Back in London the difference between somewhere here and somewhere like Moira (I say Moira cause realistically there is no-one in Magheralin) is so obvious. Everyone you pass on the street is listening to the ipod. People brush past you without removing their eyes from the pavement about 4 feet in front of themselves. I feel as though I make eye-contact a lot more from since I’ve been in Moira; and indeed Middlemount; but that over here in the expanse of London that it’s taboo. No one else looks up or makes any effort to give even the faintest of smiles as they pass.
The complete ignorance of the outside world here is one of the most fascinating traits of city life. I feel completely comfortable walking down the street; ipod on & staring blankly ahead. The downside is that no-one cares if they step out in front of you. It’s you that’s in their way.
The ‘Tube-Metro’ ritual is one of the things that I really like about city culture; and one that I think both completely contradicts and compliments the attitudes of Londoners. Papers are brought onto the train, read and then left on the seat for the next person. Something about that is very sharing & considerate of others. Leaving it there when you’re done isn’t wasteful as it’s sure to be read again. Rarely would I have picked up one with the suduko or crosswords done or with parts missing. Everyone simply takes what they need then leave it behind. Leaving it behind when you’re finished also speaks volumes about the attitude of Londoners in terms of using something when it suits then dumping it when you’re done. Not something really nice; but it’s something that suits the tube-metro system perfectly. The tube itself is a fairly lonely place. Everyone just does their own thing…absorbed in their ‘Metro’, ipod, book or magazine. No one makes eye contact. No one says a word. It’s the only place I’ve been where you can be in such close proximity to another human (nearly rubbing up against each other in some cases), yet be so far away at the same time.
