# Can't walk and chew gum at the same time? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691 "2012-08-26T05:54:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/1 "2012-08-26T05:54:34Z")
Do you ever encounter someone who, upon encountering something that puzzles them, slows down and stops mid-stride in order to figure it out? Are YOU someone who freezes in your tracks when something (or someone) stumps you? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/2 "2012-08-26T06:17:37Z")
This week’s episode of _The Soup_ included a clip of an interview with recent Olympic swimming champion Ryan Lochte, who will be appearing on the T.V. show 90210 this fall. When asked what was most difficult about becoming a T.V. star, Ryan haltingly said that it was having to do the talking…and the movement…at the same time. I guess he doesn’t actually have to talk while he swims. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/3 "2012-08-26T16:57:29Z")
I myself do not suffer from this malady. My boss was astonished when he attempted to transfix me with a real stumper and I answered without breaking stride. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/4 "2012-08-26T17:15:31Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > I myself do not suffer from this malady. > > My boss was astonished when he attempted to transfix me with a real stumper and I answered without breaking [stride.](http://www.pennypinchinmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/stride.jpg) Hah! ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/5 "2012-08-26T17:50:10Z")
Yes, that would be me. What of it? ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/6 "2012-08-26T18:41:16Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > Do you ever encounter someone who, upon encountering something that puzzles them, slows down and stops mid-stride in order to figure it out? Like when their phone rings? ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/7 "2012-08-26T19:13:23Z")
Not sure if this is the same thing but there is a segment of people who absolutely freeze when it comes time to swipe their credit card, and then sign it. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/8 "2012-08-27T04:51:32Z")
And how about those who freeze mid-speech? “I need directions how to get to the sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss…” 😕 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/9 "2012-08-27T04:57:58Z")
Considering walking is a simple physical activity, I’m sure that Nada and Duke have no trouble doing both. If only they could find some gum. ---
**Author:** ![gunnergoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@gunnergoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gunnergoz)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/10 "2012-08-27T08:37:56Z")
All I know is that I’m so uncoordinated that, the last time I tried to walk and chew gum, I chipped a tooth. ---
**Author:** ![kyogi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/51bf81/32.png) [@kyogi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kyogi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/11 "2012-08-27T14:54:32Z")
Years ago I worked for a lumber co. that hired anybody who could find the place, to stack lumber for minimum wage. We had one guy we couldn’t let work on his own because he got distracted staring at the wood-grain. Seriously. Always had to keep an eye on him walking between sheds or going to the break trailer. Alone he’d inevitably get lost. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/12 "2012-08-27T15:09:05Z")
Where one sees this in action most often is at the entrance to an escalator. Many people stop before stepping on. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/13 "2012-08-27T20:01:35Z")
Or off. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/14 "2012-08-27T20:07:22Z")
> [@gunnergoz](#): > > All I know is that I’m so uncoordinated that, the last time I tried to walk and chew gum, I chipped a tooth. > [@The Larry Sanders Show](#): > > **Hank** And what was so f&cking funny about that? > **Larry** It was a back tooth, Hank. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/15 "2012-08-27T20:16:54Z")
My mom is like this. Whenever she does ANYTHING we stop her from walking until she is done. (When she first got her smartphone, she was texting and walking and gave herself a blackeye by running into a pole. She also has problems pedalling a bike and turning at the same time.) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-walk-and-chew-gum-at-the-same-time/632691/16 "2012-08-28T01:14:23Z")
I liken this to when I’m driving to an unfamiliar location. Once I get close to my destination, I have to turn the radio down as I look for the exact location.