The look of...
The public system here in Oslo runs on an honour system as much of Europe's public transport systems. They are however in the midst of upgrading the system to include gantries to all the train stations. When Jose K and I arrived in August last year, there were announcements made that the 'new' system will be implemented by the following year. Well.. it's almost June 2006 and so far, no progress.
In the meantime, the public train authorities do their best and run these advertising campaigns which target not your sense of honour but your fear of public humiliation. I guess this proves conclusively that we Asians do not have the monopoly over the concept of 'not losing face'.
In the previous campaign guilty, posters showed ticketless persons (shrinked toy-size) being stared at by everybody else on the train.
In this recent one, which I must say is one of my favourites, everybody is staring at YOU, the viewer in horror as the inspector presumably finds you without a valid ticket. I suppose the Powers that Be decided on a more direct approach, perhaps the first run was too subtle for most people. Anyway, check out the guy in the middle. Priceless. He looks like you just asked him to show you his underwear or something along those lines.
In this version, everybody looks like they came from the Village of the Damned. The baby (bless his/her little heart) kind of spoils the mood though.
I wonder what the next campaign will be? Close up of ticket inspectors looking menacingly at you? Or big slips of the fine? ( I hear it's about 800 kroners or SGD$200) Or maybe they will just hang up mirrors on all the trains and use the slogan. For the curious, a rough translation is
"Do not get caught in an embarrassing situation. Buy a ticket".
The possibilities are endless.
In the meantime, the public train authorities do their best and run these advertising campaigns which target not your sense of honour but your fear of public humiliation. I guess this proves conclusively that we Asians do not have the monopoly over the concept of 'not losing face'.
In the previous campaign guilty, posters showed ticketless persons (shrinked toy-size) being stared at by everybody else on the train.
In this recent one, which I must say is one of my favourites, everybody is staring at YOU, the viewer in horror as the inspector presumably finds you without a valid ticket. I suppose the Powers that Be decided on a more direct approach, perhaps the first run was too subtle for most people. Anyway, check out the guy in the middle. Priceless. He looks like you just asked him to show you his underwear or something along those lines.
In this version, everybody looks like they came from the Village of the Damned. The baby (bless his/her little heart) kind of spoils the mood though.
I wonder what the next campaign will be? Close up of ticket inspectors looking menacingly at you? Or big slips of the fine? ( I hear it's about 800 kroners or SGD$200) Or maybe they will just hang up mirrors on all the trains and use the slogan. For the curious, a rough translation is
"Do not get caught in an embarrassing situation. Buy a ticket".
The possibilities are endless.
posted by Bjorg @ 5:41 PM
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