The world of people, communities, and societies is an organism that functions according to certain rules and norms, which are expected and regulated. There is a great number of social situations that people participate in, each one of them having its etiquette and expectations. The culture and the attitudes of people play a great role in the proper functioning of society. The “bus” culture is an everyday occurrence for the majority of population, with its own unique set of rules and norms.
Almost everyone has taken a bus at some point in their life. Public buses are very different from the other types of transportation. Since the majority of people take them every day to work, they get used to a certain routine (Bunting, 3). During the rush hours, it is expected that it will fill up to the maximum, and people are very much used to the fact that they have to be crammed very tightly. Often the bus driver requests everyone to move back and people kindly do so, as they understand that everyone wants to get on the bus and go wherever they are going. There is a unified understanding of the needs of other people. This behavior is learned by taking the bus constantly over time, as it becomes a part of life. There are often people dressed in their work uniform or clothes that are covered with paint and tears, no one looks down on these people, it is accepted. The fact that people are very private beings can be observed when there are empty seats on the bus. When sitting down at a double seat and if they have a bag or coat, they will place it on the seat beside them as if it is taken, somewhat guaranteeing a private area for themselves. Or they will sit closer to the aisle, so the window seat will be empty and people who enter the bus will feel more reluctant to ask them to move or pass by to the window seat. The single seats in the bus are usually taken up first, as this is a sure guarantee of privacy. When comparing the behavior of the aging population to the younger ones, it is clear that the younger people act more carelessly and are being “louder” on the bus. Especially older women are very reserved and conscious of their behavior. It is possible to note that when riding the bus, they are very self-conscious—of their behavior and how they look. They dress formally and carefully, to display a presentable and respectful image. Older men are not as self-conscious as women; it is evident from their gestures and the special care they pay to the way they look. Women take extra care in their clothes, as well as makeup and hairstyling. When riding the bus they realize that people will be looking at them and so they pay much attention to how they look. As mentioned in the article, older women are more satisfied with their body image than younger women but this does not mean that they do not pay more attention to looking presentable and sharp (Halliwell and Dittmar, 676). It is expected that people on the bus act in a polite manner, so it really stands out when someone talks really loudly to their fellow passenger, on the cell phone, or uses obscene language. The person who is most responsible on the bus is the driver. It is his duty to explain the rules to anyone who is unaware. He has to be patient and kind to all who ride on the bus. Comparing the job of the bus driver to the article “Hanging Tongues: A Social Encounter with the Assembly Line”, it is obvious that he is very isolated from the people on the bus, just as the worker on the assembly line who has a particular task to perform. His job is very much focused on the safety and control of the bus and no one is really able to step into his shoes and understand what he has to deal with. This is why there are cases of disrespect and abuse, verbal and physical, such as spitting, littering, and in rare cases violence. Just like the assembly line workers, he has to do his job no matter what, which requires constant attention. It becomes automatic and as he rarely has any breaks, the bus driver has to find a way to have a drink and eat food in the process of his job. His role is that of authority and law and this can be compared to the supervisor on the beef plant assemble line. He rarely communicates with the passengers in a personal way, it is mostly work-related but sometimes there is that passenger who feels “talkative” and stands by the driver and has a conversation. All the passengers understand that he has an important job to do and respect that by giving him room and obeying his requests so that he is able to do his work most effectively. The role division between him and the passengers is very clear cut, just like between the assembly line workers and their supervisors, who have very different duties in relation to their work and responsibilities (Thompson, 2).
Overall the bus experience is a positive one, as it shows the unity and common goal of people riding it, with their own unique set of rules and behaviors, which are culturally and socially defined.
References
Bunting, Mark. Making Public Transport Work, Quebec, Canada: McGill-Queen’s University, 2004. Print.
Halliwell, Emma and Dittmar Helga. “A Qualitative Investigation of Women’s and Men’s Body Image Concerns and Their Attitudes Toward Aging.” Sex Roles 49 (2003): 675-684. Print.
Thompson, William. “Hanging Tongues: A Social Encounter with the Assembly Line.” Human Sciences. 6.1 (1983): 215-237. Print.