This badge to get Londoners chatting on the tube has gone down like a turd in a punch bowl

Poke Staff. Updated September 29th, 2016

This morning some commuters on the underground were handed “Tube Chat” badges, in an attempt to get Londoners to talk to strangers (or to make their trip to work even more uncomfortable).

(via)

TFL quickly said it was nothing to do with them, and clearly the idea struck horror in most people’s hearts – but thankfully some great alternatives were suggested.

I think these badges could really catch on. #tube_chat pic.twitter.com/QE1tTfCJIv

— The Kwisatz Hackenbush (@DocHackenbush) September 29, 2016

@thepoke #tube_chat_badges pic.twitter.com/acHNtxcEEH

— 【ツ】Mark (@vbloke) September 29, 2016

TFL releases new badges for commuters to wear pic.twitter.com/BuqJu6Kc3P

— TechnicallyRon (On all the platforms) (@TechnicallyRon) September 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/corabauer/status/781431392571944960

https://twitter.com/Patriotic_Paul/status/781286100337909760

#tube_chat my thoughts exactly pic.twitter.com/12D0MFwkDS

— Chris (@ThisIsChrisx) September 29, 2016

https://twitter.com/TC_Cornesto/status/781415688518963205

https://twitter.com/ClaraUnravelled/status/781464321922596864

@ThePoke Easily find people with common interests. pic.twitter.com/1Sga1TMJuu

— Graham Tope (@monkey_wrangler) September 29, 2016

Even the hashtag #tube_chat came under criticism.

My only opinion on #tube_chat pic.twitter.com/NR4s2VS3UI

— Mared Jones (@ffrinj) September 29, 2016

But it wasn’t all bad, some people were in favour of the idea.

I'm all for tube chat badges. Makes identifying knobs easier

— LVT Stan account 🏗🚊🚴‍♂️🔰🇺🇦🇦🇲🇹🇼 (@blueliberal1) September 29, 2016