6 ms·

Oh, the quiet car. I ride the quiet car every weekday to and from work into and out of Chicago (except ours is Metra, not Amtrak). His description of it is comp

Oh, the quiet car. I ride the quiet car every weekday to and from work into and out of Chicago (except ours is Metra, not Amtrak). His description of it is completely accurate. The people on the quiet car tend to be thinkers, readers, writers, and I dare say just a bit more intelligent than the average rider. I've had the same experience before. For some reason people think the signs and the announcements don't apply to them and it just boggles my mind how much self awareness they lack! There's been a guy I've seen on the quiet car twice last week who for some reason had his iPhone at full volume and texted for the entire hour I was on the train. The problem wasn't the texting but that the iPhones clickers clackety keyboard sounds were on. Is that really necessary? And on the quiet car no less? A woman did the same thing a few weeks back. Of course no one said a word but we were all very annoyed. And then you get the oblivious guy who doesn't read signs or listen to the 3 announcements who talks on his cell the whole ride. And don't get me started on the teenagers who seem to be visiting the city for the first time and for some reason need to scream at each other despite being centimeters from each others face in a car full of completely silent people. The signs are obvious. The announcement are loud, clear, and numerous. So what the fuck, man?! That's life now. It seems we have a whole generation of people who are just completely lacking self-awareness and have a serious problem with entitlement. But it's not young people this is specific to. I'm only 26 and I'm good on the quiet car (though I have had my moments I'll admit). There are people of all ages,miracles, and genders who behave this way and though I think humans are like this by nature anyway I also think the Internet and cell phones have made it worse. It seems like a learned behavior. I just blamed Internet and cell phones for a portion of the world's ills. I'm going to go think about how old that makes me sound now...

mgkimsal 14y ago
"I'm good on the quiet car (though I have had my moments I'll admit). There are people of all ages,miracles, and genders who behave this way..." You probably don't encounter the same people all the time. There's enough people out in the world such that each one can "have their moments" when they're around you, and nowhere else, and you wouldn't know the difference. I do sympathize with you though. I've got a sound sensitivity problem, and lots of noises bug me way way way out of the ordinary compared to most peoples' tolerance. I know this isn't specifically related to quiet cars on trains, but noises in general still bug me (even my own oftentimes). I'm sometimes shocked how I can be on an airplane, with gigantic engines blowing away at tremendous force just 20 feet from me, yet a person a row ahead of me chewing gum or chowing down on pretzels penetrates in to my brain.
- bpatrianakos 14y ago
  I hear what you're saying and you've got a point. Makes sense. But for the record, most of the people on that car I actually do see 3 to 5 times per week. So far it's been very rare for the regulars to have annoying moments. I've been keeping track for six months now.
- kellishaver 14y ago
  Do you get much flak from others for your sensitivity to noise? Some noises bother me a lot. Anything that's repetitive will annoy me to the point that I basically cannot function and get extremely angry, and it only takes a minute or two to get to that level. Sometimes sounds (and not necessarily loud ones) are physically uncomfortable. I have similar issues with some textures (in food, clothing, etc.) and am very sensitive to smells (the cause nausea and headaches). All my life I have been told I need to "get over" this, which I have certainly tried to do, but there seems to be only so much I can do about it. People who don't experience this level of sensitivity just think I'm being difficult and that I do this by choice. Frustrating.
  - mgkimsal 14y ago
    as a kid I did - it was worst with family - caused a lot of bad feelings. as an adult, i can basically just walk away or leave the room, or try to compensate by controlling the conversation or doing something else to distract myself for a few moments. I think the term is hyperacusis, but that now seems to general. I'd found a more specific term for this condition I think I have, but haven't been able to find any doctors or therapists willing to deal with it. in my case I'm not sure I get physical discomfort - it's more mental, or at least, that's how I register it.
  - praptak 14y ago
    There is some research on this condition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_integration_dysfunction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_integration_dysfunction
  - ryanklee 14y ago
    It's good to hear I'm not the only one out there with this condition in its more severe forms. (Not that I ever considered myself original in this regard.) It's so difficult to communicate to others the level of my sensitivity to repeated noises (esp. oral/eating) - and the level of my sensitivity seems so flat out absurd, unjustifiable and irrational - that I've basically suppressed and internalized it as far as humanly possible and have come to consider it a best-to-be-kept secret, dogged malady. There are very few things I wouldn't give to see myself freed of the condition. It turns what would normally be sitting down and eating dinner with my lovely significant other into a quotidian session of repressed frustration and anger at having to listen to her (oh, the humanity) chew food and handle utensils.
eupharis 14y ago
This diversity of opinion about what is and is not hard to tune out is fascinating. Also 26 here. One of the great shortcomings of youth is not being able to understand that other people can be fundamentally different. Not better, not worse. Just different. This is something I'm only truly beginning to appreciate lately. I had never realized until this thread that people could find typing annoying. Well, theoretically I mean I understood you could think "Oh that's annoying" and get on with life. But not the overwhelming, consuming pathos here. Maybe the problem is less a lack of self-awareness and a serious problem with entitlement. Maybe the problem is this: Their awareness of self leads them to different conclusions about what is and is not annoying. They don't see themselves as doing anything more entitled than breathing, because other people's typing bothers them about as much as your breathing.
- queensnake 14y ago
  Also, age: you're more easily distracted & thus annoyed at /being/ distracted as you get older.
nlh 14y ago
While we're on this subject, a related rant/question: Why are so many people so totally oblivious to so many announcements, signs, and otherwise? You've all seen it: Boarding a plane, for example. "Ladies, and Gentlemen, we're boarding rows 1 - 5 now. Thanks." And as sure as Spring, there will _always_ be someone from row 324 who gets in line. The staff are far more polite than I'd be: "Sir, we're boarding rows 1 - 5. You're in row 324. I literally just made this announcement four seconds ago." And still, more people from other rows will attempt to board. This happens endlessly, everywhere. "Please don't stand here." Someone will stand here. "Please step forward if you have a yellow ticket." Someone will say "But nobody called the yellow tickets?" Perhaps I'm too attentive or perhaps I shouldn't be annoyed by this, but I am and I am.
- ctdonath 14y ago
  The profusion of announcements negates them. Just yesterday I noticed that a single bus door had SIXTEEN warning signs on it. I dare suggest that nobody else noticed any of them that day.
- pavel_lishin 14y ago
  My guess? There's no disincentive to ignore signs. If you get in line for rows 1-5, and your ticket reads 324, your worst case scenario is standing in line until they call your rows. The best case scenario is guaranteed luggage space and convenience.
- megablast 14y ago
  Non english speakers? People who have just arrived at the gate, and are a bit confused, and also afraid of missing the plane. Is this the last call? Especially when you are rushing for your 4th connecting flight on a 30 hours trip.
- kahawe 14y ago
  > boarding rows 1 - 5 now I think you greatly under-estimate people's economic or opportunistic sense of a good chance to get guaranteed luggage space and enough space around them to take off jackets, sweaters and whatever else they might need to feel comfortable sitting down on a plane.
fudged71 14y ago
You have trains with quiet cars? That sounded neat at first, until I realized that everyone where I live is quiet on the train anyways so it isn't a problem.
- bpatrianakos 14y ago
  They may be quiet but I'm not sure it compares with the quiet car. On the quiet car, when all goes well, it is 100% silent. No one talks and there's just no noise at all. If your train of thought is broken for a moment and you take in the silence it's almost eerie. That's why even the slightest noise like someone typing can become so disturbing. I don't know, maybe the people on your train really are that quiet but I hope you get to experience a quiet car someday to know for sure because it really is great.
  - precisioncoder 14y ago
    That describes pretty much every train I've been on in Austria, oh sometimes there is noise but it's the exception rather than the norm. The other strange thing is often people will rather stand than sit next to someone else. Coming from Canada where it is normal to have loud conversation from all directions on public transportation I found it a huge surprise but am overall a fan. Nice for reading or thinking.
mike_ivanov 14y ago
> scream at each other despite being centimeters from each others face Ah, Dora the Explorer generation...

mgkimsal 14y ago

"I'm good on the quiet car (though I have had my moments I'll admit). There are people of all ages,miracles, and genders who behave this way..." You probably don't encounter the same people all the time. There's enough people out in the world such that each one can "have their moments" when they're around you, and nowhere else, and you wouldn't know the difference. I do sympathize with you though. I've got a sound sensitivity problem, and lots of noises bug me way way way out of the ordinary compared to most peoples' tolerance. I know this isn't specifically related to quiet cars on trains, but noises in general still bug me (even my own oftentimes). I'm sometimes shocked how I can be on an airplane, with gigantic engines blowing away at tremendous force just 20 feet from me, yet a person a row ahead of me chewing gum or chowing down on pretzels penetrates in to my brain.

bpatrianakos 14y ago
I hear what you're saying and you've got a point. Makes sense. But for the record, most of the people on that car I actually do see 3 to 5 times per week. So far it's been very rare for the regulars to have annoying moments. I've been keeping track for six months now.
kellishaver 14y ago
Do you get much flak from others for your sensitivity to noise? Some noises bother me a lot. Anything that's repetitive will annoy me to the point that I basically cannot function and get extremely angry, and it only takes a minute or two to get to that level. Sometimes sounds (and not necessarily loud ones) are physically uncomfortable. I have similar issues with some textures (in food, clothing, etc.) and am very sensitive to smells (the cause nausea and headaches). All my life I have been told I need to "get over" this, which I have certainly tried to do, but there seems to be only so much I can do about it. People who don't experience this level of sensitivity just think I'm being difficult and that I do this by choice. Frustrating.
- mgkimsal 14y ago
  as a kid I did - it was worst with family - caused a lot of bad feelings. as an adult, i can basically just walk away or leave the room, or try to compensate by controlling the conversation or doing something else to distract myself for a few moments. I think the term is hyperacusis, but that now seems to general. I'd found a more specific term for this condition I think I have, but haven't been able to find any doctors or therapists willing to deal with it. in my case I'm not sure I get physical discomfort - it's more mental, or at least, that's how I register it.
- praptak 14y ago
  There is some research on this condition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_integration_dysfunction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_integration_dysfunction
- ryanklee 14y ago
  It's good to hear I'm not the only one out there with this condition in its more severe forms. (Not that I ever considered myself original in this regard.) It's so difficult to communicate to others the level of my sensitivity to repeated noises (esp. oral/eating) - and the level of my sensitivity seems so flat out absurd, unjustifiable and irrational - that I've basically suppressed and internalized it as far as humanly possible and have come to consider it a best-to-be-kept secret, dogged malady. There are very few things I wouldn't give to see myself freed of the condition. It turns what would normally be sitting down and eating dinner with my lovely significant other into a quotidian session of repressed frustration and anger at having to listen to her (oh, the humanity) chew food and handle utensils.

eupharis 14y ago

This diversity of opinion about what is and is not hard to tune out is fascinating. Also 26 here. One of the great shortcomings of youth is not being able to understand that other people can be fundamentally different. Not better, not worse. Just different. This is something I'm only truly beginning to appreciate lately. I had never realized until this thread that people could find typing annoying. Well, theoretically I mean I understood you could think "Oh that's annoying" and get on with life. But not the overwhelming, consuming pathos here. Maybe the problem is less a lack of self-awareness and a serious problem with entitlement. Maybe the problem is this: Their awareness of self leads them to different conclusions about what is and is not annoying. They don't see themselves as doing anything more entitled than breathing, because other people's typing bothers them about as much as your breathing.

queensnake 14y ago
Also, age: you're more easily distracted & thus annoyed at /being/ distracted as you get older.

nlh 14y ago

While we're on this subject, a related rant/question: Why are so many people so totally oblivious to so many announcements, signs, and otherwise? You've all seen it: Boarding a plane, for example. "Ladies, and Gentlemen, we're boarding rows 1 - 5 now. Thanks." And as sure as Spring, there will _always_ be someone from row 324 who gets in line. The staff are far more polite than I'd be: "Sir, we're boarding rows 1 - 5. You're in row 324. I literally just made this announcement four seconds ago." And still, more people from other rows will attempt to board. This happens endlessly, everywhere. "Please don't stand here." Someone will stand here. "Please step forward if you have a yellow ticket." Someone will say "But nobody called the yellow tickets?" Perhaps I'm too attentive or perhaps I shouldn't be annoyed by this, but I am and I am.

ctdonath 14y ago
The profusion of announcements negates them. Just yesterday I noticed that a single bus door had SIXTEEN warning signs on it. I dare suggest that nobody else noticed any of them that day.
pavel_lishin 14y ago
My guess? There's no disincentive to ignore signs. If you get in line for rows 1-5, and your ticket reads 324, your worst case scenario is standing in line until they call your rows. The best case scenario is guaranteed luggage space and convenience.
megablast 14y ago
Non english speakers? People who have just arrived at the gate, and are a bit confused, and also afraid of missing the plane. Is this the last call? Especially when you are rushing for your 4th connecting flight on a 30 hours trip.
kahawe 14y ago
> boarding rows 1 - 5 now I think you greatly under-estimate people's economic or opportunistic sense of a good chance to get guaranteed luggage space and enough space around them to take off jackets, sweaters and whatever else they might need to feel comfortable sitting down on a plane.

fudged71 14y ago

You have trains with quiet cars? That sounded neat at first, until I realized that everyone where I live is quiet on the train anyways so it isn't a problem.

bpatrianakos 14y ago
They may be quiet but I'm not sure it compares with the quiet car. On the quiet car, when all goes well, it is 100% silent. No one talks and there's just no noise at all. If your train of thought is broken for a moment and you take in the silence it's almost eerie. That's why even the slightest noise like someone typing can become so disturbing. I don't know, maybe the people on your train really are that quiet but I hope you get to experience a quiet car someday to know for sure because it really is great.
- precisioncoder 14y ago
  That describes pretty much every train I've been on in Austria, oh sometimes there is noise but it's the exception rather than the norm. The other strange thing is often people will rather stand than sit next to someone else. Coming from Canada where it is normal to have loud conversation from all directions on public transportation I found it a huge surprise but am overall a fan. Nice for reading or thinking.

mike_ivanov 14y ago

> scream at each other despite being centimeters from each others face Ah, Dora the Explorer generation...