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Comment by buro9 | Hacker News Reader

> Train rides are kind of boring. Why wouldn't I get out my laptop on a train?

To allow yourself a momentary disconnect. To watch the world out of the window, or the people around you. To take an interest in the weather and season. To give your mind a chance to digest what you mean to do or what you have done.

I cherish my time travelling from one place to another, even if that is just a walk to the shops, a trip on the bus or ride on the Underground.

I also like to have 100% focused work time and space. It's hard to find that focus when you're willing to mix work with everything.

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> To watch the world out of the window,

It's the same tunnel it was yesterday. And the day before. And last week. And last year. Come to think of it, the tunnel hasn't changed much since it's inauguration in 1984. And the soundwalls lining the surface parts of the railway line aren't that captivating either.

In my case, the track ways have not changed since 1860 or so. However we go through the 'green belt' (UK) between a large city and a smaller town. One notices changes with the seasons, new makeshift huts in the allotments, the sky and light is always different. A bit of the wabi-sabi really - same frame, but small changes.

I can tell which station we are pulling into by the sound and the feel of the track! Sometimes, I leave early on a Friday and walk the 10 miles back by canal footpaths.

If you need a break, take a break. I recommend a session at the gym or a long walk at lunch. But commuting is a horrible time to take breaks, IMO. The morning commute comes right after your longest break of the day. The evening commute comes right before your most enjoyable break of the day (aka time with the wife & kids). Sometimes you need a break during the evening commute, so don't be afraid to take it, but other times the change of context from the office is just the thing you need.

>To allow yourself a momentary disconnect. To watch the world out of the window, or the people around you. To take an interest in the weather and season.

I'm sorry to sound misanthropic or otherwise cynic, but people on the train are, for the overwhelming majority, uninteresting or annoying. I don't take that much interest in the landscape or weather, either. I'd much rather disconnect from that and hack on my laptop instead, thank you.

>but people on the train are, for the overwhelming majority, uninteresting or annoying

And they're usually the same people every day, if you catch the same train.

The odds are pretty good that someone on your train works is quite interesting.

For example... I happen to know that if I take a commuter line into Boston in the morning, I am likely to encounter one or more of: a senior scientist at an R&D lab, a bunch of Google programmers and engineers, a non-profit fundraising expert, or an IP lawyer. I don't know what the guy with the MongoDB sticker on his laptop does, but eventually I'll say hello and find out.

Maybe you should drink your coffee before you get on the train and try finding out who people really are.

Wow. People talk to each on the T? Never seen it.

UK: random conversation breaks out when there is an unusual delay or we get stuck at a signal set to danger. After an initial silence, someone will make a joke, and then it breaks out. Those are good delays.

That's a global trend, not a local one.

I talk to the same people on the bus every day, it's been 4 months now and it's fabulous, I'm never bored!

I've seen it, but usually they are some brand of crazy.

This. As much as i'm an always on, 2 smartphones per pants guy, i desperately need a forced disconnect on a daily basis.

If you are always in the stream of data that the internet provides you don't find the time to contemplate if you are moving in the right way on the short term stuff... Most of my best decisions have come from going to wash my hands or just walking outside the office for 5 minutes. Our ever connected world makes it harder each day to see the big picture.

"To allow yourself a momentary disconnect. To watch the world out of the window, or the people around you. To take an interest in the weather and season. "

I'd rather do those things in an environment and at a time of my own choosing. Work done on train or bus = work that doesn't have to be done at office -> more free time.

I'd love to look at people on the train but there's a pretty serious ethic against staring at other people on New York City subways. There's also no bandwidth at all. It's a rough and loud ride. Podcasts, music, and casual games help the time pass. YOU try meditating on the 5:45 C train some time.

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