Taxi etiquette

Gordon

I dont use taxis that often, I try not to as it is a drain on my wallet (or my small gay handbag). But when I do I don't usually converse with my taxi driving brethren. To be honest - I like looking out of the window and having a nice quiet taxi ride. Like it was my car, I like to just quietly look out of the window and experience the world as if it was a cinematic experience.

Anyway, I don't feel bad for remaining speechless to the taxi driver but I wonder if it makes the taxi driver uneasy. Do you think it is unsociable for me to not speak to the taxidriver that much when in his cab?

Do you remain silent or do you chat away for the craic?

rymus

as with anything I'm sure it depends on the person you get. Some taxi drivers might not want to talk to you, they might not want you to talk to them and might enjoy taking your money without having to make idle chit-chat. A good sign that your taxi driver doesnt want to talk to you is if the radio is on (if theyre listening to a match or something).

Last few times I've gotten a cab I've made varied smalltalk with the driver, normally revolving around the subjects of the weather, the crowds in town, etc. As in pubs, I dont think its wise to bring up politics or religion as your driver could have radical right-wing views on either and an interesting argument could ensue.

When drivers pick up a bunch of drunk lads I'm sure (or at least I hope) they enjoy the witty drunken banter about "da hotties" and you might even get away with a few naughty jokes or the odd limerick

G'wan the taxi drivers!

BuffyBot

Originally posted by Gordon
Do you remain silent or do you chat away for the craic?

I used get a lot of taxi's to my place of work. TBH I normally stayed quiet, unless the specifically made the effort to talk to me.

In fairness - I'd said all the usual smalltalk so many times before I just no longer felt like doing it over and over! As a counter, I'm sure they must get sick of the same smalltalk too and might just enjoy the peace.

hedgetrimmer

When I was in Aus, they had this cool poster in cabs, which was what you should expect from your driver, and what your driver should expect from you. The general rule of thumb was don't talk to the driver unless he initiates contact. Similar to talking to bus drivers, I guess.

I guess it's really up to you how you experience your cab ride - don't talk if you don't want to. I mean, you're never going to see this man/ woman again, and I doubt if she/he's out to seek an impression of you. Cab drivers provide a service, and you should be allowed that service as you want it.

Personally, I enjoy the banter with cab drivers

Frank Grimes

I generally say nothing until they start talking, usually then I keep it to conversations about the weather and the luas.
I remember once talking to one and I think the guy had been watching Taxi Driver far too much, so I keep to myself as much as I can.

hedgetrimmer

<opens taxi war-wound box>

The scariest thing I have ever seen in a cab was from a driver who had allegedly been attacked more than a few times (which, fair enough, it believable) but had actually taken to carrying a *pistol* in his cab.

Now, thankfully, it was at the end of the ride (and the conversation about the trials of being a cab driver), so I could make a hasty exit...scary stuff though

And no, I was young then, and didn't have the presence of mind to take his number

Neil3030

Slightly off topic but at an Ed Byrne show he was talking about taxi drivers and a very interesting conversation he had had with one recently.

Basically there is a new trend for unacompanied females, when entering a taxi, to ring a friend of theirs and give them the time and the taxi number etc, for security reasons, as there has been incidents where attacks and rapes have beein carried out by taxi drivers. And it is a good idea.

But anyhoo, this taxi driver wanted to voice his opinion on the matter and was more than willing to let it off his chest.

"Jayziz, these fookin young ones ringin their mates when they're gettin into the car "YEAH, ITS HALF 4 AND IM GOING HOME AND IM IN CAB #BLAH BLAH" Its a load a bollix

"Sure you wouldn't rape half of them!!!"

Well i'm sure HALF the women of Dublin can sleep soundly tonight, knowing they don't quaify for the league of taxi driver rapees.



But on the topic of conversations with drivers, do if you want to, don't if you don't. Do you think they give a **** or feel remurse for not talking to you?

damnyanks

When they start talking I start.....

and boy do I start, I love getting into a taxi drunk and bull****ting for 40 minutes to them, dear god I come out with some major crap half the time. I start making up law's, government policys, insider trading tips and so on.

fisty

me too
i like talking ****e to taxi men when im ****faced
and they love it too.
anyone who says different is a damn liar!

Kolodny

I don't usually bother talking to the driver. It seems to be 50:50 whether you'll get a driver who'll say nothing the whole journey or one who'll just start waffling from the moment you get in. I wouldn't talk to them unless they are really determined to start a conversation and they have something interesting to say. Otherwise if I get a chatty driver and I'm too tired/drunk/uncomfortable to speak to them I just pretend to be really busy texting people, I have even pretended to be dozing off to avoid talking.

Gordon

Pretended to be dozing off! Heh, quite a few of my ex-girlfriends did that, or so they told me! (snigger)

Well I got a taxi today at 7 in the morning (yawn) and had a good book to read but the guy kept on talking to me so I couldn't even start a sentence without
"so where are you from?"
"ah it sure is dark indeed"
"so, what do you do then?"
"ah yes, christmas holidays"

yawn yawn!!
Ach it was alright

Tails

If you dont talk i doubt theyll be offened, its just a job. But with any situation if somebody talks to you its manners to talk back.

damnyanks

Pffft whats wrong with ya you backwards crack pots. Fine if you have a book read away, pretending to be asleep or texting ?

Like whats wrong with ya its only feckin talk.

You don't have to make sense. If they wanna talk and you don't give him a good reason, come out with some screwed up story of how you killed a raging bull with your willy or something

b3t4

First thing i do when i get into a taxi, when in a good mood or drunk, is to give the taxi driver a cheerful hello.

most start talking away to me after that. Although most taxi drivers in limerick are quiet scary and grunt and remain quiet. Taxi drivers are much nicer in Cork!!:)

I find that the chattier i am to them the more likely they are to charge me less. Anyone else find this?? Once paid only £10 for a £20 journey was well chuffed with that.

Ok so im a girl and it helps that most tax drivers are fellas (no extra favors are given, so dont go thinking anything of the sort!!!):P

Gordon

Originally posted by damnyanks
You don't have to make sense. If they wanna talk and you don't give him a good reason, come out with some screwed up story of how you killed a raging bull with your willy or something

That story is meant to be private ffs!

Ach, I was just curious what other people thought to be honest.
I do find idle chat to be a drain on my energy, I talk little and when I talk I talk quietly so to have to speak up is something I don't enjoy.

Thanks for the replies anyway

Cr8or

my dads a taxi driver ... ill just quote him ...

I get so many people in the taxi in one night when somone dosent talk to you its kind a bonus ... worst thing is people asking the same questions over and over ... "is it busy out" , "have you been out long" ect ...

Its all part of the job i guess.

TomTom

I think taxi drivers in limerick are mental. One night when comming home we turned on to a roundabout and there was a taxi reversing off it after turning onto it the wrong direction. The next working when leaving the city. We were at traffic lights and the signs pointed that you could not turn left. The taxi in front of us turned left, the cars facing him screeched to a halt and he held up all the traffic while he turned.

amp

I always end up talking to the taxi driver. Usually start off with the classic "Are ye busy?" followed up by a "Are ye on till late?" and from there I've had some of the most bizzare conversations of my life.

Borzoi

Originally posted by damnyanks
When they start talking I start.....

and boy do I start, I love getting into a taxi drunk and bull****ting for 40 minutes to them, dear god I come out with some major crap half the time. I start making up law's, government policys, insider trading tips and so on.

I always wondered where Taximen got their 'facts', now I know.:D

Personally I'll wait for the driver to start a conversation, but I'll generally have a good ol' banter

tony 2 tone

It depends,one taxi driver went through his cd collection when he heard I liked Neil Young to find some to throw on..............
I got one last week he was really quite, and i was gonna say some thing general, how was yer Christmas, whatever, except me mate kept on hitting me in the leg............didn't notice until I got out that it was the Monk driving............
Although that's probably the safest taxi in Ireland......

Morn

I always feel rude when I don't talk to them but sometimes I just like to chill quietly...

ballooba

A definite conversation stimulator is to ask how one would go about getting a taxi licence and then announce that you only want it so that you can use the bus lane on the stillorgan dual carriageway.

Most times they will throw you out and you get home for free. Might turn nasty if a 'The Monk' type is driving.

Gordon

Heh, I use that topic quite a bit, oooh the hotbed of debate it embues.

In retrospect I actually tip more if the guy respects my want for talking or not talking.

elexes

every time im in dublin galway cork limerick ive already decided whatever the he asks ive to lie through my teeth yes it make the journey mutch better in the long run . as ppl who get into the taxi's with me in the past will hanve known . its like hitching a lift . tis fun

taxidriverso what you up for ?
mewell dont tell anyone but im up for national security they have a slight problom with the water system in clare and they have asked me to come up and try and help lower the level of xaloride

TomTom

I rarley use taxies, I'll walk or hitch a life. Hitching is great fun. Once on my way home from carlow, i decided I'd wear my offaly jersey and bring along a hurl. I got a lift in about 5 min by some english dude who was fasinated by hurling. I fed him a load of crap about me being offalys highes points scorer for the last 3 years in a row. Told him I got nominated for a couple of all stars. He thought I was fantastic. Makes the trip go very fast.

Trojan

I always talk to the drivers if I'm on my own, and about 80% of the time when I'm with someone else. Always go in the front when I'm on my own too, except if it's one of those 7 seater jobs.

Aside: a french taxi driver (in Dublin) recently gave his number and told me he wanted to talk to me again sometime - he rarely gets people he can talk to in his cab... his english was crap, but I've half-decent french...

No, I haven't called him, don't want my gf to get jealous

Originally posted by tony 2 tone
didn't notice until I got out that it was the Monk driving............
Although that's probably the safest taxi in Ireland......

Three people I know of, 2 girls and a guy, got his cab home one time, they were all pretty pissed and didn't have a clue who it was. The girls were chatting him up and reading his name off the ID page, said it was a lovely name. Suddenly the guy realised who it was... glad it wasn't me

Anyways they got home grand, but I'd say it was interesting.

Al.

WhiteWashMan

i dont engage in conversation and i dont give them any tips either.

its not because im a bad man, its just i get bored easily of taxi drivers constant whinging about everything.
and i will never give them a tip after the complete balls up over taxi rates over christmas and new years eve for the millenium.

besides, their fares are too high anyway.

Typedef

Originally posted by WhiteWashMan
i dont engage in conversation and i dont give them any tips either.

I speak when spoken to... if the conversation sucks, I draw it to a close.

I don't tip taxi drivers either... because cabs cost too much bloody money as it is and cabbies are notorious for ripping you off.

That said I do tip girles in restaurants etc, standard 13%.

leeroybrown

Normally I say a few bits and pieces. Some of them are grand to talk to anf you might have a grand conversation with them.

The most unusual taxi trip I took consisted of a few friends an I who were in a cab when the taxi driver started farting and blaming us. (It was definitely him and it smelled like something had crawled out of his ass and died)

Sometimes I find that being nice to Hackney drivers (in Galway) will result in a reasonable charge.

Woden

i was going for a taxi on fri night and my mate rang just as i was going to the rank (early so no problem getting one) got into the front and just said where i wanted to go as you do, i was chatting to my mate for most of the journey (was a short trip) and have to say for some reason i felt terrible rude felt i should have apologised when i got off the phone or something, as regards to talking i'm one of those that usually asks "how long your been" out and "is it busy" see how it goes from there now and again you really hit it off with a driver and you can waffle for ages, sometimes i haven't a clue what to say to them othertimes i just sit there, i suppose its up to the individual