nataleiigh:

(1) Looking awake, too perky

(2) Staring intently at someone or into someone’s eyes (see 3)

(3) Making visible eye contact

(4) Smiling or see 5

(5) Exhibiting friendliness; being overtly gregarious

(6) Talking too loudly (though you can get away with this if you’re a rapscallion or wearing overly baggy pants; then people expect it of you)

The funny thing about social taboos on the subway is that they are the social norms (and I would even go as far to say social expectations) of life above ground.

In Boston, anyway. Someone once told me he infinitely preferred San Francisco or New York to Boston simply because everyone in Boston seemed to be wrought with the worst kind of stranger anxiety whereas in the other two cities, people are less afraid to strike up conversation. I’ve definitely found this to be true.