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Everyone knows there are certain things you don't do on the Underground - stand on the left side of an escalator, make eye contact, or selfishly lean one of the poles. And you definitely don't engage in conversation, unless it's to boom down the carriage: 'Can you PLEASE move down?'. But no one wants to be that guy. Still, that hasn't stopped someone starting a campaign encouraging commuters to talk to each other with new 'Tube Chat' badges.
The badges have been inspired by TfL's official 'baby on board' badges and the recently launched 'please offer me a seat' badges. Y'know, the ones which actually serve a practical purpose. Unsurprisingly, the 'Tube Chat' badges haven't gone down well with London commuters.
Here's how people are reacting on Twitter to the new badges:
Mark my words, no good will come of #tube_chat only evil.
— Peter Cashmore (@TweetCashmore) September 29, 2016
#tube_chat I got screamed at by random guy because my hair touched his arm. Have a chat with our 'fellow travellers'? Nah I'm alright.
— Ro'isin Singh (@co_roisin) September 29, 2016
Took the overground just to avoid the #tube_chat
— Dave Strauss (@Goodman_london) September 29, 2016
Anybody who wears this #tube_chat crap should be forced to vacate the tube and walk barefoot to their destination. #TfL https://t.co/0pi7QhsW0L
— Matt Thompson (@jumpytiny) September 29, 2016
Nope. #tube_chat pic.twitter.com/eNaxGqSibR
— Joe (@JoePassmore) September 29, 2016
imagine being someone who willingly wears a #Tube_Chat badge. sitting there, beaming, just waiting for a conversation that will never come.
— Richard Cook (@cookywook) September 29, 2016
Some people are just confused about the use of an underscore:
This underscore is the worst thing in the whole world #tube_chat
— Greg James (@gregjames) September 29, 2016
#tube_chat what’s with the underscore tho?
— Aria. (@baradar85) September 29, 2016
But this guy's asking the important questions:
How long before badges appear with something lewd in place of the word 'chat'? #tube_chat pic.twitter.com/i23HP6I6cB
— Mark Gillies (@5goalthriller) September 28, 2016
Er, not long, apparently:
#tube_chat I'm releasing my own badge shortly:
— Scott Jonathon (@scottjok) September 29, 2016
Tube Shat? (Do You Smell That Too)
And he's not the only one with alternative ideas:
Can I get a #Do_Not_Disturb badge? 🚫#Tube_Chat @TfL pic.twitter.com/Tg32otHMUo
— Rosie (@RosieLondoner) September 29, 2016
Love this alternative to the #tube_chat badge pic.twitter.com/Xe01eJ8njR
— Cora Bauer (@corabauer) September 29, 2016
can we also have a 'fuck off' badge? #tube_chat
— Taylor Learmouth (@taylorlearmouth) September 29, 2016
Gonna wear a tube badge that just says 'Don't' #tube_chat
— Shaun (@OhShaun) September 29, 2016
*puts your #tube_chat badge in the bin*
— Rachael (@RachaelvsWorld) September 29, 2016
there, that's better
In other transport news, the night tube is (possibly) launching on the Northern line on November 18