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Your Brain and the Train: Robert Giebels at TEDxBreda

1,420 views · Published 3 October 2012 · 7:50 · Indexed 3 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2012 · Science & Technology

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Robert Giebels recounts the endless hours spent in trains daily by half a million Dutch people commuting. Should they take a car instead, they would extend their homes. A train however, is an extension of the work place. As a result, your working day starts the second you decide to take the train. That's also the moment when you have to turn on your brain and take infinite decisions. How am I going to be at the station in time? Where should I position myself on the platform? What are my priorities in finding a seat in the train? Should I sit in the wrong direction next to that lady practicing castanets? Or shall I pick a seat facing my destination but next to a fat guy wearing an enormous squeaking leather jacket? Eventually, when you finally sit down, you cannot afford to turn off your brain. You are now part of a small and ever changing commuting community. You have to figure out if they know about the untold rules and etiquette. But which one of your fellow travelers is new to this craft and which one is experienced? And how do you, as daily commuter, handle the novices? Commuting by train requires a lot from your brain. If you're not prepared, you will need a whole working day to recover from your trip to the office, just before it's time to go back home. But, don't despair. There is a simple way to avoid the train taking hold of your brain.

Regarding Robert Giebels
Robert Giebels (45) is a journalist from the Dutch daily 'de Volkskrant', specialized in political and financial affairs. For almost five years he was Southeast Asia-correspondent for TV and printed media. He also worked in advertising and spent a brief period with the Dutch secret service, mostly out of curiosity. Later on, in an attempt to somehow make use of the five hours he was spending in trains daily, Robert wrote a book subtitled 'breathtaking adventures of a train commuter'. His book, 'Our apologies for the inconvenience caused', is a hilarious account of what half a million people in the Netherlands do thoughtlessly for months of their lives.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

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