If you want to get to know the public opinion, “the people’s thinking”, then you should take a random taxi. I stress: a random. Because if you just want to get from point A to point B, it is easier and more convenient to order an online taxi, where drivers, do not say anything else, besides “hello” and “goodbye”, they are shaved, mostly young, they don’t smoke, keep the car clean, and do not play rabis music in the car. That’s why I think that “random” taxis will eventually give way to “organized” taxi drivers: this is a competition, and wins the one who offers a better service.
But if you are “looking for adventures” (as it is known to be an integral part of the journalist’s profession), then, of course, you should talk to “classic” drivers. Let me tell you my last “adventure”. I took such a “private” taxi and told the driver, “take me to the Northern Avenue”. The driver: “Such a place you have chosen to go”. “What’s wrong?”, I asked. “I hate that place”, the driver explained. I said, “Well, it’s not that I’m in love with that place”. “My family has been living in Yerevan for generations”, he continued, “there is no Yerevan left”. We drove several dozen meters more. “Hey man, a thousand apologies, but I won’t drive further, please get out here. When they say, “Northern Avenue”, I recall Karabakh people. I’m sorry”. Of course, I forgave and got out.
I’m not going to criticize the driver, nor especially to ridicule him. I want to understand the peculiarities of mass psychology with you. It is clear that it is irrational: the logical, causal chain is replaced by an emotional, “random” sequence: Northern Avenue-the rich-Karabakh people. It is clear that there is no ground for “local racism”: People born in this part of the Armenian land or their descendants (including me) do not have any general characteristics, neither positive, nor negative. The general hatred towards rich people also has no logical explanation: there are wonderful people and scoundrels among both the rich and the poor. Personally, I do not like the architecture of the avenue and, moreover, that avenue buildings were built by the gross violation of the rights of the residents living there. However, whether we like it or not, today Northern Avenue is one of the favourite places for both Yerevan residents and guests.
Mass psychology is not only irrational but also deprived of any manifestation of broad-mindedness. Approximately like this: “If I do not like this part of Yerevan, I will not drive there”.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
