'It's like the punk movement': American who caused uproar with 'Tube chat' badges returns in fresh bid to get Londoners talking

Not giving up: John Dunne
John Dunne
Jamie Micklethwaite15 October 2016

An American who caused uproar by handing out 'Tube Chat' badges on the Underground has returned - with double the number of signs.

John Dunne was villified by Londoners after handing out the badges at a statiuon in east London.

Many Londoners took to social media to lambast him for encouraging people to break the "golden rule" of silence when commuting in the capital.

But, apparently undeterred, Mr Dunne has since returned to Covent Garden station with a team of volunteer helpers, optimistically handing out the badges to bemused passers-by.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Mr Dunne said he would not be giving up until he “changed the culture of London”.

Stop talking: Londoners condemn tube chat scheme
Tube Chat

He said: "It's not just me, I'm not the lone wolf in the station."

One of Mr Dunne’s volunteers, Jonathan Eli Bill, revealed he would never wear a badge or strike up a conversation on the Tube - but was nonetheless happy to help Mr Dunne.

He said: “It’s a bit like the punk movement, it’s got a kind of anarchic sensibility.

“It’s the classic ‘the American comes to London to tell people to talk to people,’ but he’s a loveable character.”

Silence is golden: Commuters value peace on their journeys
Georgie Gillard

Transport for London employee Ben Murray was one of many to take a Tube Chat badge last Friday - and revealed he would be wearing it throughout the Underground network.

He said: “When you’re on the tube it’s everybody pretending that nobody exists while they’re trying to read a paper.

“My father came over here in the 70s from Ireland and he thought everyone on the Tube was crazy.”

Mr Dunne, an NHS worker who now lives in Haringey, was inspired to create Tube Chat by his own upbringing in Colorado, where everyone knows each other's name.

The 42-year-old previously told the Stanrd: "London is so isolated and lonely.

"My wife and I both come from small towns in America and locally we know everyone.

"if you go to the supermarket there you know everyone at least by their face, but as soon as you walk out of the door in London you're isolated."

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