I’m currently studying sociology. I wouldn’t describe it as a formal course as such. Or even one affiliated to a formal educational institution. I won’t get a qualification, or even ever finish the course. But I love it. It is making me question, reflect, worry, rejoice, cry and laugh.
I am studying sociology three times a week under the guise of running. Running through the streets has given me the opportunity to see a different side to my home town, and observe different people to those I would normally see. Through those runs, I get to study people. Life. My local community.
To share just three of my observations for you to ponder:
1.At 8 am on a Sunday morning, I am reminded of my childhood. Men of a certain age are wandering to the local shop to purchase a newspaper. An actual newspaper. Printed on paper. I remember my Dad, who passed away in his early 50s, doing a similar activity throughout my childhood. His generation is continuing to do so. I find this comforting that a generational habit has continued. I can imagine my Dad would still be doing the same despite the “brave new world” of tech that now exists.
But what is the next generation doing? The men I know in their 40s are still in bed at 8 am on a Sunday. They may glance at an online newspaper occasionally to check out the sport but seem to rely on Twitter for their news. Once they are out of bed they are hitting life with a speed that doesn’t allow for a Sunday in an armchair reading the week’s news.
In January 2019, ABC (national newspaper circulation figures) reported around a 10% decline year on year for print circulation. The days of newspapers are certainly numbered. Whilst I have been aware of that for some time, my observations have made me realise the bigger picture. I feel I am watching an endangered species as I run past these men on their way to the corner shop. The newspaper gives people purpose – a reason to get up, get dressed and get out. It gives them a reason to walk. A reason to visit their local shop and chat. For many, it may be the only social interaction they have all day. It allows them to feel part of a bigger community.
It makes me smile as I run past, remembering a simpler life. I imagine telling my grandchildren that “back in the day” men would get up early on a Sunday to walk to their local shop to get a newspaper and their questions will be “What’s a local shop?”, “What’s a newspaper?”, “Why did they walk?”, “Why did they get up so early?”. It isn’t just a newspaper we are losing.
2. I smile and say good morning to everyone I pass. First of all, I should clarify why I do this:
- I believe that if you give a smile, you receive a smile: to share the happiness, to spread some joy
- For some, I believe this may be the only social interaction they are offered all day. Community is lacking and if I can smile and say good morning to someone who may lack social support, perhaps it will make their day better
- If I am murdered or go missing whilst running, I hope that someone may remember the overweight, sweating, forty-plus-year-old who smiled and spoke to them. (I may watch too many crime dramas. You can make your own assumptions as to the weighting of those three reasons in my motivation.)
The reactions I get have been fascinating. Some people look horrified that a stranger has spoken to them. Others look surprised but respond with joy. A few look as if they fear I am about to murder them. Quite a few just blank me perhaps illustrating how unusual it is now to expect and accept a friendly social interaction on the street from a stranger.
In Norfolk, the men have been friendly – even gone as far to exchange pleasantries and wish me well. The women look panicked and almost run in the opposite direction.
In London, people respond automatically out of politeness, looking bemused and confused at what has just happened. I’d like to think that they are still feeling puzzled some hours later.
In Ipswich, where I do most of my “studying” the responses are mixed. I get ignored- a lot. No smile. No reaction. What does that mean? In their own zone and genuinely have missed my smile and cheery “good morning”? Quite hard I would suggest at 630am when we are the only two people around and I have been pounding down the pavement towards them for some distance. Lack of social skills? Lack of practice at social interaction? This saddens me. What hope is there for community and society if someone doesn’t know how to respond to a smile and a hello?
Other times I get a genuinely surprised yet pleased response with a smile and greeting returned. Sometimes a grunt, an embarrassed nod of the head and eyes diverted to the pavement.
I will keep smiling as for every person who ignores me, there will be someone who will appreciate it and will have a better day because of it. And maybe they will even try it themselves. Try it yourself.
3.I sometimes mistime my study periods aka running and end up on the pavement just as high school children are walking to school.
This is how I picture it. My battlefield being dodging dog muck, rubbish, uneven paving slabs and the occasional sticking up manhole cover, running towards a wall of teenagers. In reality, there is just me, an over-weight 40-something year old, huffing and puffing down the road waiting for my Gymboss to beep so I can walk and catch my breath.
Do they move out of the way? Do they step to one side, as they mooch down the pavement six abreast? Do they heck.
My reaction can vary. I sometimes meekly step out into the road and run down the road past them hoping rush hour traffic will take pity and swerve around me. Other times, I grip my shield (water bottle) and charge forward and just go through the middle of them. Immature I know but it gets a bit tedious after the fourth or fifth group of them. Once I even just stopped and stood there. They did the same unsure what to do next. Eventually one moved to the side and I was able to slip through them.
And then I realised that this behaviour is taught to them by their parents. I can meet toddlers toddling next to pushchairs, and I am expected to stand to one side. I meet primary school children holding their carer’s hands, and I am expected to stand to one side. So why should young adults behave any different? They have never been taught politeness, mutual respect, community feeling – how to share a pavement with others. When did people stop knowing how to pass each other politely on a pavement without it becoming an intimidating show of rights?
Observing life whilst running in the early hours has been a major eye-opener. It has made me sad with no doubt. It has also shown me the importance of being a better person, leading by example and ensuring that those I can influence remain part of a community. One person smiling back and responding with a cheerful “Morning. Well done. Keep it up” is enough to remove the negatives and give me a small sliver of hope that society may survive.
