Testicles II

Researchers found that the greatest unspoken rule of bus travel is that if other seats are available you shouldn't sit next to someone else. As the passengers claimed, "It makes you look weird." When all the rows are filled and more passengers are getting aboard the seated passengers initiate a performance to strategically avoid anyone sitting next to them.


I just accidentally found this article, and it is interesting because I use many of the tactics on the list:

• Pretend to be busy X
• Pretend to be checking your phone X
• Rummage through bag X
• Look past people X
• Do a 'don't bother me face' X
• Use the 'hate stare' X
• Avoid eye contact with other people X
• Lean against the window and stretch out your legs X
• Place a large bag on the empty seat X
• Sit on the aisle seat and turn on your iPod so you can pretend you can't hear people asking for the window seat.
• Place several items on the spare seat so it's not worth the passenger's time waiting for you to move them. X
• Look out the window with a blank stare to look crazy X
• Pretend to be asleep X
• Put your coat on the seat to make it appear already taken X
• If all else fails, lie and say the seat has been taken by someone else


Yeah. I really don't like sitting next to people. I don't like communicating with them either.