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Sociology

The Interaction Order of Public Transit and Stranger Sociability

Quick fact

Sociologist Erving Goffman coined the term 'civil inattention' to describe how strangers on public transit acknowledge each other's presence without engaging in interaction—a subtle ritual that makes crowded commutes possible without constant social awkwardness.

Why this is interesting

Ever found yourself on a crowded bus, avoiding eye contact with the person next to you, yet instinctively knowing exactly how to behave? Why do we follow these unspoken rules?