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subscribe‘L’ Archetypes, part III: The Ignorant Traveling Family
posted: 03.18.09 at 12:00 AM
filed under: archetypes
The Ignorant Traveling Family is found riding the ‘L’ during rush hour on weekdays. They are only found on the outbound Blue and Orange lines, en route to O’Hare or Midway airports. They are a traditional nuclear family comprised of a mother, father and two children. The children vary in age, but are usually under the age of 13.
All Ignorant Traveling Families are white and bare very few identifying markings, other than the requisite luggage they carry for their vacation.
The amount of luggage carried by a single family is breathtaking. On average, a family of four will possess approximately 174,614 cubic meters of luggage. Perhaps most remarkable is that each of the countless bags matches perfectly, as if part of an expansive set.
‘L’ Archetypes, part II: Hipsters
posted: 03.04.09 at 09:00 PM
filed under: archetypes
While Hipsters can be found throughout the city of Chicago, the “L” is one of their preferred modes of transportation. They can be found at any time during the day or night, but appear in less frequently during the morning rush hours, as Hipsters seldom hold 9-to-5 jobs. The greatest concentration of Hipsters can be found in trendy neighborhoods, such as Wicker Park or Logan Square, or near colleges, notably the Illinois Institute of Art and Columbia College. They are scarce in the outlying areas of the city, and have never been spotted in the suburbs.
Hipsters take great care to maintain an unkempt, Bohemian appearance. As a result, there are several prominent markings that make them easily identifiable in the wild.
Hipster culture is continually evolving. As a result, these identifying guidelines are current as of press time (March 2009).
Introducing ‘L’ Archetypes: The Bluetooth Guy
posted: 02.10.09 at 11:00 PM
filed under: archetypes
Chicago’s rail system is comprised of over 200 miles of tracks and is a signature feature of the city. The system – known locally as the ‘L’ – serves more than a half million riders each day. As a result, one encounters a diverse cross section of individuals while riding the ‘L’. The Chicago Transit Authority has no target demographic; riders are black and white, rich and poor, young and old.
This is not to suggest that the taxonomy of the riders is not worthwhile endeavor. After thousands of rides on the ‘L’, I am uniquely qualified to classify the specific types of riders. This column is your field manual for riding the ‘L’; when you encounter one of these archetypes, you will know what to expect.
While this column will focus on ‘L’ riders, these archetypes are not confined to the city of Chicago, or to a specific mass transit system. I am certain that members of these specific groups can be found in metropolitan areas across the country.
Without further ado, I proudly present the first entry in this series.
