LOST (the awkward english silence)

Ok so...this week i am very lost. Last week during the FREEZING period prior to the snow I went and observed for three hours in London Bridge station doing sketches and taking ten pictures every ten minutes or so. I got around 200 photos, along with a number of videos showing the movement of people through the main part of the station. I did gain a much greater understanding to the way people move through this space compared to my rough guesses for my model:

I discovered there is a fast lane and a slow lane, and the waiting area in the middle. Some people stop on the edge of the waiting area for only a few seconds before continuing while others take a little longer.

Also the trans-fiction on the board, even though when they are waiting for ten minutes. I guess its a bit like the eye contact thing on the tube. Avoid small talk at all costs. Look at the board, look at the board, look around, look at the floor, look around - oo that's a nice coat - - oops caught someones eye, LOOK AWAY! (pretend to be generally looking around.....) and such like. Fair enough people may not feel like talking to complete strangers, but since when did people become SO uncomfortable. Its quite absurd. I have observed on several occasions complete strangers starting up a conversation about their lives on a train. I guy sat opposite me on a
train back from college and asked to play hangman. That felt very random. I also met an interesting guy who did market research in my local town and told me all about the jobs he did - such as getting people to taste test haagen daaz ice cream.

After consideration I would suggest the expectations and perceived intentions of a stranger scare people from ever talking to strangers. People expect a reason for the interaction, and it is very difficult for any interaction whatsoever when everyone tries their hardest to prevent it occurring. I think its fascinating how people in such close proximity try so hard to ignore each other. Perhaps there could be a way to give people a reason to interact....a game, comment about an event etc etc. I am quite a shy person in new sitatuions with new people, however I learned since coming to London that talking to people, even randomly to show an interest in them is much more interesting even if you are only with them for a short time. You never know what you might learn or hear about. Even if its boring as hell you can make an effort to leave. The awkward English silence.