Free newspapers...

Just thinking…

So I was on the tube this morning, kinda people watching, when I noticed a woman reading the free Metro newspaper one usually gets at train stations on their way to work. As she was reading the paper, 2 or 3 men who were standing in the train were peering over her shoulder, reading the newspaper intently. I thought to myself that the article must be really riveting to create such an interest. As she turned the page, I noticed that all it had on it were cartoons, sudoku games and other puzzles on it. This actually made me smile, as I had visions of an article on a theft or kidnap or something business-like and serious . Nothing is as it first appears…

Talking about papers and reading over the shoulders, it amazes me how different people react to this activity. Some are deeply offended by it, and shift their papers away, others close the pages, making it difficult for the ‘peeper’ to keep on reading. I wonder what would happen if instead of that, the owner of the newspaper offers to share the paper. Imagine it, you turn to the person and say, ‘What pages would you like? Here you go, here are pages 4,5 & 6, you can start with that while I finish the rest off, please don’t forget to hand it back to me if you get off the train first.’ Now wouldn’t that be nice, and a bit more social? Your act of kindness, could spark off another act of kindness and so on.

It really amazes me when people are offended when people peer over their shoulders to see what’s in the Metro? I can understand when you have paid for your newspaper, but when the paper is free and lying around, waiting for people to pick up?! Why so upset about it? Body language all stiff and everything in the true English fashion without verbally saying anything.

So which strain do you belong to? The body-stiffer or the ‘would you like a read’ type? Comments welcome…