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Author Topic: A matter of politeness?  (Read 18833 times)
Chris from Nailsea
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« on: May 01, 2009, 21:26:57 »

On my way home this evening, I nearly ran into this huge poster, at the top of the stairs to platform 8 at Bristol Temple Meads:



Now, that's described as a 'polite notice': in what circumstances would FGW (First Great Western) display an 'impolite notice' - or even a 'downright rude notice'?   Huh Roll Eyes
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devon_metro
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« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2009, 21:31:49 »

Nice touch  Cheesy
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2009, 23:12:13 »

"Polite notice" is a tromp l'oeil (paging TerminalJunkie, bet I've spelt that wrong...) that is generally employed on white text on a blue ground in an attempt to fool a very quick reader into thinking it says "Police notice".

Looks like someone in FGW (First Great Western)'s publicity department is getting a bit confused. I'd have thought that poster fell squarely within the remit of a "Special Notice". Presumably an "impolite" notice would advise the reader to "use the f*@$ing stairs behind them and not come complaining to station staff!"  Wink
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Btline
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« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2009, 23:16:20 »

The poster is ruined by the word "customer". It sends out the wrong signal to the PASSENGERS - no matter how "polite" the notice is.
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devon_metro
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« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2009, 23:23:13 »

The poster is ruined by the word "customer". It sends out the wrong signal to the PASSENGERS - no matter how "polite" the notice is.

Hardly the end of the world.
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2009, 23:43:29 »

The poster is ruined by the word "customer". It sends out the wrong signal to the PASSENGERS - no matter how "polite" the notice is.

Hardly the end of the world.

Actually no - there is a difference between customer and passenger

And in the way the customer and passenger perceive themselves vis a vis the service provider
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« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2009, 10:04:37 »

The poster is ruined by the word "customer". It sends out the wrong signal to the PASSENGERS - no matter how "polite" the notice is.

With the amount of money that is required to buy a ticket nowadays, shouldn't that be "stakeholder" ?
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Btline
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« Reply #7 on: May 02, 2009, 16:31:45 »

No - it's not the end of the world.

But it sends out the wrong message. Using the word "customer" shows that the TOC (Train Operating Company) regard their passengers merely as people to line their pockets.

It should not be like this. When LM (London Midland - recent franchise) took over from Central Trains, customers became passengers again, much to the delight of Passenger User Groups.
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #8 on: May 02, 2009, 23:49:21 »

Like it or not, "customer" is the standard term for passenger, adopted by British Rail way back when and now almost universally applied by the TOCs (Train Operating Company) (in much the same way as the word "signaller" has replaced "signalman", and the 24-hour clock has replaced the traditional am/pm). These words are standard terminology on the modern railway system and so cannot be regarded as incorrect just because they're different from the words that were in use 50 years ago. Things change, in many cases for the better. The world moves on.

You're also reading rather too much into the word customer vs passenger. The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) defines customer as "a person who buys goods or services from a shop or business", a passenger as "a traveller in a public or private conveyance (other than the driver, pilot, crew etc.)". Given that a passenger is buying a service (travel) from a business (the train company), the words customer and passenger are both fully applicable and it is incorrect to suggest that either is wrong.
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Mookiemoo
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« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2009, 23:56:40 »

No - it's not the end of the world.

But it sends out the wrong message. Using the word "customer" shows that the TOC (Train Operating Company) regard their passengers merely as people to line their pockets.

It should not be like this. When LM (London Midland - recent franchise) took over from Central Trains, customers became passengers again, much to the delight of Passenger User Groups.


Funnily enough - if im referred to as a customer I would demand a better standard of service than if I was a passenger

Passenger implies I am hitching a ride

Customer implies I am choosing to give you my business and therefore want respect not be treated as fodder.
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Not from Brighton
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« Reply #10 on: May 03, 2009, 00:04:43 »

There used to be (still is?) an "abrupt" bordering on "impolite" notice on the door to the station office at Worcester Foregate street.  It said something like "you can knock, but we're probably too busy to take any notice"!!!
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Tickets Please
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« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2009, 18:18:09 »

No - it's not the end of the world.

But it sends out the wrong message. Using the word "customer" shows that the TOC (Train Operating Company) regard their passengers merely as people to line their pockets.

It should not be like this. When LM (London Midland - recent franchise) took over from Central Trains, customers became passengers again, much to the delight of Passenger User Groups.


Funnily enough - if im referred to as a customer I would demand a better standard of service than if I was a passenger

Passenger implies I am hitching a ride

Customer implies I am choosing to give you my business and therefore want respect not be treated as fodder.

I agree with mookiemoo !!!! yes it does happen.

The word passenger implies no choice and the word customer implies choice.

Whilst many people dont have a choice as to which TOC they travel with or at what time, being treated by train crew as if you DID» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) have the choice tomorrow with whom to travel with might make some realise what is needed to make people feel valued and wanted on board.
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« Reply #12 on: May 03, 2009, 19:56:41 »

I take the view that a customer has bought valid ticket, a passenger has not!  Tongue

I dont think you would be alone in that thought process flamingo
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Phil
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« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2009, 21:00:22 »

I take the view that a customer has bought valid ticket, a passenger has not!  Tongue

Hmmm.

Strictly speaking, my employer normally buys the ticket on which I travel, therefore I consider myself to be a passenger on the network rather than a customer.

I still expect and, I think, deserve, exactly the same treatment however.
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smokey
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« Reply #14 on: May 04, 2009, 09:57:08 »

The poster is ruined by the word "customer". It sends out the wrong signal to the PASSENGERS - no matter how "polite" the notice is.

With the amount of money that is required to buy a ticket nowadays, shouldn't that be "stakeholder" ?

With the cost of Open tickets it's not "sakeholder" but more "VICTIM of a MUGGING"
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