I only vaguely recall the famous British TV series, meaning I recall nothing specific about it, but I can remember the vibe of it, which was cheerfully working class in its rough humour, like many other British comedies of the time that filled our TV screens in New Zealand. I’d be willing to bet that most of its humour would not pass muster nowadays.

That vibe was recalled in reading an interesting Substack called Chris Arnade Walks the World :

I will bring you stories and photos from parts of the world few visit, but plenty of people live in. From cities and neighborhoods tourists ignore.

He has a lot of interesting travels, mainly because he focuses on that which is ignored by most visitors. Thus this story of him riding buses in the MidWest, such as the famous Greyhound Bus, from Pittsburgh to Columbus to Indianapolis, always aiming at the centre of these places and the people there.

Given how cheap airline travel is in America, you can imagine how poor are the people who ride these buses. And much like that old British series, the working class of America – even the underclass – have a sense of humour, even about their own circumstances, as with two young Black kids he found in a McDonalds counting their money from selling candy:

Kevin: Yo, so you heard about the YN’s out here. Come to write about them?
Me: No, what are the YN’s?
Kevin: It stands for young niggas. It’s like white ass niggas. They’re acting up, like robbing people, shooting people and everything. It’s all on Instagram. People are wearing ski masks and all that. Yeah, you feel me?
Me: I think I’ll be fine, but thanks!
Kevin: Yo. Seriously. Watch your back. People are crazy these days. I don’t know why, man. Some of them are all about wanting to be hard, some of them want to fit in the group. Some YN’s are good kids with glasses on. You feel me?

Still, I found it sad, even though the run-down characters he encounters are not, and you may find it an interesting insight into modern America:

Me: What’s the American Dream?
Mary: The American dream is, a happy life and a house. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? Stability. Right. Job, home, stability.
Me: You believe in it? Even given your current situation?
Andrew: Oh, yeah. Oh, definitely. It’s all the people that keep it alive. You can’t let society drag it down. It’s just you gotta have the will and the drive and not let circumstances get in your way.