Preconceptions
When working at the railway station or even just with the public, its important to keep an open mind. Last week I was giving the stink eye to a tough looking group of young men in hoodies and tattoos on platform 2 because I thought they were hanging around waiting to do a drug deal. I mean it’s the Zoo station! There are children here!
I considered it particularly low that one of them had bought a baby capsule with him – clearly to hide his stash. So I felt kind of mean when the train came in bringing a newcomer and one of them started showing the newcomer how the capsule worked. I am so middle class!! The capsule owner showed up later with his partner and toddler-in-pram and confirmed that yes, they had all been hanging around to pass the capsule on “to my cousin whose fiancée has just fallen pregnant.” Just because someone is close to twenty and has tattoos doesn’t mean he can’t be a responsible family man, Jane.
On the other hand earlier this year a zoo-visiting Buddhist monk surprised me, by indicating I should use my broom to chase out the birds roving round the waiting room. I had expected him to be all “animals are my friends – all life is one” not “get that grubby bird out of the indoor space.” Another preconception bites the dust. Maybe I’m better off without either of them.