As is well known, nothing is as difficult to refute as a prejudice. A trip on the S-Bahn from Ebersberg to Munich on a weekend in September shows that this is sometimes easier than you think. It’s lunchtime and there’s not much going on in the wagons. Every now and then someone gets on, the rows are rather sparsely occupied. Suddenly, a song sounds at a frightening volume, heartache wrapped in violin strumming. The song runs ten seconds, twenty, half a minute. So it can’t be a ringtone. It doesn’t take long before another song replaces the fiddles. This time, hard bass thumps through the rows of seats, and to the great horror of some of the passengers, the darkest ghetto rap begins. “Nobody tells me what to drug. Nobody tells me what to druuuug.”
But a little curious, you turn around carefully – and stop. Of course, one had expected some youngsters playing the latest songs to themselves. Instead, an elderly couple in traditional costumes is sitting just a few seats away. Definitely in his mid to late seventies. Unmoved, the man holds his cell phone close to his eyes and watches a video with interest. His wife is also on YouTube and hands him her smartphone after the night-black drug rap has passed. “It has to be aa moi oschaung,” she says, adjusting the ribbon on his hat. “That’s really good.” The man makes a noise of agreement and also lets the next video play.
Between Eglharting and Marienplatz, the two must have shared and watched around five videos. One thing, however, it’s about the Queen, skip the two traditional costumers. “Naaa, from there Elizabeth raised I scho ois gseng!” Says the woman. Just before they get off, the two adjust their hats and dirndl aprons, look around to see if they have forgotten anything, and then leave the train with their heads held high.
Smiling fellow travelers remain behind. And the urgent question: Do you have to know these two influencers? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to sign up for this Instagram after all. Or tweet again. News pressure or FOMO, if there’s no excuse for cultural novelty anymore, it’s age.