Mixing in severe geekdom (for which I approve, even if I fail to understand the exact Deity in question) with what is quickly becoming the phrase I hate to see the most should be punishable by demotion of one circle.
However, that does remind me that you are a Southerner and seem to wish to perpetuate the stereotype that Southerners are never in a hurry. So I will perpetuate the Yankee stereotype.
Up in the Great busy north we are taught to respect others by making room for others. By letting people get on about their business at the speed they choose. Some are slow and many are hyper, but we all try to leave space for everyone else. This is proper manners in the North. Of course we never say “Bless their hearts”, we are far more likely to say what we mean which is “Get the Hell out of my way”.
Honestly. Try living in Seoul, where getting a subway so packed that you literally cannot move is all part of life. The guy pressed up behind me couldn’t hump me if he wanted to because it’s so fucking crowded. Having grown up in such a culture, I find it odd that people consider someone passing by them on an escalator an invasion of personal space. But different strokes and all.
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Have you never asked a stranger to scoot so you could get by? Have you never said, “may I sit here?” and gestured to a seat with someone’s purse on it, which they then moved for you? Have you never said, “could you split that into two bags so it’s easier to carry?” at the supermarket? You must somehow manage to never interact with any other humans if this type of “accommodation” is your idea of an intrusion. This explains your utter inability to grasp common courtesy, and, sorry to break it to you, means people will think of you as an asshole when you refuse to accommodate them in trivial ways.
I just don’t get it. If I’d said “Get the Hell outta my way!”, that would be rude and intrusive, sure. But if I call someone “sir” and ask them to please let me by, that’s an intrusion? How could I ever avoid intruding on anyone under those restrictions?
“Excuse me, ma’am, are you in line?”
“Whattah you care? Go find one that’s empty!”
“I’m sorry, are you using this chair?”
“What, you don’t like standing? Buzz off!”
“Do you mind if I reach past you for that box of cereal?”
“I’m making a decision here. Beat it!”
“Pardon me sir, do you have the time?”
“Get your own watch, pal!”
No, it means we have different ideas about what common courtesy is. Hurrying people along, squeezing by, or pushing them out of the way is considered rude in my part of the world. The polite thing to do is quietly ride the escalator like everyone else.
Non-Yankee here (but up North for longer than I care to admit), and from the way I was raised, I would expect Southerners–well, polite Southerners, anyway-- upon being made aware that they were impeding traffic, to be considerate enough of other people to just move the fuck over on an escalator (provided that there’s room, of course) to let others pass. And apologize, to boot. Then again, polite Southerners wouldn’t consciously be blocking the damned thing in the first place.
Oh, and [Robin Williams] “Bless your heart” means “Back off, bitch!” [/Robin Williams]
–Li’l Pluck, son and grandson of Gullah-speakin’ South Carolina farmers…y’all
Who here is advocating squeezing by or shoving people aside, or asking them to hurry along? We’re talking about asking people to take ONE FUCKING STEP to the right. Please.
What about when an escalator explicitly has two lanes, one for walking and one for standing? If someone were standing smack in the middle, would it be rude for me to say, “Excuse me, can I get by, please?”
See, this is the problem. An escalator is not a ride. It’s a means of speeding personal conveyance. That you would purposely impede someone’s path out of what at this point can only be spite puts a lie to this so-called “Southern Hospitality and Manners” that you seem to pride yourself on.
Don’t believe I’ve said anything about purposefully impeding anybody. I wouldn’t. But I wouldn’t ask someone to move aside on an escalator, where people are not fucking supposed to be climbing in the first damn place.
Well, yeah, I think it is as well. But sometimes people are forgetful, or lost in thought, or maybe unfamiliar with the culture. I don’t see how it’s rude to ask such people, politely, to move a step to the side, as Oakminster seems to be implying.
No, shoving and sqeezing isn’t at all under discussion. The interpretation of what actually happened baffles me. Standard-width escalator. That means enough room for people to stand on one side, and walk by on the other. No need to push, shove, squeeze, or otherwise invade anyone’s space or force them to hustle along. Just step to the side. That’s it. One step. Don’t even have to lean. Hey, if you’re fat, I’ll lean. I’d be happy to! Really, just stand there and give my feet enough room to move, and I’ll make it work. That’s all I ask.
That is your opinion and not backed up by anything. In fact it is untrue in the North. It is truly impolite to block a pathway, moving or not, in a large part of the US and the world. You might want to take this into consideration and reconsider your position in the future. When in Rome do as the Roman do and all that Jazz.
For the record, no one has ever asked to pass me on an escalator. If they did, I would scootch to the right. I usually stand there anyway, the better to hold the handrail.
I would assume they had some hurry to attend to. The man in the op was rude, for sure. But I believe escalators are there to stand still on. Otherwise, they would be stairs.
If I see no one near the escalator, I will stand in the middle, but not if there are others around. I’ve rarely seen ones large enough for 2 adult people to stand side by side.
