lights outs

Since my new job has made me a rail warrior, I've started to notice all the quirks of train ridership. Faux-pas are silently communicated as unacceptable behavior for those of us who ride the Metra day in and day out. Things like clipping your nails, applying make-up, flipping your seats on a full train; all get certain looks and the occasional brave confrontation.

But aside from these types of situations, one evening, I found myself taking a later-than-normal train home. And after a long day, I was looking forward to a relaxing ride. Now one of the activities that I enjoy doing, is looking out the window and watching the transition from the urban to the sub-urban. All the old buildings, factories and neighborhoods roll by like a 40 min visual commentary of the daily grind of life. Unfortunately being on the train at night, the view was completely destroyed by the florescent lighting in the cabin. All that is viewable is a self reflected green hue of my surroundings inside. So much for my documentary. How about a nap then? Well again, the lighting squanders any hope of catching some quick zzz. Then the thought occured to me, why not dim the lights? Or even turn them off altogether ? Leave a few lights on the isle to illuminate one's way out? I play it out... Well if the lights are off, people may be more inclined to sleep and thereby snoozing past their stop and increasing the taxi cab's revenue at the end of the line. Then I think about the real reason about why this cannot happen. If the lights are off, we all would be vulnerable to thieves and robbers who would grab our stuff while in a slumber.  No longer protected by our awakeness, our phones, computers, backpacks, briefcases and purses lay in perfect view of anyone looking to thievecycle our stuff. And since the code of conduct on the train is, "mind your own business", our fellow neighbor is not of much help to police any of this suspicious activity. The lights must stay on...

the bad guys win