subject to search

On the 1 train, there is no computerized voice telling you what stop you are at and what stop is next. It is only a matter of time, of course. But, for now, a human being makes the announcements over the loudspeaker and there are times when they even forget to tell us what stop is next. This does not happen often, but I’ve seen it happen. I’ve also seen it happen that they announce the wrong stop, or stumble over their words, etc. While I am not here to make an ascetic point or anything like that, I must admit that the element of human error has its nostalgic allure. And, while I am not here to make an ascetic point, I am most definitely here to make a point about how gross non-asceticism can be at times.

For example, with the computerized 6 train, or L train, for example, it can be understood that if it were a company rule that a certain amount of messages of the post-9/11 variety must be given (and these can be defined by their dehumanizing nature, encouraging passengers to think of one another as potential terrorists or otherwise untrustworthy beings in need of guidance from a computerized voice), that the computerized voice could be programmed to deliver those messages. However, on the 1 train, with all of its human foibles, to hear a real live man’s voice state that “packages and other large containers are subject to random search by the police” without any knowing wink or nod to the fact that he is being forced to deliver this message under threat of unemployment can be a bit jarring. In fact, on one particular train, the conductor making the announcement did a particularly effort-laden job to make his voice sound sort of like Barry White’s. His voice sounded like that when he was announcing what station we were that and it just continued on sounding like that as he gave the terrorism-related message. Whatever was charming in his delivery until that point was ruined by the message. His funny-in-how-smooth-it-was voice took on a sinister edge as far as I was concerned, and after he gave the message, the voice grated my eardrums as it annouced stop after stop.

Now, I am sure that he did not give that message spontaneously. those were not his words and he is just doing what needs to be done to keep his job etc. I am not particularly mad at him.

I remember when those types of messages first started infiltrating the MTA. The premise, of course, was that anyone could be a terrorist and that the best way to combat terrorism was to remain vigilant at all times and notice when terrorists (who are among us all the time) were about to terrorize and then pounce on them. Basically do what the people did on the 9/11 plane in Pennsylvania. Everyone is given the opportunity to live out their greatest (adventure) movie fantasy and save the day for America. And as far as the bag inspection is concerned, well, clearly having our bags randomly checked by police as we enter the train station would deter terrorists because... well, its proactive. We are taking the fight to them, etc. and if a few regular citizens have to be violated in the process, then so be it - it’s for the greater good, bla bla. When those messages first started coming out, I remember wondering how they were ever goign to be phased out. What would have to happen in order to return to the days before having my commute interrupted by messages about how I was under surveillance or could be? I knew it at the time, and I know it now: the only thing that is going to reverse that is organized action. The problem is that the purveyors of paranoia have been building off of their achievements, developing entire lifestyles out of delivering messages of doom. It is for this reason that hearing a real live person deliver the message is that much more jarring - a computerized voice cannot communicate a communal feeling, and if a live voice cannot either, then the extent of isolation that has occurred is daunting. if the messages are delivered in earnest, then hope wanes. Looking around as the message comes through the speaker, people (other passangers) are to be seen with headphones in, or staring at screens, or just trying really really hard to mind their own business. Not a knowing pair of eyes lifted. It is a major part of the ethos of a New Yorker to be able to exist in solitude amongst many.