The man was standing right next to me while I was riding the subway train and I was amazed that I felt very comfortable although the distance between us was barely a foot. I wonder how other people on a subway feel about being that close to strangers. I think it should affect us the riders. If I was a psychologist I would like to write the paper called something like "public transportation and it's influence on the society". I am sure that people who drive cars all the time and don't experience this forced closeness, feel differently.