The train…
The train pulled to the station this morning and even though I was lacking my first cup of coffee I noticed someone who wanted to exit the train. Sure I’m big enough I could just push past them but instead I opted to move away, I have always thought it was more polite to move out of the way. When I moved to allow for this person to leave the train the two people behind me forced there way past me to get onto the train. Keep in mind we weren’t downtown so the train only runs one way, we were all going the same place.
I’ve been noticing little things like this in the last little while. A little politeness to your fellow citizen seems to result in someone walking over you to get what they want. We seem to have lost our ‘niceness’ Calgary. When I first moved out here ten years ago people held doors, gave way for others and were generally more polite. Now it seems that, like our parking costs, we’re attempting to emulate New York.
Now before someone accuses me of being Anti-New York I will quickly let you know that on my most recent trip to the Big Apple I was surprised with how gracious and kind the people there were. From stopping to help someone figure out the subway to the gentleman who paced my wife on the sidewalk so he could hold his umbrella over her head when the rain picked up. She wouldn’t have noticed except when she turned and saw a man holding an umbrella over her head while he got rained on. His answer, “I figured you wouldn’t want you hair getting wet.”
My homework for you? Find a door to hold open, find someone to help or even throw a couple of coins in a meter prior to it expiring. Do something nice, random and anonymous and let’s turn Calgary back into the friendly city it once was.
Jono
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