Subway trains are for the commuters. As such, many establishments take the opportunity to advertise. Some entrepreneurs become more creative since BIG BUSINESSES need not always come so driven.
This attempt is not entirely new. It is definitely a good and effective way to communicate anything. This becomes feasible when the commuters become not as many due to time, like when almost everyone has gone to work and we, the ordinary train riders, are left to our own devices. In some instances when you do not have ANYTHING TO DO, then the SUBWAY TRAINS’ ADS SERVE ITS PURPOSE IN OTHER WAYS.
Take my experience, I boarded the train at around 1:30 pm hoping there would be very few passengers so I could definitely sit. Nowadays, your being old does not guarantee you a seat… So I did sit comfortably well. After a few stops, an announcement was made to the effect that we had to transfer to another train since there was signal problem on the train plus there were two (2) other trains ahead of us which had problems of their own. I did not heed the advice since I had all the time to spare. This gave me all the time to look around without fearing that somebody might get mad in case they would think I was staring or what. Then the advertisements (ads) caught my attention. These were ads but given another look one could decipher why ads sometimes hit you to your core.
Here are some:
- “Living here is a lifelong dream come true. In my next life remind me to dream of a bigger apartment.”
- What do you think? Indeed I agree. That my daughter will be able to WORK IN A BIG FIRM IN NEW YORK CITY and barely a year’s time SHE WILL FINANCE MY TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY AND STAY HERE FOR QUITE A TIME IS A LIFELONG DREAM.
Perhaps the next part I do not agree with thoroughly because at 68 years old, I do not dream of a bigger apartment, bigger house, other bigger things…in the next life I would like to be with my God! A bigger apartment is not what I like just all the time with my Maker. As the Scripture says: “In God’s Kingdom there are many rooms… so Jesus mentions this too in his teaching that He will go ahead to prepare a room for us.” I would like to be in one of these rooms regardless of size, for as long as I am with God.
Here is another:
- “ With all due respect to apples, better doctors keep the doctor away.” Mt. Sinai
Google it, search for Mt. Sinai or Mt. Sinai Hospital or Mt. Sinai doctors and you have your answers, definitely they are the best (or one of the bests) in the field.
My reflection dwells on the concept of DUE RESPECT. Usually we use this phrase when we mean we accord to the speaker your appreciation and recognition of his/her authority. As such you highly regard the position or office the person is holding. However if you want to contradict, you use the phrase to mean that while you contradict it is only the idea raised not the person involved. So I find myself doing this also. So when the topic being deliberated became so personal and everybody seemed to comment in a negative and hurting way, I interjected. I began to say: With due respect to your personal opinions I suggest we talk to the persons concerned and not here for everyone to hear and comment. Let us respect their decisions for it is their lives.
So next time, take time, read what is on the walls of the subway trains. It might just make you ponder, reflect more deeply and incite you to talk with your friends about what made you think in depth after your train ride. Deal?
In the meantime, allow me to be one of the early well wishers to you my Blog Friends. You made me very honored for including me in your list of blogs to follow.
A very Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
