What’s your name cabbie?
Well tonight was nothing to write home about. In fact it was one of the quietest Monday nights I’ve had in ages. The odd thing was it seemed every fare wanted to know my name and shake my hand.
Whats odd about that ?? Well most people are content to call me driver or cabbie and the english backpackers especially the women will call me TD or Mr TD which I actually quite like. The pommy guys usually stick with ‘Drive’ as in “How’s your night Drive?” seems people will shorten anything even the word driver. Rarely though do people ask my name and to be honest strange as it may sound I’m happier sticking to Driver, cabbie or Mr TD. The ones that ask for the most part are usually the ones I’m barely tolerating and can’t wait to get to their destination so I can be rid of them and to make matters worse they then offer the obligatory hand to shake which looks like it last got washed about the time Adam was a boy.
In fact to deal with this problem and the fact taxis don’t have the luxury of a bathroom with soap and hot running water I’ve started carrying a small bottle of those antibacterial hand gels. Their a total godsend as you only use a tiny drop and thats enough to do both hands and it drys instantly leaving your hands germ if not dirt free.
September 27, 2007 at 06:04
B. I get the opposite.. I get the cabbies wanting to know MY name.. It’s not enough that I play russian roulette and give out my address to some that are not so flash.. you know.. like the cabbie that told me that the best women to marry were those from the third world because they followed their men around and had no rights.. but his wife didn’t like to have the light on when they had sex.. and did I like to have the light on when I had sex..? Australian girls do apparently.. ewww..
I so understand the anti-bacterial wash.. but.. I am wondering.. if maybe you are becoming a little obsessive compulsive in your ways..?? x k
September 29, 2007 at 03:37
I know it sounds obsessive compulsive but really it isn’t. OC (obsessive compulsive) would be shaking their hand holding my handkerchief in my hand at the same time and then using the gel before they even got out of the cab. In reality given the situation at the time ie: where I’m parked or how busy it is etc I may do a fare or 2 before getting the chance to grab the gell.
I get the creepy cabbie thing in reverse. I might want to give a lady a compliment on her dress/looks but given that I know her address and how some people view cabbies most often I don’t in case it isn’t taken in the manner I’m giving it.
February 21, 2008 at 01:20
Never put your real name on your DPI ID card if you drive nights. It’s just a pain in the arse as pissed fools try and make up some version of your name that might irritate you. Like grade 4 all over again. Use a “stage name”. Like a prostitute, you don’t wanna be talking to this scum when you’re off work, so you work under something else.
February 21, 2008 at 01:30
Never had a problem to be honest. Although I can think of a situation in reverse to your comment here.
I know a guy who everyone calls Tiny he’s 6′ 8″ and at best 160kg so he put Tiny on his ID card. Every Tom, Dick and Harry came up with a funny, stupid or annoying twist on the name 1 being Tiny Pinder of basketball fame. He got so jack of it he now uses his real name and they leave him alone.
February 21, 2008 at 05:00
Course, it depends on what your name is. You’re best off with something pretty anonymous.