Do Americans walk differently? (school, title, clothing)

[Mac15]

Originally Posted by easthome

Good grief! this is rubbish, Americans are the same breed of Homo Sapiens as the rest of the world, they have the same 'bodies' they are as 'varied' as the rest of the world in their gait!!!!

Exactly

[dizzybint]

So they dont all walk like John Wayne then..

[P London]

Originally Posted by easthome

Good grief! this is rubbish, Americans are the same breed of Homo Sapiens as the rest of the world, they have the same 'bodies' they are as 'varied' as the rest of the world in their gait!!!!

First smart comment on here!

[darrensmooth]

Originally Posted by gosling

Is it true that Americans can be identified in other countries simply by the way they walk? I was speaking to a colleague who had traveled to Scotland and ordered food in a restaurant. When he went to pick it up the cashier already knew who that he was the one that called. He asked her how she knew and she said "you spoke with an American accent on the phone, and you walk like an American."

Anyone notice this before....

im glad you started this thread, I was thinking about this myself..is a walk like an accent in some ways?...does a person learn to walk in a certain way based on where they live/what country they are from? While in Europe you get the feeling that people walk differently to North Americans, hard to put into words though

[darrensmooth]

Originally Posted by owenc

Exactly

actually when ever we go to Europe its not hard to tell we aren't from there, its a combination of dress, walk and probably clothing

[Bulldawg82]

We walk like Egyptians. Oh way-o.

[iNviNciBL3]

Originally Posted by jtur88

I can't explain the difference, but I can often tell an American by the way they walk. It might be other aspects of body language, too. Americans walk as if it it is ordeal suddenly imposed upon them. Elsewhere, people walk as a much more natural part of their everyday life.

People learn to walk a certain way according to the surface they customarily walk on. Americans rarely walk outdoors, so it is mostly short distances indoors, with furniture and other objects in the way. Outdoors, Americans hardly ever need to walk anywhere besides a parlking lot, with hard, smooth, predictable surface. Conversely, in any third world country, most people walk at least an hour a day on streets or sidewalks that are broken and uneven, requiring constant attention to the walking surface, so their way of walking is very different. That even applies to a lot of places in the first world. Also, Americans walk almost always with high-quality shoes that fit their feet well, and their feet are undamaged from lifetime accidents while walking. Third world people have feet that have been subject to frequent injury, and wear poor quality shoes that don't fit well.

The kind of walking during a lifetime also affects posture, and when you see a person walking, it is mostly posture that is visible and present clues to walking experience. Americans sit a lot on comfortable and ergonomic furniture, and sleep on soft beds. In the third world, people stand more than they sit, furniture is uncomfortable or broken or non-existent, and they might sleep on the floor.

Nobody carries anything in America, except groceries from the car and trash to the curb. Third world people are constantly carrying things for great distances. Frequently carrying weight requires a natural gait and posture that is consistent with the efficient carriage.

I like to watch French films, just to watch the actresses walk. American women lean forward when they walk, French actresses lean back. It might have something to do with the height of the heels. French actresses all walk as if barefoot or wearing flats. Even your psychology can be reflected in your walk: Americans walk as if they are going somewhere, anxiously and purposefully. French women walk as if they are leaving somewhere, satisfied and contented.

A lot of Americans are into fitness and either have home gyms or have a gym membership, even in the burbs a lot of people are out going for a jog. If you to the city you see plenty of people walking around running errands. These things I would guess play a big factor on how we walk.

(I can't believe I'm having a conversation about how Ameicans walk.) lol

[UNC4Me]

Originally Posted by easthome

Good grief! this is rubbish, Americans are the same breed of Homo Sapiens as the rest of the world, they have the same 'bodies' they are as 'varied' as the rest of the world in their gait!!!!

I agree. People need to get a life if they're concerned about how others walk and make assumptions about them based on it.

[easthome]

The only thing you can say with any level of certainty is that the older Americans probaly tend to walk more slowly than the younger ones!!!!!!

[Nodpete]

Americans walk stooped over from carrying the freedom of the world on their backs, not to mention all the welfare recipients and illegal immigrants !