Aug 24, 2022
Presumption drives human behaviour
Thanks to technology
I took a metro from Kengeri to Majestic in Bangalore; I am not from Bangalore, and even though I have stayed in Bangalore for six years, I still don’t know a lot about Bangalore.
This time I was in Bangalore after five years, and I was travelling by metro in Bangalore for the first time, so I wasn’t aware of the metro-route and metro lines.
I downloaded the metro app on my mobile a few minutes ago, and the app was my guide. I could never imagine helping the people from Bangalore with the metro route or which metro they should board, but there I was helping Bangaloreans find their way in the metro.
Local seeking help
I was waiting at the Majestic station to catch my metro, and one of the locals approached me and enquired about the metro. Two metro lines intersect at majestic, so it gets confusing there.
I took out my mobile and as soon as he saw that he said, “You don’t know yourself; how will you help me,”
I replied, “Give me a minute, and I can tell you which metro to catch.”
He said you are not from here; I didn’t reply.
I checked the route on the app and directed him to the metro that goes to his place. He couldn’t believe that I had helped him with the route.
He said thank you, and to compensate for his earlier insolent behaviour, he offered his hand for a handshake. We shook hands.
The same day I helped another local with finding the metro route, and the local thanked me for it.
Presume
Humans tend to assume, and the assumptions drive their behaviour, which can put them in situations they regret.
The local, as soon as he saw that I was taking out my mobile, assumed that I couldn’t help him or I would give him unreliable information. But I did help him.
Technology has made it possible for non-locals to help locals with getting around in a technology-driven set-up such as the metro.
Technology doesn’t discriminate between locals and non-locals. If someone knows to use the technology, the person can be as good as the locals of that place.
Of course, technology can help outsiders only to a certain degree beyond which one must seek help from the locals.
