Notes on Behavioral Culture in the Metro
Author: Dr. Morteza Majdafar
Traveling by metro is full of stories; one can learn experiences and gain insights. In these journeys, I come across points that reflect examples of our people’s ethics, upbringing, and collective lifestyle.
For a long time, I intended to document my metro observations without judgment. Each time, however, the task slipped my mind, and the compelling scene before me faded away. Yet yesterday’s incident was so vivid that I couldn’t overlook it, leading to the first MetroNote.
Yesterday, upon boarding the metro, I was immediately struck by an unpleasant odor of sweat. One must endure such smells, keep a bit of distance, and not confront the person emitting it.
So I did. But I could see him clearly—long, disheveled, uncombed hair that urgently needed a trim, an unkempt stubble, a pink shirt with a dirty collar, its top two buttons undone, exposing an undershirt clearly in need of washing, and a wrinkled suit. He also had a small leather bag with a bundle of papers sticking out.
I struggled with myself: “What’s wrong? Do you want to say something to him?” Clearly, I did not.
The gentleman became warm. He pulled out a bunch of papers and began fanning himself. No one else was fanning themselves. Again, I struggled with my thoughts: “If you’d showered, you wouldn’t be smelly or warm. Also, a visit to the barber would help.”
It was 8:00 a.m., and we reached a station where there was mobile signal.
His phone rang. He answered. I couldn’t hear the other party, but I could infer their questions from his replies.
+ “I’m only at such-and-such station. It’ll take at least 35 minutes to get to the office…”
– …
+ “No… no… not at all. He had an 8:00 appointment, and he’s here, that’s that… am I supposed to be a machine and arrive at exactly 8:00?”
– …
+ “Don’t push the other patients. I have surgery, and I have to be at the university by 4:00. The students are waiting for me…”
– …
+ “Just wrap it up somehow… book him an appointment two weeks from now…”
– …
And the call ended. Our companion was a respected doctor who, besides working in a clinic or office, also performed surgeries and taught at a university.
One of the passengers, having realized he was a university professor, asked him about the state of the students. The reply came: “If it were up to me, I’d fail 60 percent of class… they’re so disorganized, sloppy, and clueless.”
Metro journeys provide an opportunity to observe people's social behaviors, which sometimes require critique and the offering of educational solutions.
With apologies to the medical community, who are often clean, commendable, and positive role models, I do not intend to analyze my fellow passengers’ behaviors in this note. However, as my interests and focus lie in cultural, educational, and ethical matters, I invite the esteemed readers and the honorable Nikoo family to read, critique, and offer solutions for these behaviors.
