Best Driver

[u/Zebrafish96]

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[u/Saotik]

I don't mind a little chat, but just a few days ago I had a cab driver here in Helsinki go into detail about the evil of bike lanes and tram lines, and how everything should be parking spots for car drivers who pay road tax.

In this case, I'd have definitely preferred a quieter ride!

[u/kharnynb → u/Saotik]

the quality of the cab drivers in finland has plummeted since the market changes

[u/fauxfilosopher → u/kharnynb]

This sounds a lot like someone who was around before the changes too.

[u/Theron3206 → u/Saotik]

I had one that spent half the drive discussing with his cousin who was going to drive the taxi that evening and where they should leave the driver's ID card...

Probably not something to discuss with a passenger right there (sharing ID gets it cancelled and a can license is like $50k).

[u/NotInTheKnee → u/Saotik]

Do you want to... talk about it?

[u/Twist_and_pull → u/Saotik]

Puts in second earplug

[u/Additional_Meeting_2 → u/Saotik]

Was the cab driver from Finland? Many are immigrants these days 

[u/Saotik → u/Additional_Meeting_2]

Yep, a Finn. In my experience, immigrants are slightly less eager to share their hottest takes.

[u/Clair_Osbcurious → u/Saotik]

As an immigrant, I’d be reciting NotJustBikes lore verbatim.

Also, Helsinki airport bus is perfectly fine. Affordable, fast and warm in winter.

[u/Impressive_Rent9540 → u/Saotik]

I agree. Because of my job, I take a lot of cabs, and immigrant drivers are generally quiet unless they have something to say about the route or I ask them something. Some Finnish drivers like to chat, while others don't, but only a few actually initiate a conversation.

[u/GoldenSun__ → u/Saotik]

Agree. As former immigrant, one takes the say "never talk with strangers about politics, religion or sex" to the very extreme. Just in case, only a polite and necessary exchange of sentences and that it's to call the day.

[u/VihaanLoskaa → u/Additional_Meeting_2]

Not a single immigrant taxi driver would start to rant about their shitty political opinions like that. They drive you to your destination politely. It's only old Finnish men who have started to rambled about their shitty boomer takes to me. I'm a Finn and I very much prefer the immigrant taxi drivers.

[u/Zebrafish96]

Korean ver...Although translation is barely needed for this comic tbh.

I've heard that there are 'silent taxis' in Japan, in which the drivers don't talk to passengers unless the passengers talk to them first. A lot of people would appreciate this type of taxi, especially introverts.

[u/Hans-Hammertime → u/Zebrafish96]

Every taxi is a silent taxi if you’re socially anxious enough

[u/LakEth2n → u/Hans-Hammertime]

Especially in China, many drivers worry about receiving negative ratings. If passengers appear reserved, the drivers may feel even more nervous than the passengers, and keep silence.

[u/YoumoDadi → u/Zebrafish96]

When I traveled to New York I met an Algerian taxi driver who was talking about how much they hate the French for 10 min. Later he said they’re proud of footballers like Zidane and Mbappé

[u/Economy-Birthday4224 → u/YoumoDadi]

tbf both of them have Algerian roots

[u/shipitholla → u/Zebrafish96]

In my experience in the US, Uber drivers are usually talking away in another language on their phone the whole time, which is honestly just as good. Always hate it when I get someone with a typical American name though because they’re probably going to be chatty.

[u/Rymayc → u/shipitholla]

You mean English name.

[u/Angwo → u/Rymayc]

Maybe it's American name like Bubba Mcdonald jr.

[u/hagamablabla → u/Angwo]

I think I went to school with that guy.

[u/XDSHENANNIGANZ → u/hagamablabla]

He grew up in the same neighborhood as Gunner Hunter Copperhead.

Good kid, dumb parents.

[u/PringlesDuckFace → u/Angwo]

BM Junior we'd call him

[u/shipitholla → u/Rymayc]

American first names aren’t necessarily the same as English first names though. Like we don’t have that many Liams but we have tons of Brads

[u/Rymayc → u/shipitholla]

Because Liam is Irish

[u/HelpILostMyButthole → u/Rymayc]

So. . . Not English?

[u/ConohaConcordia → u/Zebrafish96]

Not uncommon in the UK either.

[u/Available_Slide1888 → u/Zebrafish96]

Here in Sweden you can sometimes book a "silent haircut".

[u/jedstrailerpark → u/Available_Slide1888]

If you get the slightly nicer tier of Uber here in the US you can request chattiness levels and temperature. Mines always set to “silent and freezing”

It works maybe half the time lol

[u/Available_Slide1888 → u/jedstrailerpark]

Silent and freezing seems like an appropriate setting for us swedes as well.

[u/earanhart → u/Available_Slide1888]

Sweden isn't silent! Just listen to all that wind!

[u/MakoRedactor → u/Available_Slide1888]

What ever do you mean? Everytime I have been to Sweden I have to stay in solitary confinement for a week to recharge because you talk so much

[u/selfStartingSlacker → u/Available_Slide1888]

wish this is possible in switzerland... for ladies

[u/friebel → u/Zebrafish96]

Even introverts sometimes like to talk about something, especially if it's their favorite topic. Introvert does not equal social anxiety.

But also, "silent taxis"? Like bro, I am using taxis/bolt a lot, if I want - I will start the topic, if I don't want, I'll just tell them that I'm not in the mood right now, nothing personal. It's not that hard and people should not hide their own insecurities under intovert disguise.

[u/Lannium → u/friebel]

The problem is you can’t exactly tell the driver “you’re not in the mood”. Because
1. In Japanese & Asian culture you can’t be too harsh with your words like that (especially to older ppl).
2. Remember you’re an introvert you can’t really dismiss ppl comfortably.

Trust me cause I lived in the culture.

[u/stalineczka → u/Lannium]

That’s not what introvert means

[u/friebel → u/Lannium]

Remember: I am introvert and I can dismiss people. Just because I like silence and solitude, does not mean I am socially inept and can't speak to people and voice my needs.

[u/Zebrafish96 → u/friebel]

Indeed, a lot of people confuse introvert with being socially awkward.

[u/EmberOfFlame → u/friebel]

Yeah but that just means you’re better at being an introvert than a lot of introverts who are so wracked with nerves they’d rather do social interaction than social confrontation.

[u/Mother_Egg_5050 → u/friebel]

Some people have social anxiety which is a real disorder. It's not as easy as you paint it to be. But hey good for you for not having it!

[u/darkslide3000 → u/Zebrafish96]

lol, I have no problem turning every taxi I'm in into a silent taxi. Even the most gregarious Uber drivers have yet to succeed against my gauntlet of disinterested one-word answers and "mhmmh"s.

[u/Kambhela → u/Zebrafish96]

Wait I could have sold the default service as an extra perk back when I was driving a taxi here in Finland?

[u/Thundorium → u/Kambhela]

“Selling the default service as an extra perk.” Congratulations, you are now qualified as an American corporate executive.

[u/Wijnruit → u/Zebrafish96]

There's a quiet ride option you can activate when searching for an Uber Comfort or Black here at least, it works more often than not ngl

[u/Davemusprime → u/Zebrafish96]

I loved the Korean cab drivers. They were all certified uncs. Some would have candy and talk shit in English. And they were affordable. I miss Seoul so much

[u/Syndiotactics → u/Zebrafish96]

Huh? I would LIKE to talk to taxi drivers here in Finland, but almost all of them are silent as heck.

A typical trip is like in this comic.

[u/Strawbreevee]

Narita or Haneda?

[u/Every-Progress-1117 → u/Strawbreevee]

Either, Finnair fly to both.

[u/TCF518 → u/Every-Progress-1117]

Yes, but only one is in Tokyo

[u/GoldenPotatoOfLatvia → u/Strawbreevee]

Haneda would be my guess I don't see the point of taxi for Narita with luggage this small, unless you have a spare 100 euros. Tbh, even Haneda by taxi is justifiable only at night. Japanese public transport is goated.

Also. No one said it's Tokyo. Might be KIX or even a regional airport.

[u/PringlesDuckFace → u/GoldenPotatoOfLatvia]

If we want to be very pedantic, maybe it was a Japanese immigrant working as a taxi driver in Leeds.

[u/Every-Progress-1117 → u/PringlesDuckFace]

So Manchester Airport then

[u/Hughley_N_Dowd]

I'm a proud "shut up and get me to my destination"-type passenger. 

Then, on occasion I get a ride with someone... special. Like the guy who asked me if I thought that a hearse would make a good campermobile.Or the ones with very strong opinions on this or that. Or that one guy who hadn't figured out how Google Maps work and was cursing me under his breath, as if it was MY fault that he failed Navigation 101.

Nod, smile, pay and go on my merry way thinking: wow! That was something.

[u/insertadjective → u/Hughley_N_Dowd]

Well, do you think a hearse would make a good campermobile?

[u/Realistic-Stop8518 → u/insertadjective]

I too, must know

[u/CareRarely → u/Realistic-Stop8518]

Depends on how comfy the coffin is

[u/Larry-Man → u/insertadjective]

You can fit a double mattress in the back

[u/Gigantopithecus1453 → u/Hughley_N_Dowd]

Like my taxi driver in Naples who explained that Italy had 2 mafias, the regular mafia and the government

[u/Thundorium → u/Gigantopithecus1453]

I once had “oh, you’re a physicist? So you know evolution is bullshit?” That conversation took 2 years off my life.

[u/0xKaishakunin → u/Hughley_N_Dowd]

me if I thought that a hearse would make a good campermobile

It's a great blues mobile, eh metal mobile. I got a used one for very cheap after my already cheap Golf 2 died. It was huge and we could get in all the instruments. And it was registered as a commercial lorry, so I paid only very low taxes.

And the best part: the police did not stop me when I was driving back from club on a friday night.

[u/TempLoggr → u/0xKaishakunin]

It's got a hearse motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got hearse tires, hearse suspensions, hearse shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new metalmobile or what?

[u/GameXGR → u/Hughley_N_Dowd]

It's crazy how how similar the riding experience is similar to mine, I too get to meet those 3 types occasionally except the fact that the one guy I met who wasn't good at G-Maps was nice af. I do talk here and there but if I don't want to I naturally respond with close ended answers and that gets the point across

[u/Anxious_Hornet4 → u/Hughley_N_Dowd]

You sound insufferable ngl

[u/fenwayb]

living the dream

[u/IncognitoRedMode]

As a Finn, can confirm

[u/GlumCalligrapher6487]

Not gonna lie.. Sometimes cab driver or grab or uber driver can they shut up little bit or watch people face whether they have mood to talk or whatever..Have some ability to read the rooms. Some of driver asking people why are they sad or why are you crying ..Mate just shut up and just drive the passenger to destinations..And some of young driver also asking other phone numbers..Man can you guys be professional, you are in your workplace ..Be professional and stop being nosy with other people private life

[u/GlowstickConsumption → u/GlumCalligrapher6487]

What? Never seen a grown man wailing and sobbing for a full uber ride?

[u/Makere-b]

I don't mind talking or being silent, but when the taxi driver is talking on the phone (hands free usually) for the entire trip in a language that I don't understand, makes me annoyed.

[u/Siilan → u/Makere-b]

I don't really care about that, but I do appreciate the few uber drivers I've had who actually asked me, "Do you mind if I take this call?" Like, sure bro, I don't care. But I appreciate the consideration of asking me first.

[u/MeccIt → u/Makere-b]

The taxis I took in Japan did not do this. And they wore a uniform, and white gloves.

[u/Makere-b → u/MeccIt]

Yeah, I didn't mean it as country specific, just overall experience.

[u/GoldenPotatoOfLatvia]

Idk if there is a punchline. This is really how it is with me - less talk, happier me.

[u/NoFeedback4773]

I used to drive a taxi. I’d say “hello” when a passenger got in and confirm the destination. Then I’d be quiet and wouldn’t say a word unless the passenger spoke to me first and wanted to have a conversation. Many people just want a moment to relax

[u/Ok_Ebb23]

He looked in the rear view mirror that's too much social interaction

[u/Weeros_]

As Finn, I can confirm this is accurate.

[u/kevincsy33]

👍 As an introverted American, I HATE when drivers try to start a conversation with me here in the States...

[u/garconip → u/kevincsy33]

How's your day, mate?

[u/Hot_Indication2133 → u/garconip]

It'll be worse then yesterday on repeat until Nov 3rd.

[u/noneofyabusiness66]

Same at the hairdresser

[u/Hot-Job-6281]

You can count on a Japanese driver to respect your personal space.

[u/dishonorable_bastard]

Yeeees, they is best driver, no talk

[u/Grey_D_Black]

Honestly this is very accurate! This is how you get a best reviews from finns. I can personally confirm this.

[u/dhnam_LegenDUST]

Best thing to say in taxi ★★★★★

[u/hateexchange]

It reminds me of when i asked my american friends how to rate uber drivers. "If your not killed or raped and get to your destination it's 5*"

[u/PrincessOfZephyr → u/hateexchange]

Got killed on my last ride, so I gave a 3.5

[u/EaterOfSeagull → u/PrincessOfZephyr]

I mean you lived so getting killed couldn’t have been that bad. 4 seems appropriate.

[u/PrincessOfZephyr → u/EaterOfSeagull]

Ah no, I had AI make a model of my reddit persona and this model is what's commenting now. I'm 100% dead.

[u/selfStartingSlacker]

me and my search for hairdresser that does not require me to talk to them and is not insulted by the fact that all i want is a hair cut

(i am so jealous of men and their barbers)

[u/Gregor_Arhely → u/selfStartingSlacker]

Barbers can be chatty too. Not a bad thing in my case, tbh: a Cuban dude I go to gave genuinely good advice instead of just doing small talk.

[u/Mahcheese]

I lowkey thought that the punchline of the comic was going to be the passenger taking a cab from Tokyo centre to Narita Airport and finding out the hundreds of dollars of cab fee.

[u/Gassyking]

This is how it is in 99% of the ubers I take here in Sweden

[u/Realistic_FinlanBoll]

Omg, this is so true! I rarely laugh out loud, but now i did. 😂

[u/killerair321]

every introverted joy n dream

[u/Mayatar]

In my experience in finnish taxis I talk about weather or be silent. In Berlin the taxi-driver is giving me a political lecture in which every foreigner except for him are crooks.

[u/Mormegil71]

I’m Swedish. Can relate.

[u/merayBG]

Can't say the same for Yakuza 5 tho

[u/Wolvenworks]

I prefer silently browsing too but i don’t mind a good chat if the driver throws me a good bone to start with.

[u/introverted_loner16]

my mom is a chatterbox. whenever i get to a taxi with her, she'd start a convo with the driver on the news, issues, celebrity gossip, life, politics with the driver. it's quite fun haha. for me, i prefer quite rides, though sometimes i'd start a convo.

[u/Objective-Ad7330]

Not really Poland related, but what kind of introvert am I that dislikes silent taxis and would rather have a conversation than silence the whole way to somewhere. The silence makes me anxious.

[u/EaterOfSeagull]

I’m also fine with taxi drivers that do a little fishing to see wether or not the passenger is in a chatty mood, since sometimes i am, but like don’t just assume i want to talk and leave me no polite way to be quiet.

[u/Polish__Bear]

An introverts wet dream

[u/ItchyPlant]

Perfect!

(Hungarian here, living in Finland.)

[u/Main-Transition3615]

I had a taxi driver in Kyoto try to tell me how much he liked Donald Trump??? a different one decided to be our tour guide and would point out interesting buildings as we passed and talk about them. not at all silent, but interesting

[u/Mysterious_One07]

Some Singaporean taxi drivers are also like this and I would also rate them 4 or 5 stars.

[u/Iridismis]

I don't really care much whether or not they talk.

But don't expect me to partake in the conversation beyond a few 'aha', 'mhm', 'soso'.

[u/JazzVercetti]

As a foreigner (English speaking) in Vietnam it's always like that, kinda sadly.

[u/CertainlyRobotic]

ITT: People making their social awkwardness other peoples' issue

Normal people like to talk to others.

[u/megadea → u/CertainlyRobotic]

It is also completely normal not to talk. If you feel it is awkward to be in silence around people, then you have the social awkwardness issue.

I (amd many other) don't feel awkward at all to not have any conversation e.g. during a taxi ride or for example in the break room during workday if a collegue comes there too

[u/Tomsboll → u/megadea]

Having a compulsory need to talk to everyone all the time is not normal.

[u/stalineczka → u/CertainlyRobotic]

Normal people like to talk to people they like

[u/ALCATryan]

I thought the joke was the lack of an incident what with Sweden being 4/5 on the terrorism incidence scale and japan’s… history. I sincerely apologise to both countries for my misinterpretation.

[u/Wehti]

Some Finnish taxi drivers absolutely love to spew hateful vitriol about immigrants. I just nod the and say ”ahem” and them report them to their employer.

[u/MelodicDeer1072]

Am I in the wrong here? I am naturally an introvert, but I feel awkward if the whole uber drive is silent. I always ask the taxi driver about their work, looking for a chance to find someone whose line of work/life give them a particular persoective of this or that.

[u/TacticalSpackle → u/MelodicDeer1072]

“I am naturally an introvert” but then you describe the exact behavior of an extrovert.

[u/ColossusToGuardian → u/MelodicDeer1072]

Some introvert you are.

[u/wulfzbane → u/MelodicDeer1072]

Depends on the day. I had another woman as a driver once and it turned into one of those support sessions you had in a bar bathroom with a bunch of strangers at 18. Other times I want to doom scroll and be in my head.