# I pit people who walk with their face buried in their smartphones **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 13, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829 "2013-11-13T16:37:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/21 "2013-11-14T15:58:02Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I hope the judge sues her for wasting his/her time. IIRC she isn’t suing them because she fell in the fountain, but because the security guard released the video of her humiliation to youtube. Of course that was in 2011 so who knows what the outcome was? It would be interesting to know. Also IIRC, I think the security guard lost his job over it. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/22 "2013-11-14T16:06:40Z")
I used to read books while walking all the time. Now, sometimes I will read on my phone while walking. I still read the paper while I walk my dog, and I never walk into anything, since I have peripheral vision, plus why would my dog lead me astray? What about blind people? Many of them get around very well in spite of not looking where they are going. What is it about phones that pisses you off, and do you feel the same way about books and newspapers? ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/23 "2013-11-14T16:15:05Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > IIRC she isn’t suing them because she fell in the fountain, but because the security guard released the video of her humiliation to youtube. Of course that was in 2011 so who knows what the outcome was? It would be interesting to know. Also IIRC, I think the security guard lost his job over it. The suit never materialized, but she has had her run ins with the law: > **[In deep water: Woman who fell into fountain while texting admits to spending...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2115438/Fountain-woman-Cathy-Cruz-Marrero-sentenced-months-house-arrest-shopping-spree-stolen-credit-card.html)** > > Cathy Cruz Marrero, whose tumble was captured on video and posted to YouTube, was sentenced to three months of house arrest for stealing a co-workers credit card and going on a $5,000 shopping spree. [QUOTE=Daily Mail] Cathy Cruz Marrero, whose tumble was captured on video and posted to YouTube, was sentenced to three months of house arrest for the crime. She bought $4,177 worth of jewellery and $1,055 worth of Target goods with a credit card she stole from a co-worker in Reading, Pennsylvania. [/QUOTE] and > [@](#): > > She served a year of probation after she was convicted of a hit-and-run charge in Berks in 2009, the Eagle reported. > > Cruz was also convicted of retail theft four times and theft once in New York from 1997 to 1999, and retail theft once in York County in 1999. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/24 "2013-11-14T16:45:37Z")
> [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](#): > > The suit never materialized, but she has had her run ins with the law: > > ['Fountain woman' Cathy Cruz Marrero sentenced to three months of house arrest for shopping spree on stolen credit card | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2115438/Fountain-woman-Cathy-Cruz-Marrero-sentenced-months-house-arrest-shopping-spree-stolen-credit-card.html) > > and Somehow I’m not surprised. 🙂 On reading the article, apparently she was texting a friend from church when she fell in the fountain. Sheesh, way to represent, you thief!!! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/25 "2013-11-14T17:12:06Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > IIRC she isn’t suing them because she fell in the fountain, but because the security guard released the video of her humiliation to youtube. Of course that was in 2011 so who knows what the outcome was? It would be interesting to know. Also IIRC, I think the security guard lost his job over it. No, I believe that her complaint is that no one came to her aid after she fell, “My issue is I don’t think security was professional because they didn’t send anyone to check on me until 20 minutes later and I had already left.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/26 "2013-11-14T18:06:07Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I walk all the time around here, and I avoid getting hit about once every two months, because I’m paying attention. Actually you should be able to avoid getting hit a lot more often than that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/27 "2013-11-14T18:40:31Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > No, I believe that her complaint is that no one came to her aid after she fell, “My issue is I don’t think security was professional because they didn’t send anyone to check on me until 20 minutes later and I had already left.” That must have been easy one to defend. “I saw she didn’t melt away like the Wicked Witch Of The West, nor did she start spitting out spawn like a mogwai, so I determined the situation did not call for intervention.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/28 "2013-11-14T20:25:05Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Walking while playing with their phone… meh. You just look like a douche bag and eventually you’ll walk into something hard and give us all a good laugh. Probably me, as I refuse to move off the sidewalk because some douchebag is about to bust 20,000 playing Bejeweled, and walking three abreast with two other morons. I’ve had people walk up to within a foot of me before suddenly realizing there is something in their path. For a city full of nice people, there are a LOT of teens and 20-somethings who basically dare you to challenge their right to force you off the walk so their little group can continue _en masse_. Most of them have the decency to look very sheepish when I just stand there and make them go around me. Respect yer elders, dangnabbit! I saw a guy on the bus yesterday who was using both his iPad and his smart phone _at the same time_. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/29 "2013-11-14T23:15:54Z")
FINALLY, a successful Piting! ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/30 "2013-11-14T23:24:31Z")
I have no smartphone, heck, atm I have no cell phone! I walk in places where people are walking, often with devices in hand. And I do not think I have _ever_ had a collision, or even a close call, not even once. What’s the difference between me and the OP I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/31 "2013-11-14T23:52:35Z")
“[_I Forgot My Phone_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINa46HeWg8)” ---
**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:** [November 15, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/32 "2013-11-15T00:01:11Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Actually you should be able to avoid getting hit a lot more often than that. 🙂 True enough - I avoid getting him six or seven times a week. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/33 "2013-11-15T01:06:51Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I have no smartphone, heck, atm I have no cell phone! I walk in places where people are walking, often with devices in hand. And I do not think I have _ever_ had a collision, or even a close call, not even once. > > What’s the difference between me and the OP I wonder? wheelchair, and a (disappearing) faith in humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829/34 "2013-11-15T02:15:26Z")
So are you saying, just to be clear, that people literally collide with you? Or are you saying they come too close for comfort? Or something else? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-walk-with-their-face-buried-in-their-smartphones/673829.md?page=1)