Poll: Do you say 'thanks' to transport workers (bus drivers, taxi drivers, train drivers etc.)?

[Tuesday Night Fever]

Of course I do. I say thank you to pretty much anyone who does anything for me.

One time back in high school I actually had a teacher tell me that I didn't have to be so polite, because she had a huge stack of papers that she was passing back to us and I thanked her with each one that she gave back to me.

 

[Qwurty2.0]

I always try to unless I either don't see them again (bus) or if I felt they did a poor job/were rude. It's common courtesy and they did you a service.

 

[jamail77]

It's a formality that doesn't really make sense, we 'thank' the driver by paying our fair which goes towards their pay, so we don't really need to say thanks, but a lot of people still say it.

I always say it anyways since it barely takes up any of my time and it feels more polite to me

You say it doesn't make sense to you, yet then bring up how you say it anyway because it feels more polite. Doesn't that kind of contradict your previous statement? Sure, it doesn't contradict it directly; they can be mutually inclusive (Am I using that term right? It's been a while since I've used terms like that and the meaning has kind of left my brain) I suppose. It's just, I mean, you don't honestly justify choosing not to engage in courteous social interaction when you don't feel like it because of this do you? It's especially craved by people who provide any sort of direct customer service. I say this from personal experience working fast food to help me pay for college. Note: It doesn't help much obviously. Even though I obviously don't speak for all service workers that's where I'm coming from.

I thank the bus driver when I pay for my ticket, and the taxi driver when I pay him for the ride.

There's more to service than the monetary compensation especially when you consider not all of it goes to them and that's still ignoring the debate about whether the wage they do get is fair regardless of where you live; it doesn't have to be the United States seeing as the debate has happened elsewhere. If I'm going to be paid minimum wage, respect is a nice thing to get in return in addition to reasonable flexible scheduling and a calm environment that never gets overbearing intentionally. Please keep in mind that when I say this, I don't mean I want a cushy job; I just want reasonable working conditions. Stress and physical or mental exhaustion are okay if they're from a normal working environment and not something unreasonable. You see, I work fast food. I personally don't like being treated like I'm not even there, people who literally just walk up to the counter and start telling me their order without a greeting or at least an acknowledgement that I'm in front of them, as if I'm some machine order taker rather than a human cashier.

I don't let it get to me because 1) A surprising number of people do it and I've learned to cope, 2) I know they might be having a bad day, or 3) They zoned out. That doesn't stop it from being bothersome, or I would not have mentioned it, of course. It's more concerning when it seems none of those conditions I stated are going on, at least, on a surface level though I acknowledge people sometimes hide these things when going about their day. Obviously, I don't want to be spiteful. I do not think I am a spiteful person in general. Still, after enough of that AND dealing with the people who irrationally complain to employees or mistreat them or, worse, actually worsen other customers' experience, it makes it difficult to not be spiteful at even the smallest things.

I mean aren't what these five people said all worth considering? Sorry if this comes off as judging you or shaming you. I'm not. I'm just curious on your perspective (You don't have to agree with the job being difficult parts of these quotes. That's your prerogative):

No....I say 'thank you, sir' or 'thank you, ma'am'. Its not about thanking them as part of payment in an economic exchange, its about acknowledging our common humanity during what is technically an act of servitude from one person to another.

Now I went to high school in a country where people usually don't say anything to the driver or even interact with them in any way besides buying the ticket. No one really gives it a second thought.

Well after 5 years of catching the same bus every morning, I got to know and talk to a couple of the drivers. Turns out they hate it. People tend to treat them like glorified ticket dispensers. For them, the show of basic manners that is saying 'please' when telling them your destination and 'thank you' after getting your ticket feels humanising. It's sadly quite rare for that to happen though.

So no, it's not meaningless. It's nice. The drivers have a difficult job, they deserve to be treated like human beings.

They're people like you and me. They have some shitty moments in life and their jobs. The least you can do is make it easier for them and at least be respectful for the service they just gave you. It's not much, but it's enough.

I completely agree. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it like this.

I agree with this agreement. Though one time I saw a bus driver get angry because someone didn't say thanks and I couldn't agree with that. What do you think?

Without the context, I'm not sure I can tell you how feel. Was the rider rude? If a person is rude, but then makes an effort to sincerely thank that probably means their rudeness was not intentional. Did the driver do them a favor that inconveniences them? Anything like that? Otherwise, if they were just going about things like any other rider but without a thanks then, while the thanks is missed, it's not worth getting angry over. See the things I said earlier in this post, before replying to you, if you're curious about my perspective as I'm too tired to reiterate it here and will probably be checking out soon.

I used to, then I realized then really didn't care anyway so now I only thank them when they look receptive.

You realized? How do you know a lot of them don't care. Isn't it better to say it anyway rather than only reserve for it those you deem receptive? You can't know for sure just because of some superficial interaction. A person may not seem receptive, but when I seem like that I still appreciate the courtesy. It's an appearance, not how I'm actually feeling. It may be because I'm tired or I zoned out or I got distracted for a second. Of course, there are those who don't really care, to be fair.

The reasons for this are more logistical than courteous, though - the buses in my city are designed so that you get in and pay your fare by the driver, then move in to the back of the bus. When you get off at your stop, you exit through a different pair of doors at the back of the bus, so that the people getting on at this stop don't have to wait for all the disembarking passengers to leave before they start getting on. It makes the bus system slightly more efficient, but it makes it very hard to thank the driver without having to shout the entire length of the bus, which I imagine would not be appreciated by either my fellow passengers or the driver. And thanking them before I got to my destination just seems weird.

You must take buses that are really big then. The buses I take are probably standard bus size and half of the time people "yell" (not at the top of their lungs yelling) across to say thank you. To go more in depth, we have two sets of doors. There's the front door where people get on, but some people sitting close to the front also get off. Not enough people board at any one time or fast enough that these people who disembark at the front ever bother the bus driver or slows down people getting on board. Most people get off at the pair of doors situated roughly at the middle of the bus though, the ones who yell in other words. Anyway, the bus drivers seem to appreciate the 'thanks' most of the time and not too many passengers get annoyed. Surprisingly, few people sleep on the buses I take, which is probably because they don't go far distances. The people who stay on the longest probably only have an hour ride at the most while most who get on are closer to a 10 to 30 minute range I'd assume. Others are too tired or "out of it" to notice the "yellers" or care.

 

[Nazulu]

They're people like you and me. They have some shitty moments in life and their jobs. The least you can do is make it easier for them and at least be respectful for the service they just gave you. It's not much, but it's enough.

I completely agree. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it like this.

I agree with this agreement. Though one time I saw a bus driver get angry because someone didn't say thanks and I couldn't agree with that. What do you think?

Without the context, I'm not sure I can tell you how feel. Was the rider rude? If a person is rude, but then makes an effort to sincerely thank that probably means their rudeness was not intentional. Did the driver do them a favor that inconveniences them? Anything like that? Otherwise, if they were just going about things like any other rider but without a thanks then, while the thanks is missed, it's not worth getting angry over. See the things I said earlier in this post, before replying to you, if your curious about my perspective as I'm too tired to reiterate it here and will probably be checking out soon.

Yeah, I thought I should of add something more.

No, the rider just jumped off and the bus driver called him back in an annoyed tone telling him he should thanked. I felt it wasn't right to lecture another adult on manners when they just get off the bus.

I read the rest of your post, I get the gist of it. Thanks.

 

[jklinders]

It's called common courtesy. I guarantee you that these folks are running across at least one obnoxious piece of human waste at least once in the run of a day. Transit operators more than cabbies I think. I know someone is going to do their job whether I thank them or not, but I think it's nice when you are in a service oriented job to receive a thank you every now and again. I'm paid to make food in a restaurant to a certain standard. I'm already getting my "reward" for doing it. It doesn't mean I don't appreciate a compliment on it's quality or my speed of getting it ready. Sometimes that's what makes the job tolerable.

Service workers are people too. They have feelings and run across assholes on their jobs that by and large they have to smile back at. Try giving them a reason to enjoy their jobs. They might even feel better about it and do better for you in turn.

 

[jamail77]

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I read the rest of your post, I get the gist of it. Thanks.

I appreciate that. It can be annoying to go back and sift through quote blocks and things. Luckily, this isn't one of those topics that makes me write posts that are as long as two big essays with a bunch of quotes of quotes of quotes and replies to those quotes.

Then, yeah, that sounds uncalled for. The bus driver might be frustrated at the lack of thanks he gets and it was boiling up, but when you stop considering context and do that to someone in that passenger's position without good cause then, well, you're not acting empathetically. Frankly, people who do that lose a good deal of sympathy from me.

 

[GJHenry]

Yes to everything if the exit door is close to them. I can't say thank you to the driver if I'm riding a train that is 100 meters long and I'm at the end of the train.

 

[wildstars]

I don't ride buses much any more, but when I do, I make a point to quickly greet/acknowledge the driver when boarding, and say 'thanks for the ride' if departing by the front.

 

[viscomica]

I used to, then I realized then really didn't care anyway so now I only thank them when they look receptive.

You realized? How do you know a lot of them don't care. Isn't it better to say it anyway rather than only reserve for it those you deem receptive? You can't know for sure just because of some superficial interaction. A person may not seem receptive, but when I seem like that I still appreciate the courtesy. It's an appearance, not how I'm actually feeling. It may be because I'm tired or I zoned out or I got distracted for a second. Of course, there are those who don't really care, to be fair.

You clearly haven't been to Argentina Here it is common knowledge most (if not all) bus drivers are ... to say they are not receptive would be an understatement.

 

[happyninja42]

If we make eye contact I will say thanks to a bus driver or other mass transit operator. Usually they're just looking somewhere else and waiting for us to unload, so I keep moving. But I will say thanks when it seems appropriate. I always do to taxi drivers, since it's a one on one kind of thing.

 

[Artina89]

I always say "thanks" because I have always said it, even from a small child. I know that I like people thanking me when I have done a good job, so I try and treat people how I would like to be treated.

CAPTCHA: gingerbread. I wish I had some gingerbread right now....

 

[jamail77]

Isnip

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You clearly haven't been to Argentina Here it is common knowledge most (if not all) bus drivers are ... to say they are not receptive would be an understatement.

Okay, fair enough: I have never been to Argentina. I think my point still stands though. Isn't it better to say it anyway rather than only reserve for it those you deem receptive? Does that really hurt anyone even if it ends up being unacknowledged? You say them not being receptive is an understatement. Do they get hostile if you make sure your appreciation is known? If it's not anything that extreme then as I said, a person may just not seem receptive; it doesn't mean they actually aren't receptive. Who's to say this isn't related to the barrier between customers and the people providing a service to them. Without education and personal experience people make a lot of assumptions about service people that just confirms their...well, confirmation bias.

For example, I once had someone go up to me and, upon finishing her order, told me how I just stand there and take orders all day, never allowed to move, right? I told her no: When there are no customers or another cashier(s) ready to handle any new customers I actually have to brew coffee, restock supplies such as trays and condiments and shake mix and things that go in our fridges, sweep and mop, fix orders that were changed last minute, or charge differences or special orders I have to calculate in my head because the register only acknowledges some of these scenarios while still keeping the line going fast (when I can I might charge them multiple accounts of $.15 extra sauce or $.25 extra dressing if it comes out to a close enough number for their difference or special order because the extra money does need to be accounted for by our system somehow) refill ice, and help customers who need assistance, all when I get the chance when there are no "runner" employees ready to do this. I say this about the "runner" employees because they often serve the orders even though technically those people are "presenters", these specific positions are meant to maximize a person towards a single task when there are a comfortable but still busy influx of customers by the way. "Runners" often do both when there are no presenters or not enough to handle how busy we are AND handle that other stuff when they can and there are enough of them. No matter what I always have to handle some of it anyway.

Even if I only have to do a minimum of that, if I'm working more than 3 hours chances are I won't stay there forever, someone will switch registers with me, my money will be counted to make sure I'm not short, and I'll shift to something else or take over the shift of an employee who needs to go on break. So, I may become a "runner", which might also include taking headphones to take drive-thru orders since these people taking drive-thru orders also have to run AND/OR present orders at the same time anyway. I may have to go in the back and take money for drive-thru, which unless it's REALLY, REALLY, I MEAN REALLY busy and we're not getting people out fast enough also means I'll be taking orders (another employee grabs my headphones if it gets so busy) as well because we have two lanes for cars (customers not from the area sometimes comment how crazy it is of us to do this).

To keep this long, approaching three paragraphs story from being even longer than it needs to be, the customer was legitimately shocked that I do more than just stand in front of a register. Thankfully, she wasn't condescending about it or anything since she asked the question out of curiosity rather than malice. A common misconception kept her perception of my line of work and any biases she might have about how I feel even if that meant misinterpreting my current, superficial emotional state. So, are you so sure it's just how bus drivers are in Argentina? If it really is, I stand corrected. It's just that this sounds so generalizing that I have a hard time believing it.

 

[Ncrdrg]

Yeah, I like being polite when I get off. Usually a quick 'Thank you, have a nice day'.

 

[Fireaxe]

Taxi, Bus, and Tram, yes.

Not train because I never see the driver.

 

[viscomica]

Isnip

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You clearly haven't been to Argentina Here it is common knowledge most (if not all) bus drivers are ... to say they are not receptive would be an understatement.

Okay, fair enough: I have never been to Argentina. I think my point still stands though. Isn't it better to say it anyway rather than only reserve for it those you deem receptive? Does that really hurt anyone even if it ends up being unacknowledged? You say them not being receptive is an understatement. Do they get hostile if you make sure your appreciation is known? If it's not anything that extreme then as I said, a person may just not seem receptive; it doesn't mean they actually aren't receptive. Who's to say this isn't related to the barrier between customers and the people providing a service to them. Without education and personal experience people make a lot of assumptions about service people that just confirms their...well, confirmation bias.

For example, I once had someone go up to me and, upon finishing her order, told me how I just stand there and take orders all day, never allowed to move, right? I told her no: When there are no customers or another cashier(s) ready to handle any new customers I actually have to brew coffee, restock supplies such as trays and condiments and shake mix and things that go in our fridges, sweep and mop, fix orders that were changed last minute, or charge differences or special orders I have to calculate in my head because the register only acknowledges some of these scenarios while still keeping the line going fast (when I can I might charge them multiple accounts of $.15 extra sauce or $.25 extra dressing if it comes out to a close enough number for their difference or special order because the extra money does need to be accounted for by our system somehow) refill ice, and help customers who need assistance, all when I get the chance when there are no "runner" employees ready to do this. I say this about the "runner" employees because they often serve the orders even though technically those people are "presenters", these specific positions are meant to maximize a person towards a single task when there are a comfortable but still busy influx of customers by the way. "Runners" often do both when there are no presenters or not enough to handle how busy we are AND handle that other stuff when they can and there are enough of them. No matter what I always have to handle some of it anyway.

Even if I only have to do a minimum of that, if I'm working more than 3 hours chances are I won't stay there forever, someone will switch registers with me, my money will be counted to make sure I'm not short, and I'll shift to something else or take over the shift of an employee who needs to go on break. So, I may become a "runner", which might also include taking headphones to take drive-thru orders since these people taking drive-thru orders also have to run AND/OR present orders at the same time anyway. I may have to go in the back and take money for drive-thru, which unless it's REALLY, REALLY, I MEAN REALLY busy and we're not getting people out fast enough also means I'll be taking orders (another employee grabs my headphones if it gets so busy) as well because we have two lanes for cars (customers not from the area sometimes comment how crazy it is of us to do this).

To keep this long, approaching three paragraphs story from being even longer than it needs to be, the customer was legitimately shocked that I do more than just stand in front of a register. Thankfully, she wasn't condescending about it or anything since she asked the question out of curiosity rather than malice. A common misconception kept her perception of my line of work and any biases she might have about how I feel even if that meant misinterpreting my current, superficial emotional state. So, are you so sure it's just how bus drivers are in Argentina? If it really is, I stand corrected. It's just that this sounds so generalizing that I have a hard time believing it.

If you don't wanna take my word for it, ask anyone in Argentina and they will probably tell you the exact same thing. Bus drivers in here are people who are often very rude, they sometimes try to charge you more than they should and provide a crappy service which, every once in while, just stops working whatsoever (they usually own up to this very publicly). So no, I don't feel particularly compelled to say "thank you" to them. I do say "thank you" to cashiers, waiters, stewardess, and so on and so on.

 

[jamail77]

Isnip

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If you don't wanna take my word for it, ask anyone in Argentina and they will probably tell you the exact same thing.

I'll take your word for it, so I stand corrected. You show your appreciation to other service people, which I think makes your perspective fair. What do you think makes so many bus drivers in particular so rude?

 

[sky14kemea]

I always say please and thank you when buying a ticket. I usually only say thank you again to bus drivers when I arrive, 'cause with Train and Trams you don't really pass the driver and the ticket people are always on the move.

I'll admit I don't make eye contact much when I do it though, but that's just 'cause I'm socially awkward. :I

 

[Julius Terrell]

I do because I appreciate the fact their job allows me to get from point A to B. I don't own a car, and I can't really afford one.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Always. Both because I was raised to be polite to everyone you meet regardless of your station, and also because a cab driver saved my life once. I stepped out of the cab and was almost immediately stabbed in the back. She called 911. One of my biggest regrets in life was that I was only able to give her $22~ (All the money I had on me at the time. The fare was $26, not including the tip. I would have gone to get more, but uh... stabbed.)

 

[viscomica]

Isnip

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If you don't wanna take my word for it, ask anyone in Argentina and they will probably tell you the exact same thing.

I'll take your word for it, so I stand corrected. You show your appreciation to other service people, which I think makes your perspective fair. What do you think makes so many bus drivers in particular so rude?

Hmm, here they sometimes refuse to help disabled people get on the bus, they disrespect any bus related regulation there is and when you try to correct them they yell at you, they try to charge you more than they should for the distance you're going (not always, but if has happened to me quite a few times), etc. I'm talking from my personal experience, but from what other argies have told me, it's pretty much a common thing.