Dear Editor,
Where the community of Linden-Region 10 is concerned, it is my opinion that we have more than our fair share of uncouth, banal and boorish taxi drivers. Harsh as this may sound, it is not an inaccurate description; just move around and see, talk with commuters, take a poll and you will agree with me. This sad conclusion was arrived at over time from careful and critical observation.
No doubt there are a few exceptions which I have to acknowledge disciplined and well-mannered drivers who are known to the public and of whom the public speak well.
Like the mini-bus culture that has demeaned our society and created a negative impact in a number of ways, many taxi drivers too have gone along this same path. The rapid rise of this negative behaviour that has become the norm seemed to happen almost overnight, like Jack and the Bean Stalk, with 80% of these drivers being young men aged 20-35 with no respect for God or man. The taxi service accounts for substantial employment, so not only is it ubiquitous but also at times it seems to be bursting at the seams, and there is heavy competition. But is this a legitimate reason for young men to conduct themselves in such an uncaring manner?
Commuters, both young and old complain about what they endure daily: coarse language; lewd stories; vulgar jokes loaded with expletives; and dirty blaring music no matter who is being transported. This is not to mention the rude responses to someone making a request which they aren’t “up to”. Some would say in the most disrespectful manner: “This is me charr (car) you can’t tell me wha fuh do,” even though you are paying for the service. If you insist on admonishing them, they become nastily loud and abusive.
And I certainly would be remiss if I failed to mention how unprincipled and indiscreet some can be; basic manners and respect are not fused into their character. But those things don’t bother them; they won’t lose any sleep about that, since their ugly mannerisms make them feel large and on top of the world.
Is this the type of service we want to give to tourists and which we expect them to accept? You call for a taxi and no matter what the occasion or destination wedding, church, concert, cocktails, government function, conference, funeral they care not a toss.
They dress in any old way pants down to their derrière, underpants puffing over, belt swinging most unkempt, and of course complementing this is their reckless manner of driving. Sometimes they converse on the cell-phone with your life in their charge, and except for this one traffic infringement there is nothing the police can do about all the other undesirable things mentioned above.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
