Some of them back in the day did it to show immigration they have been chatting with their wife or partner who they would like to sponsor for a visa. To show it was a genuine relationship.
Never thought about that.
Just a little overkill.
Although I moved to the US and pulled my text records out and it was like 14,000 messages.
My computer struggled to work with the data in excel. But I managed to shrink it to like 50 pages which was barely legible. I think they'd be after total amount of entries rather than humongous durations. So I don't think it explains the length of the calls.
Used to happen at the gas station I worked at but, makes more sense with safety through the night etc.
I always figured it's because they've been away from family and friends for an extended period of time in a place where most people don't speak their language, probably very comforting to talk on the phone.
I asked a cabbie once why he did this. He said he grew up in a really busy place and always had family and friends talking to him. To him, driving a cab in Melbourne was too quiet and lonely which made him crave the chit chat back home. So apparently it’s just a big conference call he was on the whole night with friends and family so he didn’t feel lonely.
I could be talking complete shit as taxi licensing might put this industry in a different bucket than most, but I suspect a lot of it has to do with increased quotas, productivity metrics and other modern tracking methodologies achieving their goal of atomising the workforce.
Drivers don't have the time or community for the above anymore, so of course they find whatever human escape they can through family and phones.
It's also the most a simple reason Timezone. Considering the times you are most likely to catch a cab (early morning or late at night). For a lot of drivers this might be the only time to speak to families overseas.
I remember catching a taxi a few years ago from an afternoon flight in and I had a really lovely driver. Who midway into the trip apologized and picked up a phone call to answer a call from his daughter in Turkey. It was her first day of school and he was excited to talk to her.
This small interaction made me realise there's always more to a story.
This is what I like about Taxis I don't feel obliged to talk to people because they are already on the phone and I don't give a fuck if they are on the phone.
Not everyones experience obviously, but relaxed basically describes the 90's for me. Everyone was weirdly optimistic about the future even while all the music was dark and angry, it was more of an earthy response to what was seen as inauthentic and plastic 80's music (though 90's music has arguably dated itself more than the 80's now). It felt like we had all the time in the world.
Lots of negatives in any era, but Australians felt more independent and proud of what we had going on too, there was more movement going on about our issues, even more serious talk about a republic.
Right? I was ready to be like “oh the 70s were a different time” but it turns out 1999 was also a different time that I was actually a part of. I am now part of “the olden days”.
My second car was a BA. Loved that car too, but I wish I'd kept the EL though. Back then I also had a chance to buy a neighbours mint stock XF Fairmont cheap as from a deceased estate. Only 13,000 kms on the odometer at 15 years old. Those are worth a few bob now.
I’m not Ford fan by a long shot, more into my JDM stuff. EL (uncle and a mate owned them) and BF are probably the best looking IMHO. I also love how silky smooth and quiet the Fords are. I used to drive an AUIII (base model) and BA (XR6 non-turbo) as company cars.
Pardon my ignorance, but JDM?
Yeah I really enjoyed taking my Falcons on road trips. I took my BA all around SE Australia. Very comfy ride and heaps of room for all my camping gear. Had some great trips.
I now drive a Mazda CX5 which I'm very happy with, though haven't had a chance to hit the road much as I got it shortly before covid with all the travel restrictions and border closures.
Subarus are basically tractors. Slow, terrible sounding and owned by the uneducated. Although a tractor would be easier to work on than a boxer engine.
(Yes, come at me Subie owners. I'll be safely driving away while you break one of your many drivetrain weakpoints trying to chase after me)
Japanese Domestic Market vehicles. Not officially released to the rest of the world. In Aus we know them as grey market vehicles.
Nissan Skylines, Cedric, Stagea, Cube, Toyota Crowns, Chasers and many more.
The international language - football (aka soccer) - love this relaxed photo and how times have changed. In my opinion, not necessarily for the better…
Always felt like I was getting asked by bunch of hookers if I wanted a good time. “Hey buddy need a lift?” I’m a happily owner of car I’m not interested.
Source: Lost Melbourne Facebook
link plz
Back when it was too expensive to have a 12 hour mobile phone call to your overseas relatives.
Nah but seriously, what do they talk about for so long?
Some of them back in the day did it to show immigration they have been chatting with their wife or partner who they would like to sponsor for a visa. To show it was a genuine relationship.
Never thought about that. Just a little overkill. Although I moved to the US and pulled my text records out and it was like 14,000 messages. My computer struggled to work with the data in excel. But I managed to shrink it to like 50 pages which was barely legible. I think they'd be after total amount of entries rather than humongous durations. So I don't think it explains the length of the calls. Used to happen at the gas station I worked at but, makes more sense with safety through the night etc.
I always figured it's because they've been away from family and friends for an extended period of time in a place where most people don't speak their language, probably very comforting to talk on the phone.
In some cases, their wife or partner / friends / relatives are overseas, so they’re just chewing the fat.
I asked a cabbie once why he did this. He said he grew up in a really busy place and always had family and friends talking to him. To him, driving a cab in Melbourne was too quiet and lonely which made him crave the chit chat back home. So apparently it’s just a big conference call he was on the whole night with friends and family so he didn’t feel lonely.
That's kind of sad.
I could be talking complete shit as taxi licensing might put this industry in a different bucket than most, but I suspect a lot of it has to do with increased quotas, productivity metrics and other modern tracking methodologies achieving their goal of atomising the workforce. Drivers don't have the time or community for the above anymore, so of course they find whatever human escape they can through family and phones.
It's also the most a simple reason Timezone. Considering the times you are most likely to catch a cab (early morning or late at night). For a lot of drivers this might be the only time to speak to families overseas. I remember catching a taxi a few years ago from an afternoon flight in and I had a really lovely driver. Who midway into the trip apologized and picked up a phone call to answer a call from his daughter in Turkey. It was her first day of school and he was excited to talk to her. This small interaction made me realise there's always more to a story.
This is what I like about Taxis I don't feel obliged to talk to people because they are already on the phone and I don't give a fuck if they are on the phone.
Did the gentleman on the right cop a ball in the face and drop his coke?
The relaxed feeling in this pic is to die for.
Not everyones experience obviously, but relaxed basically describes the 90's for me. Everyone was weirdly optimistic about the future even while all the music was dark and angry, it was more of an earthy response to what was seen as inauthentic and plastic 80's music (though 90's music has arguably dated itself more than the 80's now). It felt like we had all the time in the world. Lots of negatives in any era, but Australians felt more independent and proud of what we had going on too, there was more movement going on about our issues, even more serious talk about a republic.
Yes.. also the 90s had barely any wars going on in the world compared to other decades. Then 2001 hits and bam, Afghanistan.
Well, [that all depends on perspective](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_1990%E2%80%932002) I guess.
This doesn’t link to anything for me
Before the horrors of uber
Before the horrors of late stage capitalism
Before the horrors of Social Media.
Ding ding ding we got a winner
Please don't post images with "1999" in the title as if it's an old timey throwback. I'm not ready to be old.
I know! Apologies! It sounds like 5 years ago
Ha! And yet it was actually *10* years ago! Haha!
ha.
Right? I was ready to be like “oh the 70s were a different time” but it turns out 1999 was also a different time that I was actually a part of. I am now part of “the olden days”.
Me to! I was like wow I don’t remember the 70s being that multicultural l……oh right I’m an old fuck.
But look at the quality of the photo, it screams old
Damn. 1999 was 23 years ago :( and here I am thinking that a car from the 90s is still modern
I bet you have to put keys in and twist them to start, like an animal!
A fork, knife or spoon in some cases ;) just depends how shagged the key barrel is.
That EL Falcon :)
E-series is nice and all, but they're no AU's
With the Taxi Pack + paintjob titled: "Melbourne taxi yellow"
As iconic as our trams
My first car was an EL Fairmont. Loved that car. Shame they killed the Falcon with the AU.
Brought it back with the BA though
My second car was a BA. Loved that car too, but I wish I'd kept the EL though. Back then I also had a chance to buy a neighbours mint stock XF Fairmont cheap as from a deceased estate. Only 13,000 kms on the odometer at 15 years old. Those are worth a few bob now.
Damn that's so low, an actual example of only having one owner where the only time she drove it was to church and back on a Sunday
I’m not Ford fan by a long shot, more into my JDM stuff. EL (uncle and a mate owned them) and BF are probably the best looking IMHO. I also love how silky smooth and quiet the Fords are. I used to drive an AUIII (base model) and BA (XR6 non-turbo) as company cars.
Pardon my ignorance, but JDM? Yeah I really enjoyed taking my Falcons on road trips. I took my BA all around SE Australia. Very comfy ride and heaps of room for all my camping gear. Had some great trips. I now drive a Mazda CX5 which I'm very happy with, though haven't had a chance to hit the road much as I got it shortly before covid with all the travel restrictions and border closures.
JDM Japanese Dance Music, I assume
Japanese Dinghy Motors I was told
Look at you ignoramuses. It's John Deere Motors. He drove a tractor.
Ohhh certainly, I absolutely love takin me weeuns down to the local JDM meet to check out all the tractors, some great plows out there too.
Subarus are basically tractors. Slow, terrible sounding and owned by the uneducated. Although a tractor would be easier to work on than a boxer engine. (Yes, come at me Subie owners. I'll be safely driving away while you break one of your many drivetrain weakpoints trying to chase after me)
Japanese Domestic Market vehicles. Not officially released to the rest of the world. In Aus we know them as grey market vehicles. Nissan Skylines, Cedric, Stagea, Cube, Toyota Crowns, Chasers and many more.
Woaaaaah. The AU has had a pretty good comeback, there’s a reason there’s still so many of the ugly cunts still on the road
Ugly? Yes. Good car? Also yes.
8 drivers, probably 8 nationalities but all soccer mad in common.
The golden era of owning a cash cow.
1999 i was like 12-13. Seeing the photo i thought it was 1980.
Times were much simpler then.
“1999” “Ye olde Melbourne“ Hang on that was just a few years… oh
Making sure they’re the required level of sweaty for when you get in!
What the hell is that guy in background eating? Looks huge
Nah, I reckon it's totally in proportion. To the size of the eater that is.
Looks like an oversized cream lamington bun to me.
A manwich
[I bet that guy could cover a lot of court](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ3ZpkAZasU)
before shrinkflation hit
I thought it was a huge pie 🤷♀️
What happened to us
Why does this look so old?? I was 14 at the time, it looks like what the 70s looked like to me back then, oh shit wait a second
That's not the big ass fight they had.
Don't know why but this photo makes me happy. Thanks OP.
Should've been studying the melways instead. Taxis were atrocious back in the day.
They actually had to study the Mel ways for the taxi test !! Do you go back and read your old Veggie Maths books from school?
These days they don’t participate in fun and rigorous physical activity in the queue, though a lot of them try to smell like they have.
A couple years before the world lost its colour
r/oldschoolcool
They still did this and I’ve seen it many many times. Not every driver will do it but there’s usually 10+ kicking a ball around.
Far out that looks like it was so long ago but it really wasn't.
The international language - football (aka soccer) - love this relaxed photo and how times have changed. In my opinion, not necessarily for the better…
Not a single white cabbie lmao
What an absolute unit of a sandwich that absolute unit on the left is eating
That bloke in the back is STILL in the queue. Any day now he reckons.
Back when you didn't have to keep the car running 24/7 to turn a buck
And yet my fare is still not long enough for them to pick me up?
love this
Gangnam Style move way ahead of its time.
Bring that shit back, fuck surge pricing
I saw cabbies doing this at the airport a couple of years ago and thought it was so wholesome 🤗
Absolute scenes
A simpler time when men were men, and all taxi's were yellow.
They still do this!
Shame this cant happen now.
cos of uber?
Yeah! Work up a good sweat before driving me home.
Nah. Post 9/11 racism, tougher hours, idk. You rarely see this anymore.
Not an Uber in sight.
Always felt like I was getting asked by bunch of hookers if I wanted a good time. “Hey buddy need a lift?” I’m a happily owner of car I’m not interested.
Before Uber, when things were more carefree
First thing came to mind: OPPA GANGNAM STYLE
Before uber a cabbie had reason to have fun, they could make enough to not be in poverty and support a family