In the eras before smartphones, did people feel awkward on the MRT?

Asking because my phone was on low battery today and it just felt weird to sit there on the MRT trying not to stare too much at other people.

Edit: Thanks for all the responses—this post got way more traction than I expected 😂

It seems like distractions have always been present, just in different forms. People used to read books, newspapers, or whatever they could get their hands on, listen to music, play games, stare out the window, observe their surroundings, or chat with friends. And because it’s more common, just sitting there wouldn’t have felt out of place unlike now when almost everyone is glued to their phones. Life also seemed slower, and public transport less crowded.

A nice reminder to put the phone down and go “touch some grass”. Thanks, everyone!