pacifiers

Oh, I’m not saying that the MTA isn’t doing anything for the betterment of their service. No, the word “betterment” there is an imprecise one. I think I mean, “advancement.” “Advancement” implies that things are being done, but it is a pretty value-neutral word. Advancement is not necessarily a good thing; it just implies that things are being done to spruce up old systems. Clearly, what I am about to discuss is not something I feel value-neutral about. So, you may ask, why use a value-neutral word?

Anyway, the issue is this: there are a number of computerized messages forced upon subway riders of New York City. These are mainly, but not exclusively in the newer trains (which aren’t so new anymore). The voices are not computerized in the older trains. I don’t want to go on about each and every message right now. However, while I was on the 2 train this morning, between 72^nd and 42^nd street, a whole cluster of messages was played one after the other, all ending the same way: “remain alert, and have a safe day.” “Remain alert?” “Have a safe day?” What are we? Scared rabbits on the African savannah? Are these the most important things that a train can think to tell its customers? Are we really meant to believe that the train has our best interests in mind in the midst of this dangerous world? Why not, “Have a good day” or “Have a day in which you get to your destinations on time”? Something the train could actually do something about… well the obvious answer is that it is a tool of pacification.

Also a tool of pacification: the digitized timers that tell you when the trains are going to arrive. I think they currently only have them on the L, 1, and 6 lines – though I could be wrong. I was originally all for this, since it is such an easy technology to employ. I mean, cell phones have gps on them these days – I think the subway system can manage some sort of location technology. But, as I see them in action, all I can see is a tool of pacification. First of all, if they really wanted to do any good, they should put the timers outside the station so that people could see whether they had to run down the stairs to catch a train, or see if they had time to go get a coffee or something like that before the train arrives. But no. The way the timers are placed now, you have to be down in the station already in order to see when the next train will be arriving. Yes, it is nice to know on some level, but it doesn’t change anything. The whole idea is to pacify people. Make them less impatient. Subdue the New Yorker’s urge to lean over the edge of the platform and peek down the tunnel. Make it so that people might seem less justified in complaining. Pacify them into thinking that everything is under control.