A general post. For someone who feels following a set protocol in public is the right thing to do. But can't do anything about it when it isn't followed by others.
This is something I've observed and been part of several times. Something a long-time Mumbaikar and BEST bus user would probably relate to. Not being too much of an extensive traveler, I haven't seen too much of other cities. Though I wonder if such situations ever arise in smaller places.
I was awaiting a bus to Powai at the Andheri (E) bus depot, from where 2 different buses have their starting point. There was a common line though. Which was sort of, the root of the problem.
The 'starting point', was marked by a ~7-8 m long railing on the footpath surrounded by shoe-shops. Given the time we'd been waiting since, and being the source of 2 buses, the line obviously extended till way outside the railing, over ~30 meters or so, and off the footpath (thanks to 'em shoe shops). Roughly 20 m of that line was behind me, maybe more.
After half-an-hour of waiting, one of them finally turned up. As expected, those in the 'railing section' waiting strictly for the other bus (lets call it B) backed off a step or two. This created a little lag as those awaiting our bus A tried to move past, struggling a bit in the restricted space between the railing and the B junta.
This lag was enough. Angrily I watched as a couple of A-liners ahead of me, outside the railing, 'free' to move, conveniently broke the line and began making their way shamelessly to the bus entrance.
An old couple, still stuck behind the railing, were dismayed. "What the hell is the point of forming a line?" Couldn't help feeling bad for them.
I thought I should do the right thing, and follow the line through the railing, as it should be.
Then I looked at the 20 m of similar, unscrupulous people behind me, who had conveniently not heard the couple, gearing up to rush in towards the bus. I realized I'd probably not even get a place to stand, in that case.
I thought of shouting out to them, to notice the line, the old couple, and the ideal blah. But I couldn't. They'd'nt have listened anyway.
So I joined the 2 idiots in front of me who'd broken the line, jabbed and pushed hard at the guys behind me, using the full force of my elbows, in my effort to get into the bus. I noticed the old couple, successfully out of the trapper of a railing by now, struggling to get in, alongside me and infinite other people. I was pushed in, looking behind to see if they made it next (or ever).
Loads of place to sit inside, that I probably didn't deserve, I thought. May be I'll get up if the old couple don't find a place to sit. Was I wrong in breaking the line? I'd to look out for myself too, I guess. So its justified now.
I was thankful that they did find a place. Didn't bother to notice though, what happened of the other deserving commuters. What am I, Mother Teresa?
So such is life in Mumbai. Does it take a bomb blast for people to show some goodness?
Vishwa.
PS: Lukkhaness. Made a Top view of it in Paint.
Age old debate of altruism vs selfishness. I believe rules are made to try and ensure a certain principle in society. In this case, a queue means first-come-first-served, which is for fairness in a certain sense.
ReplyDeleteBreaking rules has nothing to do with being morally corrupt or a bad person. Quite often, breaking rules while everyone else follows them is beneficial for you. But the law puts law enforcers, to ensure that this does not happen, so that the society actually remains fair. If there is no one to enforce the law, there is no risk of getting caught, I think no one can be blamed for breaking the law. That's my view. As for the old couple, thinking about them is altruism. Whether or not that is right, is again debatable. So you can't blame those people who broke the queue for this either. But I guess being human and having a certain set of values make you have the feelings. Most people have them, but there's always a tradeoff, with your own time or well being.
Why should there be need for someone to sit and enforce the law? How is it that we hear stories of bus and train discipline when discussing other countries?
ReplyDeleteThe trade-off here wasn't reasonable. The line-breaker was definitely in a position where he'd probably get a seat even.
Well Vishwa, an overpopulated city and underdeveloped infrastructure sometimes causes a conflagration of values, morals and ethics.
ReplyDeleteLets look at the positives shall we? Paint is pretty handy some times :)
Hence the numbered title. Hope to point out some positives soon..
ReplyDeletePS: One look at that paint diagram and I knew that it was Andheri East.
ReplyDeleteHah! I take tht as a compliment.. thnx :)
ReplyDeleteI realized later, my hypocrisy might not have gotten across..
ReplyDeleteNice drawing, and writing too! But really, when it comes to helping out others and following rules, Mumbai is much better than any other big Indian city. (with the exception of Bengaluru probably..)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, probably. As I mentioned, haven't really been around the country too much. People are good here, the city survives with all its diversity.
Only, this was one of the things I've noticed often, and felt compelled to write about it.