Is nice because it’s simple. But when it fails, it can fail big.
Yesterday I took the train at a different time than I usually take it. It just so happened that this was the rush hour train and so we were all tightly packed – squish, squish, squish.
Given the abnormally high level of solidarity on display, I took it upon myself to remark (aloud) about a peculiar non-linear phenomenon at work.
“Isn’t it interesting,” says I. “When the train is especially busy, the driver must stay longer at each stop for the loading and unloading of people. “[This is not a trivial difference; when the people are packed, the missus in the middle of the car has a lot of squeezing to do in order to get from her seat to the door, and finally out the train - Ed]
“What this means,” says I to my captive audience, ” is that the train arrives *later* at every subsequent stop. Giving those unfortunate souls who would have otherwise missed this particular train a chance to queue up on the platform. Meaning that early busyiness makes later busyiness busyier than it has business to be.”
Nobody said anything.
ha ha – I think this captive audience thing has legs… I think you need to keep fishing for a live one!
2 Comments for the price of 1.
1. All that rationale just to understand why a late train/bus keeps getting later.
2. I spent two/three years working in west-end Toronto instead of downtown in order to ride empty subway cars that were rushing out to load up on the commuters going downtown. Always rode in empty trains that left the station every two-three minutes–both going to work and coming home.
I wish you took my bus; would make the ride more interesting
Thanks for the vote of confidence. In fairness, though, the monologue probably gains some eloquence in the retelling.