Tube Chat Badges On The London Underground: Yay or Nay?

[Hannah591]

It's the norm to travel in complete silence and avoid eye contact with everyone, but someone out there wants this to change.

These badges have been given out to commuters to wear, to let others know they're open to chatting whilst they travel. It's not clear who's making and giving out the badges, but they have their own twitter account dedicated to the idea.

First batch have been handed out. Second batch coming soon. #tube_chat #tube #londonunderground pic.twitter.com/XHeMKqMTsK

— Tube Chat (@tube_chat) September 28, 2016

Londoners aren't famous for their small talk, it's downright terrifying for most. One news headline says "panic across London" which resonates with the horror southerners are feeling when it comes to human interaction.
The reaction to this campaign is mixed, steering towards more dislike than like, but those against it have quite strong views.

If someone comes near me with a #tube_chat badge. pic.twitter.com/TO0FBeyyQg

— Elliot Hackney (@ElliotHackney) September 29, 2016

I'd rather wear a t-shirt with my twitter handle so they can tweet me. It's the only acceptable way to talk to strangers #tube_chat

— Kerri (@Kerri_Prince) September 29, 2016

Sums it up for me. #tube_chat pic.twitter.com/or3gb6JJRG

— (null) (@pewpy) September 29, 2016

This will come in handy Lmao #tube_chat pic.twitter.com/UiRcsw83vR

— Made (@MadeManJama) September 29, 2016

Others just dislike the hashtag:

If #tube_chat involves the sort of people who use an underscore in a hashtag I don't want to know them.

— Jono Read (@jonoread) September 29, 2016

I don't know what's worse: the concept of #tube_chat or the fact that they used an underscore in a hashtag. #fail

— Paddy Johnston (@paddyjohnston) September 29, 2016

Some may say Londoners are quite a grumpy bunch, but there are some who appreciate the idea.

I think I may be the only one in the world who thinks that #tube_chat is a good idea. I like talking to people. You might learn something...

— Daniel Braddock (@bradders_d) September 29, 2016

This could be fun on the @northernline @tube_chat #tube_chat #Iwantone pic.twitter.com/Ln9Y7rSrDc

— Anushka Sharma (@nushkino) September 29, 2016

Do you think this is the right step to make us social creatures again? Would you wear one? Do you wish they did this everywhere/in your country?

[Blonde401]

Londoners are some of the rudest most antisocial people I've ever had the misfortune to meet. The last time I went to London there was an American man who just wanted a bit of help from someone on which tube he needed to get on to get to where he was going. Absolutely everyone ignored him until I went over and was like 'I'm not from around here but I'm sure I can help you figure the map out, where are you going?'. I was ashamed that a visitor to my country was ignored, that does not show us in a good light. If he was up North, I'm sure almost everyone on the platform would have helped him out. They just don't speak to people and it's weird to me as a Northern girl.

[Fathoms77]

"I'd rather wear a t-shirt with my twitter handle so they can tweet me. It's the only acceptable way to talk to strangers #tube_chat"

Unless that's a joke, it's evidence that SOMETHING needs to be done. Rapidly.

[FallOutBoy2001]

No one likes to talk to strangers on the tube, plain and simple. Probably a joke

[Sinister]

That's a lot of angry people getting all boisterous over a pin that you simply let's someone know "hey how's your day been?" or "Hi" when was simply talking to someone a bad thing while taking the subway? I get some people won't like it and there will always be those assholes, but I used to have people talk to me all the time on the BART when I lived in San Francisco. Never met them after that or once in a while when I was on the same train at a certain time getting off work headed back to the house.

[progboy]

I like the idea of the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). When I lived in Farnborough I thought they should have copied this idea and had the Farnborough Area Rapid Transit.

[Hannah591]

It is a tad extreme. Some said it may be good for those who are lonely.

[Sinister]

@Hannah591 - Who says you have to be lonely just to talk to someone?

[Hannah591]

No-one?

[lumos]

I wouldn't exactly get one myself but I wouldn't get my panties in a twist over the fact that others want to. It seems like a simple concept so I don't really get the outrage, even if it's partially for humor. Seems like it's still coming from a place of honesty, disguised as a funny joke.
I've small talked with people on the tram before, quite recently too. One old lady straight up started chatting so I decided to be polite, smile and respond. Another time I told another passanger her dog was cute, and we giggled at the fact that it was sniffing out my bag full of groceries. It wasn't the end of the world.

[NearlyNapping]

This reminds me of when my brother was in England about a year ago. A Brit walked up to him and started talking. To paraphrase he said something like "I hear you Americans talk to strangers." He held out his hand to shake. "Hi, I'm so-and-so, I'm an accountant." Woooooh, dude, totally breaking out of your comfort zone!

[TuMeManques]

That's awesome

[meatballs21]

Here in Toronto, people are much the same on the subway - people sit quietly and stare at their shoes/phone/book. Quite honestly, I am fine with this - I want to be left alone. This will include sunglasses, headphones, and/or pretending to be asleep.

It is something of a public transportation thing... chitchat with strangers is much more common in places like parks, supermarkets, coffee shops...

This badge thing is a stupid idea anyway. Londoners in particular are unbearable, I'm not surprised they don't want to talk to each other.

[TheDevilInside]

Gee, some people are fucking antisocial, eh? I think this is actually a great idea. Keeps our eyes off our phones for a bit. I don't get the rage at all... If you don't wear the badge, people are not gonna try to talk to you anyway, right? So why so nasty, londoners?

[BruceJender]

As an (ex) Londoner, I can safely say this is a stupid idea.

No one takes the tube expecting to talk to complete strangers. The only time this has happened is when a tourist asked me for directions.

I wouldn't strike up a conversation, nor would anyone else. It's a public transport, not a date train.

[Cosytoasty]

Thing is, if we wanted to talk to people on the tube we would... but we don't!

[Hannah591]

But sometimes it's because we don't know who would welcome being spoken to.

[Cosytoasty]

Lol true, in all honesty though it's not that bad, just avoid the suits and the chavs... I sometimes chat with elderly couples who are obviously from out of town.

[bergkampanderton]

@Hannah591 why appease lonely losers?

[Dipsy]

I think it's good actually. I mean, there still would be a ton of people that don't want to talk, but I actually love getting to know new people, even though I'm shy.

But walking around with such a badge is kinda weird. I mean, people can immediately see 'oh he's that kinda person', which shouldn't matter at all. But still, mixed feelings.

[Sara413]

I think k it's a great idea! If you're not up for a chat, don't wear the button!

[Hannah591]

My thoughts exactly!

[Bitterpill]

Personally I think it is a good idea as it allows those who want to engage in conversation to identify each other and the rest of us anti-social people to avoid awkward, unwanted conversations. They should extend it to all public transport in my opinion.

[QuestionMan]

People have become so anti-social.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8FUQYPfL0Pg

The intention behind the button is good but most people just wouldn't talk to a person wearing one.
Girls usually put their headphones in and guys just seem to sit there in silence.

[MrAtticusLebowski]

Maybe somethings wrong with me but i think it's a good idea. I don't give a fuck, ill chat up an interesting looking hobo.

[progboy]

There were times when I did want to travel in silence and solitude on the tube but there were other times when I would have been very happy to chat. This badge might have been useful for those times when I did feel more chatty.

[vishna]

I think it's nice for the people who want it-would I get one, probably not. But I sometimes like talking with strangers, just not in a way like that.

[Soteris]

I think this might be slightly counter productive. I mean the idea is to get people to talk to eachother but now you limit it to people with a badge. It will just make the people without a badge even more isolated.

[Saoirse_Nua]

I think it is cool for two people who wear the badge to talk to each other but it wouldn't like it - I would wear a badge like "I just like to contemplate things when alone"

[TuMeManques]

I talk to strangers all the time around my area so if I went to London I'd love to wear the pin and irritate fellow travelers.

[19MK34]

I bet at least 90% of the people who wear these badges won't even be English. Foreigners who come from cultures that don't recognise how rude it is to be loud and overbearing in public will just use this as an excuse to be as impolite as they like.

[NedfromtheNed]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPQ08Sjjq1Y

[Doffydood]

Haha, of course an American tried to do this :p
You can't change Londoners. You cannot.