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Software often has pretty good documentation. But real-world things don't.
And if I don't know exact steps to do something and what to expect, I just can't really push myself to try it the first time. That can be put into an interesting sentence.
"I can't do it because I haven't done it."

Recent example:
I want to take a bus. But I haven't yet used the company that operates these buses. I do have an RFID card with e-wallet that is compatible with this company. That is because they operate as intercity transport in the same region, and same tickets are valid there. Except for one line, the one I am most interested in.
Now comes the problem.
How am I supposed to board? How do I buy the ticket? On other lines, am I supposed to prove I have one?

Before I start with the issues of unknowns, I should mention I so far spent 3 hours trying to find the information. That includes searching for videos which may show what others do in the background. In one similar case I found the answer from a TV news report filmed near a bus stop, and my answer was in the background.

So, boarding. Is it front doors only, or do the doors not matter? I've seen both.
Purchasing the ticket: There was a mention of possible cash payment, buying the ticket "from the driver". I managed to find photos from inside the bus, and to further my confusion, there were 3 terminals. All of them RFID-compatible.
2 are ticket validators next to both doors.
1 is on-board computer (apprears to be TransData Vesna model) along with a ticket printer and RFID terminal, operated by bus driver.
If it was just one of those, I'd know what to do.
I found one video from that special line. The person presented a QR code of valid ticket to the driver before boarding. But I don't use that payment method.
But if it's front doors only, why are there validators in the rear? Or was that just something specific to this line?

Now, I could do the one obvious thing, ask the driver. But I really hate talking to people I don't know.
An alternative I am contemplating is sending an e-mail to the company with my questions. They do have one for customer questions.


This is always a problem if I don't know exact steps for something. And even then I am still really anxious before I actually do it for the fist time.

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[-] RBWells@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

You might want to try getting help if it's getting in the way of your life - I do know off my chest isn't for advice though so I'll just say oof, that sucks! And I hope it eases for you somehow.

this post was submitted on 24 May 2026
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Off My Chest

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