# It's Time For My Annual Rant About Walking In Malls **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 27, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287 "2011-11-27T23:51:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/61 "2011-11-30T17:03:16Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > People who step in water’s path get wet though. I suppose if you’re zen about mowing down obstructions this could work very well!😃 Zen Obstruction Removal. Dibs on the user name. ---
**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 30, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/62 "2011-11-30T17:16:33Z")
I heartily agree with the OP’s guidelines for walking in malls, and believe they can be extrapolated to other public areas, i.e. sidewalks and large buildings like the hospital I work in. For the turtle-paced group of four abreast that is blocking the corridor, I find that approaching from the other direction with a determined stride generally (but not always) stimulates a response in the dumbass party such that the right-most individual will make enough room for you to pass (at the last possible moment) rather than risk losing an upper extremity or portion thereof. The explanation for heedless behavior of this sort, when not attributable to sheer stupidity or non compos mentis attacks, appears to be a massive sense of entitlement, synonymous with assholishness. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/63 "2011-11-30T18:05:54Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Back when I actually went to malls, I used to hate mallwalkers. They seemed to think that they had the right of way, and priority over people who were actually shopping. > > I can appreciate the appeal of mallwalking, however, unless the walkers are also shopping, they are using the mall without paying for it. True, but the mall management allows it because those folks are far more likely to come back to that mall when they need to buy something. ---
**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 30, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/64 "2011-11-30T18:41:58Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I hope we are not supposed to take this to mean you believe that all, or even most, instances of inattention are perpetrated by stupid, stubborn assholes, because that’s just silly. Have you _met_ people? ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/65 "2011-11-30T22:02:51Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Really? > > OK. I guess i thought that you were thinking that i was…Oh, fuck it. I can’t be bothered explaining my thought process. > > Please ignore my previous snarky comment, then. For what it’s worth, the two of you thoroughly confused me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/66 "2011-11-30T22:27:33Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Have you _met_ people? - swoons \* ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/67 "2011-11-30T22:38:43Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > People who step in water’s path get wet though. I suppose if you’re zen about mowing down obstructions this could work very well!😃 The message I’m taking from this is that we should piss on people who get in the way in malls? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/68 "2011-11-30T22:55:03Z")
> [@Sierra\_Indigo](#): > > The message I’m taking from this is that we should piss on people who get in the way in malls? I can’t deny that would be amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/69 "2011-11-30T23:08:11Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > True, but the mall management allows it because those folks are far more likely to come back to that mall when they need to buy something. The mallwalkers might return to that mall. I know that I quit going to malls when I had to try to navigate the mallwalkers AND the mall rats in some malls…and this wasn’t during the holiday shopping season. The mallwalkers seemed intent on mowing down everyone who wasn’t walking at their pace. The mall rats were asking for spare change, and some of them were pretty insistent on it. Neither group was inclined to allow me to enter shops if it interfered with their activities. At about this time, Target opened a big box near my house. So the malls might have gained the loyalty of some mallwalkers, but they lost my business, and probably other people’s business. I used to enjoy strolling up and down malls, and buying stuff. I looked at far more things than I bought, but I did spend a large part of my disposable income in malls. ---
**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 30, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/70 "2011-11-30T23:34:07Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > - swoons \* Snap out of it! {Gives **Inigo** a couple of movie slaps.} ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/71 "2011-12-01T07:02:21Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I hope we are not supposed to take this to mean you believe that all, or even most, instances of inattention are perpetrated by stupid, stubborn assholes, because that’s just silly. Assholes, yes. They may or may not be stupid, stubborn, or actively antagonistic, hence the “and/or” in my post. You can review the difference between “and” and “or” [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo) if you need to refresh your memory on the distinction between them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/72 "2011-12-01T08:05:59Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > The mall rats were asking for spare change, and some of them were pretty insistent on it. The mall you’re speaking of allowed beggars? That would have had them bounced from mine pretty damn quick. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/73 "2011-12-01T12:06:37Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Snap out of it! {Gives **Inigo** a couple of movie slaps.} Thank you. I was confused by a sudden misanthrope crush. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/74 "2011-12-01T16:36:41Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#): > > Assholes, yes. They may or may not be stupid, stubborn, or actively antagonistic, hence the “and/or” in my post. You can review the difference between “and” and “or” [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkO87mkgcNo) if you need to refresh your memory on the distinction between them. 🙂 Schooled! 😃 > [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Thank you. I was confused by a sudden misanthrope crush. No problem. I’ll slap you any time you like. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/75 "2011-12-01T17:22:53Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > The mall you’re speaking of allowed beggars? That would have had them bounced from mine pretty damn quick. Oh, the beggars got bounced, presuming that one could find a mall cop and report the beggar, and then find the beggar in the same place, and then try to catch the beggar in the act of begging. The mall cops did the best they could, but there just weren’t enough of them. It wasn’t that beggars were allowed. The mall management didn’t want to hire enough security people to roust out the beggars. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/76 "2011-12-02T02:02:02Z")
> [@Vihaga](#): > > Only one thing related to your list really gets my goat: the people that stop immediate at the top or bottom of escalators, stairways, and narrow store entrances. It’s one thing to stop when traffic can go around you (if inconveniently), but doing it where there’s no room to go around and _there may be a machine feeding people toward your stupid motionless ass_ makes me stabby. I know, but this is also the most understandable. They stop to figure out which way to go. One mall had a fund raiser that Saturday before Thanksgiving, I think - to pay $10.00 to shop, and get 10% of on all purchases. Most relaxing Christmas shopping season ever. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/77 "2011-12-02T10:46:33Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Even better would be to consider leaving the baby at home. The world would be a much more pleasant place if people followed this rule at malls, restaurants, airplanes, grocery stores, workplaces, baseball games, basketball games, weddings, concerts, movies, doctors’ offices, auto repair shops, gyms, parties, soirees, galas, box socials, debutante balls, coronations, etc. No it wouldn’t. Not for me: I like children, seeing a baby in a stroller makes me smile. It makes other people smile too, but I admit it depends a lot on context. For instance, not so much on planes. I don’t think the world would be a better place for the baby, though, if we mailed it home so as to make the world a better place for people who don’t like babies on planes. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/78 "2011-12-02T12:12:52Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > Oh but this is the perfect time to play Mall Red Rover! You remember the song from childhood, right? “Rover Red Rover, let EvilTOJ barge right through the line and piss you all off but that’s OK because you were in the fucking way!” > > I think that’s how it goes. Yes indeed. I am a very patient man in many ways but breakers of Rule 8 get me aiming for the center of the mass with a loud and pointed “ **Excuse me!** ”. If I’m really ticked off I’ll stick my elbows out while I do it. I don’t expect everyone to get out of my way but I also don’t expect to have to breach a line of scrimmage just to get to Baby Gap. Double file, people. ---
**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:** [December 2, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/79 "2011-12-02T17:52:08Z")
> [@j666](#): > > I know, but this is also the most understandable. They stop to figure out which way to go.\ It is somewhat understandable, but it is also possible to move off to the side while you figure things out. I’m guessing that finesse move has never occurred to the escalator blockers. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287/80 "2011-12-03T01:09:52Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > It is somewhat understandable, but it is also possible to move off to the side while you figure things out. I’m guessing that finesse move has never occurred to the escalator blockers. Honestly? It hasn’t. I strongly recommend “Excuse **US** , please” next time - it might sink in eventually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-annual-rant-about-walking-in-malls/604287.md?page=5)