Tales from Subterranea: Coping Underground

Gone are the days when you could zone out on the subway.

Almost everyone is on their phone. Texting, watching a movie, posting to Instagram or Facebook,watching a TikTok, reading books and websites, playing games.

The most daring nap. It used to be that you would duck from the origami folds of the New York Times. Every so often, I’m startled to see my fellow riders open a book. Others are unwrapping a McDonald’s Happy Meal or sipping coffee from Dunkin’. That hasn’t changed.

Subway singers and underground contortionists are back but with microphones and amplifiers. And no cash on hand? Zelle and CashApp happily accepted.

The speaker phone button seems to be a favorite of some, particularly during the early morning hours. At 7 am, when you’re gearing up for another day at the office, a fellow passenger sitting across from you plays video games with the pinging noises bouncing around your head. Another plays merengue. Others have loud conversations on speaker phone. And yet another is recording herself for her spectators. People really aren’t that interesting in the minutiae.

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