Why you really shouldn't try to
talk to me on public transit

> No more conversational commutes

Jessica Berget
Opinions Editor

 

take public transit almost every day

of my life. It is how I get to school,
work, social events, and generally how
I get around anywhere and everywhere.
Taking public transit everyday means
Iam exposed to the worsts of society;
creepy men asking me what grade
I’m in, drunk people spewing racist
and sexist ideologies, people with bad
B.O. However, no matter how awful
these people may be, I think the worst
of all are the people who try to start
conversations on public transit.

Look, I know people who do
this are just trying to be nice, and I
appreciate that they’re being friendly,
but I really cannot be bothered to carry
on a conversation with a complete
stranger on the bus. It’s like I’m being
held conversationally hostage. These
conversations that I feel forced into
cut into my “wistfully staring out the
window while I listen to Elliott Smith”
time, and that time is precious to me.
The worst part about these

commute conversations is that you
cannot get away. You are stuck sitting
next to that person and making
awkward small talk for your entire
commute. Unless you jump off the bus
or the SkyTrain you must painfully
endure the socialization of public

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transportation. Additionally, being

in a situation like this is much worse
on the bus than it is the SkyTrain. On
the train you can get up and change
train cars or pretend that you arrived
at your stop and just wait two minutes
for the next train to come (I have done
this many times before). However,

on the bus, you are truly stuck.

Most of the time, these people talk
so much it stops being a conversation
at a certain point, and it turns into a
lecture. Pro-tip: If the person you're
talking to has only given one-word
responses, they probably aren’t
interested in the conversation, or you've
been talking so much they can’t get
a word in edge-wise, and they're too
polite to say so. Be aware of the person’s
reactions. Do they seem genuinely
interested in the conversation? Or
are they just being nice? If it’s the
latter, you should probably stop.

The next time you decide to talk
to a stranger on public transportation,
maybe don't talk to someone who is
reading, studying, or has earphones
in. Those are the key social cues of
people who do not want to talk. Ifa
person seems genuinely interested in
talking and keeps the conversation
moving, then by all means talk.

If it just seems like they want to
get the conversation over with or
not talk at all, take the hint.

 

ELNOO

& Be! 4s

   

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
   
   
 

éand marriage

Shouldmotbemomanticized

> You think high school sucked? Wait till you have a kid

Jessica Berget
Opinions Editor

 

t seems every time I go on social media

another person from my high school is
either getting married, having kids, or
both. I know this is supposed to be the
next milestone in every young persons’
life after graduating high school, but
there must be something more to being
in your twenties other than reproducing
and settling down. You have your whole
life ahead of you, why settle now?

I think your twenties is a time to

discover and develop yourself as a person.

This could be anything from getting an
education, figuring out career paths,

or even just learning a skill. It’s also a
quintessential time to just have fun and
enjoy your life as the pressures of life and

  

trying to find a career weighs down on
you. However, to some women this is the
time to procreate.

Having a baby and getting married
should not be treated as something to
cross off your list of things to get done,
it should be handled responsibly and
maturely, and when you are ready for it.

Women especially face a lot of
social pressure to procreate and get
married. Society dictates that if women
can have children that they absolutely
should as soon as they get married, but
this is not at all the case. Because of
this social pressure to reproduce, many
women don't fully realize the gravity of
having and raising children, and end up
regretting or resenting their kids. I know
some women who are still living under
their parents’ roof with their significant
other and are having children. Some

 

think that since it is something that they
have always wanted to do, they should do
it as soon as they can.

Some women also believe that
having a baby will bring them happiness
or fulfilment. I believe if you aren’t
financially prepared and independent
from your parents, bringing a baby into
the mix is the last thing you should be
doing. It will create a lot of issues and
stress for everyone involved if you are
not fully prepared for it and that kind of
environment is not good to raise a child
in. It will do the opposite of bringing you
happiness and fulfilment.

Like with having children, I don’t
think marriage is something that should
not be done in your twenties. People
change and evolve so much in this time
of their lives. I am not the same person
I was 10 years, or five years, or hell, even

Photo by Analyn Cuarto

one year ago. | think people should have
time to be independent and to grow
and improve themselves as people and
develop their own sense of themselves
before they commit themselves to
another person.

Marrying or having kids young isn’t
always a bad thing; some young women
are wonderful mothers. However, the
idea that women need to get married and
have children as soon as they can to be
successful or fulfilled is toxic reasoning
and puts women under pressure to
do these things that they may not be
prepared for or have given much thought
about.

Do these things when you are
confident that you are ready and are
prepared to deal with the consequences,
because they are life-changing decisions.

Photo by Analyn Cuarto