Friday, January 16, 2009

What is more annoying… being stuck behind someone driving really slowly or being stuck in a hallway behind someone who is walking wicked slowly?

17 comments:

John said...

The latter. The former is saving someone's life, plus where you are likely headed in your car isn't so important you need to get there a couple minutes sooner.

Leslie said...

I would say I get more annoyed driving behind someone slow. I got stuck driving behind a woman going 5 mph in Dupont on Tuesday night. It was pretty ridiculous. I believe my passenger, from the great state of NH, was even more annoyed than I was.

On the flip side, I am a slow walker. And yesterday a dude yelled "excuse me" over my shoulder indicating that I had to get out of his way. However, we were on the sidewalk - a wide sidewalk - why didn't he just walk around me? I mean, I did move out of his way, but come on dude. Requesting a pedestrian move when you can simply walk around them is annoying. You know, I think he had a fanny pack.

Huh, I had no idea I had so much to say about this. I think I may be procrastinating because I don't want to go outside...

Unknown said...

Both are equally annoying. I usually tailgate said slow driver until they pull over so i can go around. Slow walkers are the WORST...yes Leslie, I'm talking to you.

Anonymous said...

I find that driving behind someone is more annoying. Maybe that's because I can talk trash about the other driver with no consequences. Saying "F'in A dude, could you walk any faster?" to a slow walker seems rude to me. Instead I just say "Excuse me" and walk around.

You can just walk around a slow walker. Unless you're in Georgetown and there's a double stroller involved. But thats's why I avoid Georgetown.

Anonymous said...

Oh, the former. I like to think it's like NASCAR, and I wanna win the race. With the latter, you can always push them out of the way in a wicked polite manner.

Anonymous said...

Slow drivers for sure. I usually instruct my driver to ram them. Or pull around, roll down my window and ask them to ram me.

W said...

Here's the thing -- slow walkers are, I think, sometimes lacking in self awareness. I don't mean people who just walk slowly. I mean people who are, like, trying to send a text message and carry 5 bags and just have to stop in the middle of the sidewalk while people are trying to get out of the cold. And those flippin' tourists who just stop in the middle of the sidewalk to look at the map. Maybe my problem is more with stoppers than slow walkers. As far as drivers go, I just intimidate them into moving.

pinchie said...

Agree, slow walkers are the worst not because of a naturally slow pace, but because of the lack of response to stimuli that is usually involved. That being said, I'd never yell "excuse me" even if totally annoyed. I'd just wait until an appropriate time to pass!

Unknown said...

I think slow walkers are more annoying. I do have road rage issues, but it's more likely you'll die in a horrific crash speeding around someone who's driving slow rather than walking around someone who is walking slow. The worst is when people are taking up the whole damn sidewalk or I have to zig-zag through a whole crowd of slowpokes.

beenu said...

slow walkers. but what's the worst is when they're walking slowly in a group of two or more. i have been known to point out that they do not own the sidewalk.

Dan said...

The most annoying is getting stuck behind a BICYCLE. I so hate bikes who think they have as much right to the road as cars. If you want to be treated like a car, act like one by speeding the fuck up, staying off the sidewalks, stopping at red lights, and not weaving. And please stop complaining all the time like you're some oppressed minority. Nobody forced you onto that bike.

Thanks, Leslie! I have been holding that in for a while.

Cate said...

slow drivers because you're usually stuck behind them much longer. you can almost always get around a slow walker right away.

Anonymous said...

I get weirdo crowd anxiety, so someone walking really slowly and meandering infront of me when I need to get someplace kills me. For those of you braving the Sunday concert with me, it's a good thing I'll be boozing beforehand. I'm just saying. . .

Anonymous said...

for some reason, slow walkers frustrate me more. I guess because I can see that a slow driver might just be cautious or trying to follow the law, and I can't fault them for that. But slow walkers who don't have a clue that there are other people who want to use the sidewalk are not as sympathetic to me.

Anonymous said...

has anyone ever walked behind leslie??? slowest walker ever...........

Scottie said...

I'm equally annoyed by both, but I tend not to get too worked up about either one. What REALLY annoys me is the "gravity walker." You know, when you're with a group of people walking somewhere, and everyone's chatting and blah blah blah...but the person you somehow ended up next to keeps inching into your walking space, as if pulled by gravity...infuriating.

Anonymous said...

I work in a 450,000 sq. ft. building and I think someone thought it was funny to put my desk in the most remote corner of the building. So, any time I try to go anywhere I have to walk 1/2 a mile or so, if Idont put a jump in my step, I will never get anything done. And everyone in Nevada is on a Sunday stroll anyplace they go. Then they always make the comment, "oh ashley, always running, hahahah." Maybe if I could walk at a decent pace and not get stuck behind slow people I wouldnt have to power walk everywhere.
Then there is driving in Reno on a Sunday... its best not to leave the house unless you have a few hours to spare! Faster to bike!
One of the things I miss about the east coat... people moving with some motivation.