# "Get outa my way" or Why I am more important than you: **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280 "2010-07-11T05:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![gallan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ee59a6/32.png) [@gallan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/81 "2010-07-12T19:01:59Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I wonder if people who get annoyed at dawdlers also are more sensitive to dawdling themselves. I know I certainly am. I tend to drive fast and in the left lane, but if someone is approaching behind me, that means they’re going faster than me and I happily move over for them. Same thing in the grocery checkout line. If you’ve got one item and I’ve got fifty, you’re welcome to go ahead. If I’m moving slower than someone else, I get out of their way, but I also expect you to get out of my way if you’re going slower than me. For me, the issue with dawdlers isn’t the time that they waste, it’s that I have no idea what they’re thinking. It’s as if they’re completely oblivious to what’s going on around them. They either don’t know or don’t care, and that makes me angry. Why does it take me 30 seconds to pay for my stuff at the check-out line, but it takes them five minutes to do the exact same thing?! Why am I capable of going the speed limit on the freeway, but they’re not? I allow a bit of leeway for the elderly or the obviously handicapped, but if you’re just a regular person, you should be able to do things as fast, or nearly as fast, as I do them. Again, it’s not that I’ve got somewhere to be or that I think my time is more valuable than yours. It’s that I can’t understand why someone would want to spend any more time than absolutely necessary standing in line or waiting in traffic. Do they enjoy those things? Because I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/82 "2010-07-12T19:04:47Z")
This is true. Someone who orders 50 things, but has a list and does it snappily, is not nearly as annoying as someone who orders four things, but goes back and changes two of them, then changes two of them again, then maybe adds something… and takes it off. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/83 "2010-07-12T19:07:25Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > And if anyone is wondering, I’ll whisper to cats for $25 an hour. Well, sure, if you want to get sub-standard, bargain cat whispering. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/84 "2010-07-12T19:11:16Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Well, sure, if you want to get sub-standard, bargain cat whispering. I whisper , “as soon as they’re out of sight I’m selling you to the local vietnamese” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/85 "2010-07-12T19:11:26Z")
I’m whispering to my cat right now. For free. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/86 "2010-07-12T19:14:52Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > So he’s not allowed to buy meals for the office? > > \ > > In your scenario you may or may not know the guy has to order a lot of meals but that’s not his fault , nor is he being an ass. He probably tells the counter person what he needs when he gets there rather than surprise her by ordering each one seperately. When he does that you’re informed and can make your decision accordingly. Or if he orders a 2nd and a 3rd and you’re pressed for time simply ask politely and you’ll know. Alternatively, he could order it all at once, get a receipt, and everyone can do a bit of math on their own time. A pet peeve of mine is people ordering for their whole office at Dunkin’ Donuts, at 8:30 in the morning. This is the single busiest time of the day, and you’ve just monopolized an employee for ten minutes. Fuck you. Wait till 9:00. And while I’m here, can someone please explain to me why it is that most people walk so slowly? I \*have \*to pass you, because I honest to god \*cannot \*walk that slowly. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/87 "2010-07-12T19:19:24Z")
> [@gallan](#): > > I know I certainly am. I tend to drive fast and in the left lane, but if someone is approaching behind me, that means they’re going faster than me and I happily move over for them. Same thing in the grocery checkout line. If you’ve got one item and I’ve got fifty, you’re welcome to go ahead. If I’m moving slower than someone else, I get out of their way, but I also expect you to get out of my way if you’re going slower than me. > > For me, the issue with dawdlers isn’t the time that they waste, it’s that I have no idea what they’re thinking. It’s as if they’re completely oblivious to what’s going on around them. They either don’t know or don’t care, and that makes me angry. Why does it take me 30 seconds to pay for my stuff at the check-out line, but it takes them five minutes to do the exact same thing?! Why am I capable of going the speed limit on the freeway, but they’re not? I allow a bit of leeway for the elderly or the obviously handicapped, but if you’re just a regular person, you should be able to do things as fast, or nearly as fast, as I do them. Again, it’s not that I’ve got somewhere to be or that I think my time is more valuable than yours. It’s that I can’t understand why someone would want to spend any more time than absolutely necessary standing in line or waiting in traffic. Do they enjoy those things? Because I don’t. Maybe they just operate at a slower pace and prefer it that way. I try to remind myself when I’m feeling impatient that it’s not a race and nobody has to go as fast as I think they should. Still, as an act of consideration , I do agree that people should not be oblivious of their fellow travelers and how their actions affect them. Don’t hang out and chit chat and answer your cell phone as the line behnd you gets longer. A few weeks ago I was standing in line with a few snacks for folks at work. The lady in front of me had the presence of mind to notice my name tag and shirt and said “Why don’t you go ahead of me. you probably have to get back to work” It was so unusual I wanted to hug her and thank her for restoring my hope for humans in general ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/88 "2010-07-12T19:25:54Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Alternatively, he could order it all at once, get a receipt, and everyone can do a bit of math on their own time. He could but if he, and they, choose not to then he hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s no different than a long line. Maybe they could call and order ahead but either way it’s just one of life’s little things. > [@](#): > > A pet peeve of mine is people ordering for their whole office at Dunkin’ Donuts, at 8:30 in the morning. This is the single busiest time of the day, and you’ve just monopolized an employee for ten minutes. Fuck you. Wait till 9:00. You have to wonder why someone would need to order coffee and doughnuts for the whole office at the busiest time of day don’t ya? It’s idiots like that that forced me to buy a coffee pot. > [@](#): > > And while I’m here, can someone please explain to me why it is that most people walk so slowly? I \*have \*to pass you, because I honest to god \*cannot \*walk that slowly. I walk much more slowly and comfortably since I got the bug taken out of my ass. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/89 "2010-07-12T19:27:23Z")
Well if you could have it put back, the rest of us would appreciate it. I walk perfectly comfortably, thank you. It’s the Romero zombie pace most people walk at that I find uncomfortable. And again, I don’t care about it at the mall, or the amusement park, or whatever. But if you have nothing in particular to do and nowhere in particular to be today, then don’t amble aimlessly around the train station at rush hour. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/90 "2010-07-12T19:28:10Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > And while I’m here, can someone please explain to me why it is that most people walk so slowly? I \*have \*to pass you, because I honest to god \*cannot \*walk that slowly. Oh by the gods, yes. Look, I understand the whole “crowd” thing and how you sometimes have to walk that slowly because of the number of people in the space and constrictions around exits. But I still find it physically and mentally painful and it is one big reason that I avoid crowds. I’m not anti-social, I’m anti-Moving so slowly that my mind and body are going “WHAT THE FUCK! LET ME MOVE!! JUST GET IT OVER ALREADY!!! MY KNEE HURTS!” Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who find the slow dawdle walk to be fun and relaxing, and they enjoy crowds. Good for them, bad for me. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/91 "2010-07-12T19:57:06Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Well if you could have it put back, the rest of us would appreciate it. > . That may be possible. I saved it. 😉 I was joshing and couldn’t help myself. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/92 "2010-07-12T20:01:53Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > And while I’m here, can someone please explain to me why it is that most people walk so slowly? I \*have \*to pass you, because I honest to god \*cannot \*walk that slowly. I think it is a cultural thing. I’m from New York, and I walk quickly even for New York. When I lived in Louisiana, I used to walk from school to downtown, and nearly everyone crawled compared to me. I don’t mind slow walkers at all, so long as they don’t block the sidewalk too badly. My experience as a pre-bicycle messenger in Manhattan one summer made me a good broken field runner. What really bugs me is when I am walking my dog and people coming the other way take up the entire sidewalk. My dog can pass you on lawns, but I’m not leaving the sidewalk for you. I can beat them at chicken any day of the week. Same deal as the supermarket. The people who leave their carts smack in the middle of the aisle probably have had them moved dozens of times. It is not speed, it is cluelessness. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/93 "2010-07-12T20:10:27Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If I am looking for 149 Wilshire Blvd. and I am at 109 Wilshire, a Thomas Guide is of no use. GPS has already chirped out “your destination is on the right” but I haven’t seen it yet. > > Yes, I am going to drive 10 miles an hour in the right lane of Wilshire Blvd. If you are in a hurry, you can change lanes and pass me. > > Get out an walk yourself. Or pull the fuck over when you see a car behind you and let them pass. Ass. Note: not sure if someone already posted this, but I’m on my lunch break and don’t have enough time to scroll through the whole thread before replying. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/94 "2010-07-12T20:17:41Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > And while I’m here, can someone please explain to me why it is that most people walk so slowly? I \*have \*to pass you, because I honest to god \*cannot \*walk that slowly. Oh man, this is one of my co-workers. Drives me friggin _insane_. When we walk up the stairwell at work, I will squeeze past her just to get ahead of her because it actually hurts my knees and quads to walk upstairs that damn slow. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, she’s young and physically fit, but _damn._ ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/95 "2010-07-12T20:37:05Z")
For the fast movers in this thread, and I am one of them, don’t ever go to Las Vegas. The strip is my personal version of hell. You get parties walking five abreast at a snails pace completely blocking the sidewalk, old people in scooters zipping around randomly, tourists stopping suddenly in front of you to stare at a shiny object, and escalator stoppers in all the casinos. You can’t walk two blocks without running someone over. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/96 "2010-07-12T20:37:35Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I’m whispering to my cat right now. For free. Scab. I don’t mind the dawdlers on the sidewalk so much; it’s the dawdling GROUPS that make me stabby. We were walking on a fairly busy multi-use path in town here yesterday, and there was a man pushing someone in a wheelchair, his two adolescent sons, and the dog they were walking on a leash. We watched a few bikes pass this spread-out, slowly-moving group that were strung out across the whole path, and _ran_ to get past them ourselves, because we didn’t want to get caught up in a pile-up that looked all too likely. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/97 "2010-07-12T20:41:52Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JWVshkVF0SY/hqdefault.jpg "Monty python - The Universe song which also goes under the name of The Galaxy song") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWVshkVF0SY) ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/98 "2010-07-12T21:30:52Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I think it is a cultural thing. I’m from New York, and I walk quickly even for New York. When I lived in Louisiana, I used to walk from school to downtown, and nearly everyone crawled compared to me. > > I don’t mind slow walkers at all, so long as they don’t block the sidewalk too badly. My experience as a pre-bicycle messenger in Manhattan one summer made me a good broken field runner. I’ve lived all my life in Boston, which has a reputation as a home for fast movers (although obviously not to a NY extent), and I’m here to tell you that reputation is dead wrong as far as I can tell. I’d commute with a cattle prod if I could. I agree that it’s fine to go as slow as you like, as long as you’re not blocking the sidewalk, and I can bob and weave with the best of them. What makes me craziest is the subways. People just don’t _move_, whether it’s onto the platform or on and off of the trains, and I just don’t get it. It’s the subway! The whole point of being there is to get somewhere else! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/99 "2010-07-12T21:57:03Z")
When yoiu are out in public you should act not like you are on an island but like you are IN PUBLIC. That means no daydreaming at the exit door. That means no doing the quick stop and turn around on the sidewalk. That means no walking holding hands, barely outracing a snail in the mall. It also means not pushing past someone, or expecting everyone to be on your time. Just takle notice of how folks are acting around you and see if you are acting out of line. It is not my fault you are late, so no I am not going to hurry along at a pace that is faster than normal. I will go with the traffic. Basically, both sides of the equation need to get out of their own worlds and join the rest of us who have to live with your incosiderate beahviour. It isn’t about rights or such it is about being considerate. Is that so hard? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/100 "2010-07-12T22:01:07Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Scab. > > I don’t mind the dawdlers on the sidewalk so much; it’s the dawdling GROUPS that make me stabby. We were walking on a fairly busy multi-use path in town here yesterday, and there was a man pushing someone in a wheelchair, his two adolescent sons, and the dog they were walking on a leash. We watched a few bikes pass this spread-out, slowly-moving group that were strung out across the whole path, and _ran_ to get past them ourselves, because we didn’t want to get caught up in a pile-up that looked all too likely. Just past Eau Claire, right? I hate biking through there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=6)