Pedestrian Irritations.

[flip-flop]

The next time somebody stops in the middle of a pavement without any warning or a backward glance, should I just carry on walking and send them flying?

This is, of course, slightly tongue in cheek - but this absolutely drives me to distraction.

In fact, I am amazed at the number of people who have absolutely no awareness of other people.

[new_squizza]

sadly, i think this is just the way the world is going now - more and more people seem to have a 'i'm fine - sod everyone else' mentality.

you see it on the roads (i need to get where i'm going, so i don't mind pushing in), in supermarkets (as long as i can get to the shelf i want, i don't mind blocking the aisle for everyone else) and on the streets as you describe.

almost every day i'm amazed at this kind of behaviour and the sheer lack of consideration of some people.

god, i'm sounding like a grumpy old man and i'm not even 30 yet!

[joko]

i suppose it is the same as driving, if you cannot stop yourself in time, when faced with a sudden stop, then you are too close

[flip-flop]

joko - are you suggesting pedestrians should be fitted with brake lights?

[joko]

no, bumpers, lol

i take your point, it is annoying, but so is being rear ended whilst taking a leisurely stroll, and you simply stop to look in a shop window, because someone is striding along or walking too close to you... not everyone is rushing to get somewhere, some people are just out and about.... works both ways

[joko]

and given that you can see them in front of you, but they can't see you, and it is you that bumps into them, i rather think the person behind is the one at fault...and the reason you don't see them in time is because you yourself are looking everywhere but in front of you...mmm?

[Quizmonster]

Worse than the people who just stop - though they are bad enough - are the ones coming towards you on the outside of the pavement whilst you are walking close to the walls/shop windows/doorways in the opposite direction. In other words, you can both see each other easily.
Suddenly, when about two feet from you, they spot the shop-door they are looking for and - rather than pausing for a second to let you trundle on your way - they dive across six inches in front of you to get into it. Is anyone really in that much of a hurry?
It's all part of the problem that society nowadays consists largely of "oxen-folk" to whom others and their needs mean nothing.

[saxy_jag]

What gets me is filthy way they look at you when it happens, as though you deliberately wanted to land in a heap on top of them on the pavement.

I've shoved into so many people who've done this that these days I do like I'm driving and check behind me before I stop dead. If I do ever do it without checking, then I will usually apologise (unless it's the old biddy who just came out of a shop and rammed my ankles with her little shopper on wheels).

Had a surprise in the local shop yesterday. I stepped back from the counter for something and almost trod on the toes of the teenaged girl behind me. I apologised and she said, "oh, it's OK, no harm done". How refreshing.

[naomi24]

I find myself apologising whether it's my fault or not - and I really wish I could stop it because it usually produces an icy stare from the real culprit. I suppose manners, good or bad, are learnt in childhood, and they stick with you forever!

[new_squizza]

i find some of the worst ones are the people who are incapable of pointing their feet and their eyes in the same direction...

how hard is it to look where you're going?!?

[derekpara]

A right bunch of Victor Meldrews !

[teddybon]

I have found that people with I Pods are often oblivious to people/cars etc. Have you seen the baby in the front facing buggy with mum on mobile or headphones? I've had to avoid her in most towns.