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Comment by kbos87 | Hacker News Reader

I was on public transportation this morning, about to reach my stop, and I needed to ask a woman who was blocking my way to the doors to please excuse me. The train was quiet, I was right behind her, and I had the feeling that I'd startle her.

As the train rolled into the station, a thought popped into my head that I've had before - a friendly British accent would be disarming in a moment like this! It was a passing thought but an organic one, so it's funny to now read this.

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you thought politely asking someone to move so you could exit the train would startle them? and then you thought you might do it in a fake british accent?

Yes, you read that correctly. And it makes perfect sense if you think about it.

I don't know if it's Gen Z specific but I think people now just have a very difficult time interacting with strangers in public. It's kind of a bizarre phenomenon of the digital age.

Some of us late gen xers were ahead of the curve and had a very difficult time with strangers before the internet.

Born too soon I guess

Yes and yes. It's uncommon where I live to talk to people on the train - and being a bulky 6'4 male, whether I like it or not, I have a lifetime of experience that it's startling for women when I appear behind them without them realizing. It was a passing thought I found funny in the moment. I think it might say something about the reason why some segment of the population is apparently doing this.

Are you asking a question? And then following with another question?

A British accent is often perceived to be more gentle

Most British people I know in this situation would literally just say, "Sorry!", just loud enough for the person blocking hear you so that they move and reply, "Sorry!".

In general I think we don't like to converse too much, especially on public transport.

Ah!

When I first visited Britain what stood out the most to me was how much chitchat there is between strangers in public places, especially on the train. Something I hadn’t witnessed anywhere else in Europe. Also, something that made me feel very inadequate as I just couldn’t keep up with that manner of communication. A Canadian friend had noticed the same.

Granted, it’s mostly the colder parts of Europe that I have the most non-tourist experiences with. So that’s that.

you haven't been on the tube, have you?

Aha, must have been a good day! In all my years of underground and trains I don't think I've said more than "Sorry, do you mind if I sit here?".

Im not so sure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT0ay9u1gg4

That is quite funny I have a British accent and live in the US and I often worry that my accent comes across abrupt and un-friendly, especially in situations like that.

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