Opus 2011-186, On the Street: Advertizing for the Ignorant

I had a bus turn in front of me a few days ago and read the ad on the side.  I had to catch the bus and read it again because I could not believe what it said.  It was an advertizement for Metro trying to get people to ride the bus.  That wasn’t what got my attention.  What hit me what the idiotic statement they were using.  They were saying we should “Take control, pay as you go.” 

This about riding on mass transit.  I don’t know if you have ever had to take mass transit but one of the concepts that is totally alien to the experience is “take control.”  First you are forced to get on the bus at locations designated by a committee.  When you find the bus stop you must wait until it gets there before you can start your trip.  If you are thirty seconds late you must wait for the next bus.  You need exact change.  During rush hour, which is when most people want to travel, you must often stand the entire trip.  You are forced to listen to other people's music and smell whatever they had for dinner.  You must wait patiently while the bus takes a route you would never follow and if you are really “in control” you get to change buses.  When you want to get off it is a miracle if it is close to where you are going.  This is what they call “taking control.”

What a twist of reality.

But we need to remember that the people reading these signs were probably not taught to think.  Since they want to be in control they take a bus.  I guess I would rather be manipulated by my own personal automobile.

Will a  bus fit in the drive through?

homo unius libri