make allow you to move faster. Park your butt on the right if you must park it, it's only courteous.
Maybe some places, but certainly not Porter Square
The stairs there are only for physically fit people who want to get substantial exercise climbing them. Most ordinary people walk up the escalator instead.
In Germany and Austria....
...almost every escalator had signs saying -- Links gehen, rechts gehen. See:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlcastle/3166515347/
(albeit from Switzerland -- where I've never used an escalator so far)
Being direct is more
Federal funding for the Greater Boston Area should be contingent on posting this sentence on signs throughout Boston and its surrounding cities.
When I first moved here, I tried to dial back the direct approach in favor of Boston's more passive nature. When I suddenly couldn't get anywhere, couldn't get the things I asked for and couldn't stand the people I was around any longer, I reverted to old form. I haven't missed a train, been stiffed on an order or been ensnared in the clipboard trap since.
It's viewed as rude here, but the direct approach is the secret to surviving a very passive, complaint-ridden Boston.
Hah! Bostonians do not prefer passivity...
Actually, compared to other cities I've lived in, is polite, Boston 's default is polite get-your-business-done directness.
Try waiting tables in New Orleans, DC, New York, and Boston & you'll see what I mean.
It's bad in Copley Sq too. I
It's bad in Copley Sq too. I just usually say "I'm late for work" (which often isn't a lie at all) and they back off.
Don't you hate being in a business
where you have to deal with people every day? And how's this for direct; you're a schmuck.
Signed,
The accidental commenter.
WINNNER!
Aw, someone got punched right in the feelings. Always has to be one like this, doesn't there?
Heh.
I used to work for save the children. That lasted approximately three days - I got paid 14 bucks an hour...for charity work? Couldn't believe it.
I'd say, try biking to work - hell, use Hubway - you'll breeze past the crowds AND the canvassers.
On Mass Ave?
You may breeze by canvassers, but you'll be blocked by delivery trucks, double parkers, buses and erratic bike-messenger wannabes from Huntington right up to Porter.
Unfortunately, Hubway is shutting down next week
for the winter, until some time in March.
Passive?
I'm surprised to read someone describe Bostonians as passive. Aggressive is closer to the truth. I agree however that saying I am not interested is best. Then if they persist just walk away.
I doubt if anyone would fall for the very important cell phone conversation ploy. That excuse is over used.