# Need some fun ideas for no-talking train ride **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 14, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782 "2023-02-14T18:07:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Persimmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@Persimmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persimmon)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/1 "2023-02-14T18:07:23Z")
I’m going on a long train ride that has a no-talking policy. My friend is going with me but we won’t be able to physically talk to each other so I was thinking we can just text each other over our smartphones and have some fun. Can you guys recommend some fun ideas we can do over the phone texting? How about like asking each other questions and we can only answer 1,2,3,4,5 (1 meaning I dislike it, 3 meaning neutral, 5 meaning i love it) then texting single words like: cola (they reply with 1 to 5 rating) pizza netflix books traveling shopping etc Or maybe we can play true and false games? I make a statement they have to guess T or F. Or fill in the blank guessing games? I like p \_ \_ \_ \_ (answer: pizza) etc. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/2 "2023-02-14T18:16:09Z")
I’m just coming in to ask what train doesn’t allow talking? Sounds like heaven to me! I could actually get some reading done without getting bugged every couple minutes 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/3 "2023-02-14T21:04:38Z")
Yes, I’d read a book! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/4 "2023-02-14T21:13:51Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I’m just coming in to ask what train doesn’t allow talking? Sounds like heaven to me! I could actually get some reading done without getting bugged every couple minutes 🙂 I’ve seen commuter trains with “quiet cars”. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/5 "2023-02-14T21:25:29Z")
I’d text my friend the names of 10 celebrities and then I’d have to guess which one she was pantomiming. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/6 "2023-02-14T21:29:25Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’ve seen commuter trains with “quiet cars”. Same here, on Metra (the Chicago-area commuter train service); Amtrak apparently has them on some routes, as well, particularly in the Northeast Corridor. Though, it seems that quiet/hushed conversations are allowed on those, whereas the OP makes it sound like talking is completely forbidden on that train (wherever it is). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/7 "2023-02-14T23:39:02Z")
I’d go with spit-balls. maybe don’t use actual spit ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/8 "2023-02-15T23:53:22Z")
I’d play cards. (That’s assuming we wanted to do something involving us interacting; otherwise I’d suggest we bring something to read.) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/9 "2023-02-15T23:55:37Z")
Can you play cards without talking? And what fun is in a silent card game? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/10 "2023-02-16T00:23:59Z")
1. Depends on the card game and 2) I don’t see why it wouldn’t be fun. Is your enjoyment in a card game all about what you say while playing it? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/11 "2023-02-16T00:39:25Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Is your enjoyment in a card game all about what you say while playing it? I have to say, there is good fun in the banter (if both of you are up to that sort of “good fun.” I know not everybody likes this.) But a game of cribbage can be pretty gentlemanly and enjoyable without anything being spoken. That said, for me cards are an excuse for conversation with some playful ribbing thrown in. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/12 "2023-02-16T01:07:25Z")
I would read as well. I hope the OP comes back and explains this trip. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/13 "2023-02-16T01:48:46Z")
Sounds like a great time to learn some sign language (or at least some finger spelling) and get in some practice. My sister and I learned finger spelling as children for use in situations when we were told we had to be quiet. We weren’t very good at it, but it kept us amused. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/14 "2023-02-16T02:22:42Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Sounds like a great time to learn some sign language (or at least some finger spelling) and get in some practice. Too bad several of you are not decent sign interpreters. You could set it up ahead of time where you get into a contrived robust debate and argument using sign language, just to add some entertainment for everyone aboard. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/15 "2023-02-16T03:42:48Z")
As I have learned in the chess etiquette thread, chess is not a trash talking game (my family would disagree). Either take up chess or as I suggested in the first reply to the thread, read. I’d read. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/16 "2023-02-23T14:58:13Z")
In the UK the quiet carriage rule is mainly just no mobile phone calls or music without headphones. I’d suggest Words With Friends as a game to play to pass the time. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/17 "2023-10-25T13:11:02Z")
I’m really not into talking on long trips anyway (cars, trains or planes), so this wouldn’t trouble me in the slightest. I’d take a good book, headphones, download some good podcasts and maybe watch a film on my laptop. Bliss. Yes, I would also ignore my wife, she wouldn’t mind as she likes doing the same as me. IME experience, quite carriages mean ‘This is NOT the place to host your important pitch over Zoom’. It amazes me the personal audio space some people are happy to occupy in a train carriage. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-fun-ideas-for-no-talking-train-ride/979782/18 "2023-10-25T22:42:42Z")
Wow, I have no recollection of having participated in this thread, but cribbage isn’t a great example as there’s constant calling out your points. I suppose it can be done in silence, but it’s a bit awkward. What was I thinking back then? The idea of a completely silent train car sounds absolutely impossible for me.