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I've lived in the city for twenty-six years, right in the center of Greenwich Village. I've seen a lot of things come and go, but one thing that truly mystifies me is the "texting while walking" thing. In my neighborhood, it's mostly young women from NYU who do it. My mind actually boggles at the fact that they don't know how ridiculous they look. I'm not even going to mention the fact that it's rude as hell. (See how I snuck that in there?) Do they really get that many text messages, and are they really that clueless?
The ONLY rational explanation that I've come up with is that they do this because, as young women in the city, they are afraid that they will be accosted when they're in public. Presumably, many came from out of state to attend school here. (I shouldn't presume, though, because when you presume, you make a pres out of you and me.) Maybe they're intimidated by the crowds on the sidewalks, so they hide their heads in their phone because they don't want to engage anyone.
Has anyone else spent even a remotely significant amount of time thinking about this, and if you're as neurotic as I am, what have you come up with? (I don't mean your revenge fantasies, just your deepest, most intimate thoughts on the matter.) Or maybe I've hit the jackpot and YOU who-is-reading-this are an individual who rudely texts and walks. Explanation, please? No response turned away.
First, I don't think they look particularly ridiculous. Certainly no sillier than someone trying to read a map while walking or eating pizza while walking. Second, isn't part of being in NYC learning not to care if you look ridiculous?
However, it's definitely annoying. And also stupid not to pay attention to what going on around you. My thoughts just lead me the same place as most people: That they have been addicted to gadgets and the internet.
No revenge fantasies, certainly. My only fantasies about walkers is that I wistfully dream of yanking down the pants of idiot guys who wear them so low-slung that the waistline is pretty much below the but.
I've lived in the city for twenty-six years, right in the center of Greenwich Village. I've seen a lot of things come and go, but one thing that truly mystifies me is the "texting while walking" thing. In my neighborhood, it's mostly young women from NYU who do it. My mind actually boggles at the fact that they don't know how ridiculous they look. I'm not even going to mention the fact that it's rude as hell. (See how I snuck that in there?) Do they really get that many text messages, and are they really that clueless?
The ONLY rational explanation that I've come up with is that they do this because, as young women in the city, they are afraid that they will be accosted when they're in public. Presumably, many came from out of state to attend school here. (I shouldn't presume, though, because when you presume, you make a pres out of you and me.) Maybe they're intimidated by the crowds on the sidewalks, so they hide their heads in their phone because they don't want to engage anyone.
Has anyone else spent even a remotely significant amount of time thinking about this, and if you're as neurotic as I am, what have you come up with? (I don't mean your revenge fantasies, just your deepest, most intimate thoughts on the matter.) Or maybe I've hit the jackpot and YOU who-is-reading-this are an individual who rudely texts and walks. Explanation, please? No response turned away.
Now you know why persons are always getting jacked, attacked, hit by vehicles, raped, etc... No small number walk around NYC day and night in their own world, totally oblivious to their surroundings.
About a week ago watched a man nearly get run over by a car as he walked right out into 79th Street traffic against the light. Busy with his smart phone he just sashayed out into the street and was literally grazed by the vehicle.
No, it is not just the Village area but all over NYC persons are engrossed with texting while walking. It is becoming an epidemic and darn tiresome as well.
NYC sidewalks are crowded and narrow as it is, but now you have scores of persons walking with their heads down totally not looking where they are going. Worse they catch an attitude when you say "Hello!" to stop them from running into you.
It's annoying only because as soon as someone pulls out their phone and starts reading or responding to messages, they slow to a snails pace--and many times quite suddenly. It's infuriating when someone literally blocks a subway entrance to send one last message before entering the train.
I just wish people would stop and move aside if they are going to send a message. I really don't think there is any special explanation other than they are distracted by their devices.
Now you know why persons are always getting jacked, attacked, hit by vehicles, raped, etc... No small number walk around NYC day and night in their own world, totally oblivious to their surroundings.
About a week ago watched a man nearly get run over by a car as he walked right out into 79th Street traffic against the light. Busy with his smart phone he just sashayed out into the street and was literally grazed by the vehicle.
No, it is not just the Village area but all over NYC persons are engrossed with texting while walking. It is becoming an epidemic and darn tiresome as well.
NYC sidewalks are crowded and narrow as it is, but now you have scores of persons walking with their heads down totally not looking where they are going. Worse they catch an attitude when you say "Hello!" to stop them from running into you.
Far more annoying to me is people READING a book while walking - whether it be an old fashioned book or a Kindle. I see that surprisingly often and they are oblivious, usually walking at an inconsistent pace and not paying attention to their surroundings.
Far more annoying to me is people READING a book while walking - whether it be an old fashioned book or a Kindle. I see that surprisingly often and they are oblivious, usually walking at an inconsistent pace and not paying attention to their surroundings.
I lost count of how many times I've been behind someone walking up the stairs from the subway reading a book/Kindle. It's so rude.
I think many of them are using just a $6.99 empty case and trying to look as if they have an actual social life. A combo of empty cases and emptier heads.
At least the Kindle people might actually be READING.
If I see someone texting while walking towards me, I do not move, and I try to trip them. LOL.
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