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Do you ever walk down a narrow sidewalk or passage way and notice that at the rate you are going you are about to pass up someone? But you also notice that at your current rate you will be passing them up so slowly that for about 5-10 seconds you'll theoretically be able to look at them and talk to them as they are pretty much right next to you? It will seem that you will be walking RIGHT NEXT TO THEM! And then you look around and notice that NO ONE else is around both of you so it makes this "stranger in the elevator" situation even more weird because it's just you and them?

So then you decide to walk REALLY fast so that your close-to-parallel walking experience with that stranger is minimized? Or you start running and think to yourself "fuck this I'm just going to pretend I'm jogging until I get around the corner."? Or you just cross the street not caring whether or not it's jay-walking just to avoid this situation altogether???

Happens to me ALL THE FUCKING TIME!

Ha! This happened to me the other day. The other person and I were walking side by side for a few yards. I maintained my pace. The other person slowed down a little and eventually dropped back.

I just give them dirty looks cos they're so slow, and they slow down.

I'm a fast walker... very. I come across this situation very very rarely. When I do find myself walking just behind a person who's not too slow I can overtake him in seconds and not too fast I can let him just hurry on, it's ANNOYING. Same with a similar situation in which I find myself walking behind someone annoyingly slow in a narrow space.

I usually have to consciously slow myself down so I don't end up walking with him/her. They would notice me before long, given that I wasn't there a few seconds earlier. And I'd be doing this slightly sinister stop-and-go shuffling to maintain distance behind them. Before long, they would suddenly find an excuse to stop or slow down or give way. Perhaps afraid that I'm a mugger, a thief, or a stalker (I don't look like one do I? ). Whatever, it works.

I don't suppose the OP is British by any chance? LOL! Sounds like a social dilemma that only they could have.

In my case, depends on many variables, like the place, the time of day, their appearance, etc. I might nod to them & smile, I might ignore them. I might say "Hi" or "How's it going?" Gawd knows I'm not shy.

My only concern would be not being too forward under the circumstances, an intrusion on their personal space. But the circumstances are the key. As I said, I could have many responses, none of them dictated by any reticence on my part. My only concern would be their feelings, not mine.

I really don't like it when people walk in barricades 2- or 3-people across. Cities are crowded. People walk in large cities as their primary means of transportation. In general, I think people should be a little bit more considerate. When I see "slow-walkers" in rows, I often think that their mannerisms on the sidewalk are a glimpse into their general lack of concern for people other than themselves.

I've never really thought of it. When I have passed someone, I usually smile. I have had to say "excuse me" before.. but never felt awkward or anything close.

I just punch slow people in the back of the head

There are a few options:

1) Slow down your pace, so a greater distance forms between the two of you.

2) Step into the road carefully, pass the other person, and go back on to the sidewalk.

3) If they seem normal, you could just say "excuse me" and pass. No big deal.

stop walking. start jogging.

Even worse, though, is when you are speeding up to pass someone and they speed up too and you are having a race... awkward. Or when you accidentally get stuck in a group and you can't get past any of them and the ones lagging surround you from behind.
Or when women grab their purses when they see you speeding up and you want to explain that you just want to pass them and not rob them but that would make you look like even more of a psycho so you just slow down again.

This morning it was raining, and I was rushing through the skyway, (Minneapolis has a series of hamster tunnels that run between the skyscrapers) late for work. Unfortunately , the people who work at Target Headquarters are notorious for traveling in slow packs, wearing pencil skirts and teetering on high heels and they are impossible to pass. And they see you trying to pass but they hold out their starbucks cups or giant purses out to the side so you can't ever pass. And if you can get beyond one, there are hundreds more. And so, reluctantly, I walk their slow pace thinking bad thoughts about them and how much everyone probably hates them and I feel better about myself.

The worst situation is if it's a lone girl who's ahead of you. They either start speeding up and then you can't pass them or they slow way down and clutch themselves tight. I'm not a very intimidating person, so I don't really get it. Don't women get that not everyman is out to take advantage of them.

If people who walk faster than you are crazy, and people who walk slower than you are dumb, then what are people who walk at the same pace as you?

Chaaxwvn saidIf people who walk faster than you are crazy, and people who walk slower than you are dumb, then what are people who walk at the same pace as you?

Somewhere between crazy and dumb I suppose.

LOL, well I say hi (seeing's how we're going to keep each other company for a while). Bill on the other hand, is shy and just looks straight ahead, though he's cracked a smile for strangers matching strides now and then.

-Doug

...walking slow down the street?

I don't think I've done that once in my entire life.

WTF?? Damn is this a gay thread or what!? You excuse your self and pass, or say good morning, or remark on the weather etc... If you're in southeast texas you might say "Have a blessed day!" haha Geez! they're just people - not plague vectors!

In fact, I usually like to push unsuspecting tourists out of my way..

mnjock2003 said
This morning it was raining, and I was rushing through the skyway, (Minneapolis has a series of hamster tunnels that run between the skyscrapers) late for work. Unfortunately , the people who work at Target Headquarters are notorious for traveling in slow packs, wearing pencil skirts and teetering on high heels and they are impossible to pass. And they see you trying to pass but they hold out their starbucks cups or giant purses out to the side so you can't ever pass. And if you can get beyond one, there are hundreds more. And so, reluctantly, I walk their slow pace thinking bad thoughts about them and how much everyone probably hates them and I feel better about myself.

LMAO!! That story deserves a hug.
*hugs mnjock2003*
I had like the PERFECT visual image in my mind of what you were talking about. So funny!

I'm in Houston which is SE Texas but also a big city so it depends on who it is and what time of day really; being a yankee it still throws me off a bit when a stranger talks to me while walking.
I live in a rough (but not the roughest by far) neighborhood so at night I may walk really fast or cross the street. I'm not so bothered in the day time cuz there are cops and traffic everywhere.
Walking in Houston sux tho.