Am I the only person who reads signs?
This weekend I made a half-hour trip on the train from Newport, Wales to Bristol, England. Saturday evening, lots of people going out and lots of rugby/football fans going home. It's quite a convenient time to pay a visit, especially as you know your stop isn't coming up.
What with it being so packed, I sat on one of the little fold out seats in the corridor (with my hot chocolate and muffin), next to something which could have been a toilet (pictured).
It wasn't a toilet, but that didn't stop at least 30 people trying to get in there. What I found amazing is how different people react and do things, depending on their age and sex.
Any teenager that was looking for a toilet would either read the little sign, or they would try the door once and walk off.
Only one young man was looking for the toilet, he tried the door and asked me if it was a toilet. I tried to swallow my muffin but instead shook my head. He replied, "could it double as a toilet?", at which point I spluttered out part of the muffin I was trying to swallow. He laughed and continued his quest for the toilet.
A few women tried, all with similar responses. They would go up to the door, try the handle a couple of times. Then, odly, look at where they came from, glance at me and then continue down the train.
Older men all did the same quite silly thing. They would try the door, then try the door again. They would then read the sign that says nothing about toilets, and then try the door again. They would then look up and down the door, and try opening it again. One gentleman took a few steps back and took a small run-up before trying to open the door. Most would leave after a minute, but one gentleman wouldn't leave until I told him the toilet was further down the train.
How did I know there was a toilet further down the train? It's written above every carridge door.
Am I the only person who reads signs? Even when I don't need the toilet?
What with it being so packed, I sat on one of the little fold out seats in the corridor (with my hot chocolate and muffin), next to something which could have been a toilet (pictured).
It wasn't a toilet, but that didn't stop at least 30 people trying to get in there. What I found amazing is how different people react and do things, depending on their age and sex.
Any teenager that was looking for a toilet would either read the little sign, or they would try the door once and walk off.
Only one young man was looking for the toilet, he tried the door and asked me if it was a toilet. I tried to swallow my muffin but instead shook my head. He replied, "could it double as a toilet?", at which point I spluttered out part of the muffin I was trying to swallow. He laughed and continued his quest for the toilet.
A few women tried, all with similar responses. They would go up to the door, try the handle a couple of times. Then, odly, look at where they came from, glance at me and then continue down the train.
Older men all did the same quite silly thing. They would try the door, then try the door again. They would then read the sign that says nothing about toilets, and then try the door again. They would then look up and down the door, and try opening it again. One gentleman took a few steps back and took a small run-up before trying to open the door. Most would leave after a minute, but one gentleman wouldn't leave until I told him the toilet was further down the train.
How did I know there was a toilet further down the train? It's written above every carridge door.
Am I the only person who reads signs? Even when I don't need the toilet?
Comments