It was an evening like any other. I waited for the train at Harvard station, trying to tune out the noises around me. Once the train arrived, I piled in along with all the other passengers, took my seat and waited for something magical to happen - you know, so I could write about it. I guess instead of getting on the train, I had accidentally stumbled upon a business meeting in a conference room.
There they were, two businessmen, sitting across from each other, three feet of table between them discussing what the next strategically sound move would be for the company. Yea, not so much. You see, this is right around the time that you usually wake up and realize it was all just a dream, because the businessmen were just a couple of middle aged guys in jeans, the three feet of table was just the aisle in the train and the strategically sound move they were discussing was whether or not beer was the right drink of choice for their party. You're talking about beer across the aisle on the subway!!! What the hell is the matter with you?
First of all, no conversations should take place across the aisle. Sit next to each other and talk. I understand that it might be uncomfortable for two guys to sit shoulder to shoulder and have a discussion, thighs touching, but that is how it is done on the subway! If you don't like it, wait to get off the train to chat. No one is interested in hearing what you have to say, least of all when of all the topics in the world, you choose to have a discussion on beer! Second of all, what if I am forced to stand in between the two of you as a result of a full train. Are you going to continue to talk through me? Am I going to have to move to accommodate? I shouldn't have to, don't you think?
So there you have lesson #15. Simply put, if you are going to have a conversation, don't do it across opposite ends of the train.
