Submitted by [deleted] t3_z86pb2 in pittsburgh
GargantuanWitch t1_iya1jsq wrote
Know what you could do that would kill two birds with one stone?
Ride the bus and ask people if they'd submit to an interview!
Careless-Cost4991 t1_iyavbal wrote
thank you so much! Sadly, we need to use different forms of connection for each source. I interviewed a bus driver on the bus and therefore that style of interview for the project is already checked off :( I tried waiting at the bus stop to interview people, but no one was interested, that's why I turned to digital connection for this source.
ricksebak t1_iyb08yp wrote
Years ago I was gathering signatures for a petition drive and I personally got over 100 people to sign just from approaching people at bus stops. It was probably one of the most productive places to find people. Two suggestions:
- When you approach someone, make sure to state right off the bat that your work seeks to improve transit for riders (if indeed that’s true). People who depend on transit have an incentive to go along with the interview if your work will indirectly help the riders that you interview.
- Downtown has the highest concentration of bus stops and bus riders, so do it there. Don’t camp out at only one stop either, circulate.
Careless-Cost4991 t1_iyb0g1e wrote
thank you so much!! I will definitely keep this in mind, Im hoping to head downtown this weekend and find sources.
mccaffeine t1_iybl4oa wrote
What other kinds of connections can you use? If you need an advocacy/expert source, you could try reaching out to someone with Pittsburghers for Public Transit or BikePGH. Good luck with your assignment!
Careless-Cost4991 t1_iydcglj wrote
I have an interview with the Pittsburghers for Public Transit this Friday! I will definitely reach out to BikePGH though, thank you so much for the advice.
saltyt00th t1_iya8jsg wrote
Cornering someone on public transportation/waiting for a bus for an interview feels so aggressive to me.
GargantuanWitch t1_iyad3mh wrote
If you do it aggressively, sure. But that's not at all what I said.
Asking a polite question is not "cornering someone on public transportation" and if one were to conduct an interview as an assignment, one should assume that they'd be able to handle a simple "no" rejection and not be an asshole about it.
saltyt00th t1_iyadd5r wrote
You can’t exactly leave a bus once a stranger approaches you. And how would you like it if someone stopped you on your way to your car to ask about your transportation habits?
GargantuanWitch t1_iyagz9f wrote
Uh, I'd say "Not interested" and go about my day like I, and countless others, have done since we were born? You know, the way you deflect a social interaction in which you don't want to participate.
Have you never told anyone "No" before? This is an honest question.
saltyt00th t1_iyahrxx wrote
I have and I’ve also been approached by a lot of weirdos in public.
FartSpeller t1_iyatmvm wrote
This is a 20ish year old girl who’s about to graduate college. I wouldn’t expect many bus riders to be intimidated by this person.
nonymiz t1_iyabjr1 wrote
And maybe even dangerous.
GargantuanWitch t1_iyadaif wrote
"Hi, I'm a journalism student, can I ask you a few questions for an assignment? I don't need any personal info."
I highly doubt this sentence would result in violence on a bus. If you truly believe this, do the rest of us a favor and never leave your home.
JustTryingMyBestWPA t1_iyabtmg wrote
The bus that I ride is often pretty noisy. Also, I think that people would be hesitant to give out private information on a bus, to a stranger, with a lot of other people listening. For instance, I wouldn't want to give out my name and information about my commute while I am actually on the bus. I would be afraid that someone would overhear, and thus endanger my safety when I get off of the bus and walk to my car, or follow me home.
tl; dr: I think that this is a terrible idea.
GargantuanWitch t1_iyaclsj wrote
To each their own, but I'd feel more comfortable speaking with a stranger in the company of many other people (on the actual bus) than I would in a one-on-one situation.
Regardless, no one should be asking for nor giving out their personal info, even for an "interview."
saltyt00th t1_iyad44e wrote
I don’t think it was ever implied that OP wanted to meet face to face or ask for identifying info.
GargantuanWitch t1_iyah9vf wrote
If you're not doing something in public, then the other option is...
Help me out, here.
saltyt00th t1_iyahwbk wrote
The… internet.
GargantuanWitch t1_iydn7hi wrote
Yes, the internet. Which is clearly working so well already, based on the fact that almost every reply from OP is that they don't know how to use Reddit.
leadfoot9 t1_iyakeho wrote
This is a good suggestion. Don't listen to the people who want to live in a hole and Tweet society into oblivion.
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