Do you find taking the CTA to work depressing? (Chicago: floors, train)

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by chet everett

The utter stupidity that is often displayed by commuters on the roadways is beyond depressing -- folks routinely trying to play Words-With-Friends or whatever causing minor collisions and then HOURS worth of tie-ups as the State Police investigate and every imbecile gawks at the spectacle!

I've asked for (and received) a premium for working in locations where the only access is via tollways..

Sounds like this might be a call for ....more mass transit. I mean gawking as a passenger on a commuter rail car wouldn't slow traffic down. Choo-choo enthusiasts unite!

[pete6032]

I don't find it depressing overall but it can feel gloomy in the morning when you're in a train full of people with resting ***** face. I know you don't want to be bothered, but damn, walking into a train car and seeing 75 pouty ass grown adults makes me shake my head sometimes.

[EddieOlSkool]

Originally Posted by pete6032

I don't find it depressing overall but it can feel gloomy in the morning when you're in a train full of people with resting ***** face. I know you don't want to be bothered, but damn, walking into a train car and seeing 75 pouty ass grown adults makes me shake my head sometimes.

You must not be from Chicago or a big Northern city.

[ChicagoMeO]

Originally Posted by pete6032

I don't find it depressing overall but it can feel gloomy in the morning when you're in a train full of people with resting ***** face. I know you don't want to be bothered, but damn, walking into a train car and seeing 75 pouty ass grown adults makes me shake my head sometimes.

I guess since you don't know why 75 people have that look, it would bother you.. perhaps some of them have had a rough time... sickness, loved one died, their pet died, they are about to go to jail, they just lost money and now wondering how to pay the rent. so you don't know what happens. mostly though I think people are just bored to death and have to ride the train, maybe to a job they hate. so that makes sense to look like that, but at least they are quiet, it could be worse, you could have gotten a screamer that screams out why they have a pouty face. you know the kind. those that you wish would shuttup and get off the train coz they are ranting like they are mentally ill and very annoying or maybe drunk. yeah the drunks let you know exactly what they are thinkin.

[EddieOlSkool]

Originally Posted by ChicagoMeO

I guess since you don't know why 75 people have that look, it would bother you.. perhaps some of them have had a rough time... sickness, loved one died, their pet died, they are about to go to jail, they just lost money and now wondering how to pay the rent. so you don't know what happens. mostly though I think people are just bored to death and have to ride the train, maybe to a job they hate. so that makes sense to look like that, but at least they are quiet, it could be worse, you could have gotten a screamer that screams out why they have a pouty face. you know the kind. those that you wish would shuttup and get off the train coz they are ranting like they are mentally ill and very annoying or maybe drunk. yeah the drunks let you know exactly what they are thinkin.

Also does Pete realize that most people just don't have a smile as their default facial expression?

[BOBNCHI]

Having used subways/el/trains all over the world I can say it's the same all over during the work commutes. 8

[prhill]

Who would be smiling while commuting to work! Lord knows people do not smile while at work so why smile while going their early each morning. It is the same on Metra s well. Even more so since they raise prices every single year.

[NealIRC]

Originally Posted by pete6032

I don't find it depressing overall but it can feel gloomy in the morning when you're in a train full of people with resting ***** face. I know you don't want to be bothered, but damn, walking into a train car and seeing 75 pouty ass grown adults makes me shake my head sometimes.

This was probably pre-2008.

Now, everyone's got their faces on some smartphone. Fingering and texting.

[NOLA101]

Yes, I find the CTA depressing. I lived on the Red Line, and commutes were filled with angry, smelly bums blaring "spare some change" and loud, low-class people from Uptown.

Granted, the Red Line is more annoying than the other lines. Brown Line isn't too bad, and doesn't have the bum or thug problem. Also not as painfully crowded.

As others have mentioned, I think the people romanticizing the CTA just got here from Iowa or something. Nothing glamorous about pee smell on your morning commute. Metra is a much more civilized ride.

[EddieOlSkool]

Originally Posted by NOLA101

Yes, I find the CTA depressing. I lived on the Red Line, and commutes were filled with angry, smelly bums blaring "spare some change" and loud, low-class people from Uptown.

Granted, the Red Line is more annoying than the other lines. Brown Line isn't too bad, and doesn't have the bum or thug problem. Also not as painfully crowded.

As others have mentioned, I think the people romanticizing the CTA just got here from Iowa or something. Nothing glamorous about pee smell on your morning commute. Metra is a much more civilized ride.

I am a native and I don't romanticize a damn thing. I grew up taking it and I remember the days there were 3 branches of the blue line lol

But that being said, most cities in the country don't have such a great system like Chicago does. It is great to be able to get by without a car. You can't really do that in a lot of the Midwest.