Logique du Coeur

mgarcia@theguidon.com

For the regular patrons of the Metro Railway Transit, rush hour is always dreaded because of two things: 1) the train is always crowded 2) people try to push their way in while others have not yet gotten out.

I came from a meeting in Mandaluyong once and decided to take the metro to Cubao. I wanted to do the right thing and wait for passengers to alight so I let the first one pass. I told myself that I will not be a part of the ill-mannered few who push and shove but after several more trains, I figured that I won’t get home in time for dinner if I don’t barge my way in.

As for jeepneys and buses, people just seem too tired to make space for other passengers. End-seat hoarding, a phenomenon observable among commuters, simply points out the tendency to prioritize personal comfort at the expense of others. Free seating simply means free reign. While the drivers and conductors wait it out until their vehicles are filled, the commuters become restless and impatient. But instead of being more sensitive to the situation, they neglect to exert an effort in making traveling comfortable for everyone. Time is already spent waiting for others; more of it is wasted when they refuse to budge in their seats to make space for the people who are coming in as if reserving a seat will get them to their destination faster.

I can’t really put the blame on anyone for possessing a first come, first served mentality but I don’t understand how some people would rather serve as an inconvenience to get what they want. Are we really that busy that we cannot even take some time off our schedules to be considerate? If everyone is too preoccupied to practice the simple things like common courtesy, then it wouldn’t make much sense to call these means of transportation “shared by the general public.”

Father Timothy Radcliffe, OP observed that in free societies, many people feel themselves to be constrained. From a socio-psychological perspective, we Filipinos are known for having a collectivist culture. It means that we possess the ability to value the goals of groups over individuals.

However, our experiences with public transportation give the impression that we are predisposed to insensitivity despite being a part of a close community. We fail to realize that the little things we do or do not do can affect others greatly. Self-serving biases will only end up hurting other people; this type of egoism will only end up becoming a double edged sword that will hinder others’ and our personal growth.

I find it rather unfortunate that we have to act like elephants on a rampage when our ride arrives at its next stop. Our animalistic nature is revealed as we fight for survival. But does it have to be over something as simple as public transportation? Aren’t small, day-to-day things supposed to give us less things to worry about? We should keep in mind that as social beings, acting in relation and in response to others will go a long way.