Bus Psychology

[motazadam]

I'm constantly thinking about this on the bus. for me, i'd love to just start talking to someone on the bus, and if i see someone who shows signs of that, i do. but a lot of the time, i find a vacant seat because if the seats are empty and i sit next to a person, they will definitely get freaked out. but i've never actually asked anyone that. so i think it's cuz we make assumptions of what the people may be thinking even though they might just be thinking the same things as us

[Orygyn]

@motazadam Yeh that sounds about right.

[MADMANx511]

Personally, i find it that they (people) are SCARED of being talked to, or sit next to by someone. FOr example, i am a teen in Australia and i listen to metal. So when i am sitting on the bus with my headphones, people (esp elderly) look at me and move as far away as possible. This makes me smile because they dont know me at all, and yet they already have stereotypical thoughts about me just cause i wear black and listen to music.

I trailed off there, oh well. nice vid! XD

[Orygyn]

Yeh. I have a similar situation. I wear a trench coat to uni and I get self-conscious and think that everyone thinks of me as a metalhead stereotype. Still, it doesn't stop me from wearing the coat.

[korohodos]

I like to stand very closely to people because there is greater intimacy in that and intimacy leads to rape.

[Orygyn]

LOL.

[HowDaWorldTwerks]

If I am gonna sit somewhere, part of me wanting to sit in the seat by myself, outside of me wanting to be alone, is that I think other people may want to sit alone as well, they may not want me to sit next to them for whatever reason, or it may just be weird that "hey there is an open seat right there why did you have to sit next to me" Kind of sucks, that mentality I have about makes it harder to meet new people, but i've never really put much thought into it.

[Orygyn]

Yeh, it's just something I thought I'd share with people.

[1amG0d4ndh31574C]

rated 5 stars

erm... well, i personally think that while on a bus you would either try and keep to yourself no matter what the behaviour of others around you due to privacy keeping or other personal matters such as thinking it would be too risky sitting with someone you know nothing about and you might find it too uncomfortable, or you may however sit with anyone as you dont really mind sitting with someone you know nothing about and/or the remainig seats are already taken

[Orygyn]

Good points. Thanks.

[johnmc2k]

In this time where we can most easily communicate with anyone in the world people have found it harder to communicate face to face.

I think people are scared of even looking or saying "hello" to a stranger unless they absolutely have too.

Im sure you have found this in scotland, i find it on west coast of ireland, if you pass someone on the street you would say hello, this behaviour doesnt happen in the north, everyone is so detached and this 'mtv generation' makes me sick to my stomach

[Orygyn]

That's another thing. People say hello more in the small town where I live.

[johnmc2k]

Another thing that really annoyed me to the point where i was near compelled to make my first youtube video was when I was in a supermarket and the woman in front had her items on the conveyor belt, I set mine down a few feet from hers on the conveyor. She lifted the plastic divider and put it between our items, you know just in case either of us would have to take part in the awkward activity of communication.

[Orygyn]

LOL. This is actually quite surprising to me because that happens here all the time. I really like all the response to this video because there's so many ways I can branch out from this and ask more questions.

[Mozza314]

I've always wondered exactly the same thing.

I don't think it's a privacy thing, I think it's more about effort of having a conversation with a stranger, it's simply easier not to do so, and there's little perceived reward in creating hundreds of idle aquantences by talking to strangers on the bus every day.

I think the behaviour also has a self-reinforcing property - the behaviour convinces people that others don't want to be sat next to, so people will avoid others for that reason aswell.

[Mozza314]

It would be interesting to observe a group of strangers who were, for some reason, setting out on a long bus trip that would span a week or so, some kind of tour. Perhaps the habit of sitting alone would be too set in people's minds, or perhaps people would reason that it would be worth getting to know their fellow tourists as they would be having the same experience for an extended period of time, and so would seek out people to sit next to.

[Orygyn]

Those would be good observations to make.

[KasparHauser4]

I think the same thing happens here in the USA. People just don't want to be hassled while traveling. We all have our own families,like minded friendship groups and associations who we are comfortable interacting with. Socializing with strangers seems risky and may get you into uncomfortable situations. Just my thoughts here.

Although if you keep riding the same bus at the same time day in and day out before long you will find a group of fellow commuters who will feel safe in talking to you.

[Orygyn]

That's a point yeah.

[ambientSCREAMZ]

I think it's 'cause when you sit yourself you are at comfort and feel free to be yourself. When a stranger sits next to you, they're in you're "breathing space" or "comfort zone", and you feel uncomfortable because you feel like you can't act yourself. Hence people allow others to have this comfort zone. Something like that?

[Orygyn]

Yeh that sounds pretty good.

[YouknowItsLP]

Sorry but I laughed really hard when you said "I wanna go as deep as I possibly can" Haha XD

[Orygyn]

LOL. Well if it provides cheap laughs...

[Horseplay71]

In my teens I felt vulnerable even walking up the aisle of a bus searching for a seat. Felt like all eyes were on me, I'd trip up, or I was being examined by a serial killer as his next victim.

in my twenties I had developed the habit to arrogantly expect a good seat and not sharing.

Thirties; skilled at intimidating a person to search elsewhere, with a glare.

Now, and happily stand or help seat others & chat to anyone. I am the wierdo I used to dread being seated next to!

[Orygyn]

LOL nice.

[HowlsFury]

Room/space. People still talk to one another between the rows. its just more Comfortable to sit single, with a view out side. then it is to sit next to some one and cramp each other up.

[Orygyn]

Good point.

[FacedPalmedPlanet]

...If any stranger cound sit anywhere on the bus, but choose to sit beside me, I'd think he was a weirdo/pickpocket/beggar etc.

so, I dont deliberatly sit beside anyone when the option to leave them alone is available, I like to use my fone & dont like annoying peoples public transport, I also respect the fear old people & women may have, & drunks/stoners are best left alone, people may be racist or in bad form, might be only peace they get is bus ride home.. I dunno, call me weird. :P

[FacedPalmedPlanet]

...but if on a bus and it was down to next passenger had to choose a double up.. just nod & smile at them.. they wont sit near ya.. haha,

[Orygyn]

Nothing weird about what you said. Interesting thoughts, thank you.

[superextremelaser]

nice observation.

I notice a similar thing happen in the movie theatre

[Orygyn]

Yeah, it might be worth branching out and covering that as well after a few more trips.

[KatRocks333]

"They never sit beside another stranger...UNLESS they're friends or family. Lol ^_^ I'll try to make a vr, if my stupid photobooth works.

[Orygyn]

Yup. Another glorious fuck-up. Sorry about that.

[KatRocks333]

lol. =]

[Orygyn]

Also I look forward to the response if you can get photobooth working.

[icontrolyourworld]

1:57 Usually i like to sit by myself on the bus on my way to school, because I sometimes wake up with bad breath naturally, and i don't want other people to smell that.

[icontrolyourworld]

It's not everyday i wake up with bad breath, but usually i don't notice it when i do that's all.

[Orygyn]

LOL.

[IVIaggotx]

When I used to ride the bus it always seemed to be filled with either old people, ugly people, stinky people, or just plain stupid people. A rather shallow answer, but an answer none the less.

[Orygyn]

Fair enough.

[totz2]

i used to take the bus alot. the main reason people do this is to give the person privacy like u said and thats completely natural but i think its safe to say that having 20 social animals, of the same species, in an enclosed space, refraining from any sort of social interaction, is unnatural. time killing/boredom shouldnt exist, boredom is the unnatural pain caused by society forcing us to be able to efficiently kill/waste time. weed, lsd, shrooms and mdma all prevent that manipulation/pain.

[Orygyn]

This is exactly the kind of response I was aiming to find. Thank you.

[rozeboosje]

:) I think it's more about personal space than privacy. The seats are just narrow enough to cause you to feel a bit crowded in by someone sitting beside you. It's not so bad that you can't put up with it on a full bus, but enough to feel like avoiding it if you can.

[Orygyn]

Ah good one.

[tattooskin72]

Privacy is definitely a part of it. But, I think a major thing is that, most people are thinking it's just a short trip and they aren't necessarily thinking about meeting anyone new. This is neither good nor bad really.

[Orygyn]

Yeah.

[oojamaflipper]

i dont like sittin next 2 chavs

that is all

but seriously, i dont think u can go much deeper than 2 say 'whats the point of squashing up next 2 a stranger who u wont talk 2 anyway cos the journey wil b 2 short to strike up any kind o connection & anyway why wud i want 2, they'll only disappear from my life in the next few minutes, yet another abandonment, if only they gave me a chance they'd see, they'd ask me 4 my fone no. & we'd meet up 4 drinks'

wen u can just avoid all that & b mor comfy

[Orygyn]

LOL. Yeah, maybe there isn't any more to it.

[oojamaflipper]

strangely tho, in the process of suggesting its quite a simple 'problem', i seem to have gone quite deep

ha etc

[Orygyn]

LOL.

[Eddiethepizzaboy]

If you were standing in the street and someone came up and was right in your face.....you might think of taking some measures to get them away, either walk away yourself or push them back. This is because of, as comms007 said, personal space, which is a psychological hypothetical area around a person that if entered for extended amounts of time, will create discomfort. The bus phenomenon is not against the fact that we are a social species, it is for it, we like to ensure others have comfort.

[Orygyn]

Good point Eddie.

[aadon789]

I find that people feel uncomfortable around others, when they do not know them. Plus these people are trying to get somewhere, I doubt they're thinking about meeting new people. Maybe, they just sit at window a seat by themselves, because it's simpler. But really it depends on the person, and the mood that person is in.

[Orygyn]

Cool thanks.

[CommS007]

Personal space (^O__O)^

[Orygyn]

That's another one yeh.

[Shavemahassbitch]

I never Noticed That...hmmm,lemme get back to you,lol

[Orygyn]

LOL.