# Why are slow people slow? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 17, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459 "2010-12-17T02:14:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/1 "2010-12-17T02:14:06Z")
We’ve all known slow people. I’m not talking about people who are mentally challenged (or whatever the current term for retarded is). I’m not talking about people who are physically impaired. I’m talking about those people who seem to be stuck in first gear. I work with a guy like that. Friend of mine. But Jesus Christ he…is…so…effin’…slooooowwwwwwww. Takes him three or four times longer to do something as anyone else. And he doesn’t do it better so you can’t say he’s just anal. I think it’s laziness. Gets him out of doing other stuff. Drives me insane. I once tried to move as slowly as he does and couldn’t. I really think you could set him fire and he’d just kinda stand there saying “Oh. I’m on fire. Hurts.” as he trudges oh-so-slowly to fetch a fire extinguisher. So is he just being lazy or is there some rare malady that causes slowness? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/2 "2010-12-17T02:29:41Z")
Perhaps he simply doesn’t care about what he is doing? Not everyone has a job they enjoy you know. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/3 "2010-12-17T02:31:07Z")
Back in the early 90s I worked for a research company in Wyoming as an accountant. Our accounts payable clerk (a real gem of an employee by the way) had been complaining about a check she had written. It had been a couple of months and still hadn’t made it to the bank. She had called and yes it was at the guy’s desk and he’d get right on it. Another month goes by and still nothing. I wanted an excuse to get out of the office for a bit so I volunterred to walk over to the guy’s office and talk to him about it. Got there and the fellow met me at the door. I told him what I wanted and he said the check was still on his desk and he’d get right on it. I said something like, “Well, let’s just toodle on back there and I’ll help you.” So off we went down the hall. I’m a long way from a fast walker but in the less than 100 feet I had to stop twice and wait for him. We finially get there and he rummages around a bit and turns up a stack of checks. It was easily an inch, maybe inch and half, thich. Of which ours was one. I’m amazed. There had to have been thousands of dollars there, maybe tens of thousands. A number of them were older than ours. So I had to ask, “How come you haven’t taken these to the bank?” “Oh, I guess I’m just slow,” was his reply. ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/4 "2010-12-17T02:36:46Z")
Sometimes when I catch up to people walking I will slow down to their pace rather than overtake, particularly if overtaking would mean I have to cut back across them quickly or do something else rude but some people walk so god-damned slow I almost fall over trying to match their pace. It baffles me how they cross the road without getting mown down, they would need a solid 2 minute gap in traffic to make it across. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/5 "2010-12-17T02:38:32Z")
Slow people got… Slow people got… Slow people got no reason to live… Don’t want no slow people 'round here. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/6 "2010-12-17T03:10:24Z")
> [@stegon66](#): > > We’ve all known slow people. I’m not talking about people who are mentally challenged (or whatever the current term for retarded is). I’m not talking about people who are physically impaired. I’m talking about those people who seem to be stuck in first gear. > [@](#): > > Mental retardation is a subtype of [intellectual disability](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_disability), although that term is now preferred by most advocates in most English-speaking countries as a [euphemism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphemism) for MR. However, intellectual disability is a broader concept, and includes intellectual deficits that are too mild to properly qualify as mental retardation, too specific (as in [specific learning disability](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_learning_disability)), or acquired later in life, through [acquired brain injuries](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquired_brain_injuries) or [neurodegenerative diseases](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodegenerative_diseases) like [dementia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia). Intellectual disabilities may appear at any age. > **[Intellectual disability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_retardation)** > > Intellectual disability (ID), also known as general learning disability (in the United Kingdom), and formerly mental retardation (in the United States), is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant impairment in intellectual and adaptive functioning that is first apparent during childhood. Children with intellectual disabilities typically have an intelligence quotient (IQ) below 70 and deficits in at least two adaptive behaviors that affect everyday living Intellect... ---
**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 17, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/7 "2010-12-17T03:25:13Z")
I’m not slow in any other way, but I’m a terribly slow eater. I chew slower than most people, I have some troubles swallowing sometimes, I have some teeth issues - mostly it’s just the way I was born, though. I would assume most slow people are the same - just the way they are. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/8 "2010-12-17T03:46:47Z")
Most people move so slowly it hurts my feelings. Seriously, I simply don’t understand and am honestly offended by the way most people shuffle about their daily business as though they’re made of time, and no one else’s time matters. If it were up to me, the Golden Rule would be “Move faster, or move to the right.” ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/9 "2010-12-17T03:52:10Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Perhaps he simply doesn’t care about what he is doing? Not everyone has a job they enjoy you know. Hmmm…I don’t think that answers the question. I wouldn’t say I’ve enjoyed my jobs…some of them were OK but boring, some I’ve downright hated, but none of them were fun. I still tend to do tasks quickly because I just tend to do everything quickly. ---
**Author:** ![tpatsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tpatsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tpatsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/10 "2010-12-17T05:08:23Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Hmmm…I don’t think that answers the question. I wouldn’t say I’ve enjoyed my jobs…some of them were OK but boring, some I’ve downright hated, but none of them were fun. I still tend to do tasks quickly because I just tend to do everything quickly. I agree I have hated many of the jobs I have had. I mean I worked at McDonald’s of all places years ago and I still worked fast. And there were people there that I wanted to punch in the face because they moved so slow. But having a job you hate doesn’t give you a reason to be a slacker. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/11 "2010-12-17T05:22:15Z")
> [@tpatsfan](#): > > I agree I have hated many of the jobs I have had. I mean I worked at McDonald’s of all places years ago and I still worked fast. And there were people there that I wanted to punch in the face because they moved so slow. But having a job you hate doesn’t give you a reason to be a slacker. Well, true, but I’m not claiming that I’ve always done my jobs to the best of my ability. 🙂 Sometimes I move quick and do a good, efficient job, and sometimes it’s quick and maybe a little sloppy…I just tend to move quickly. And, I suppose some people probably react to having a job they don’t like by trying to get tasks done and over with ASAP, vs. losing interest and dragging it out. And conversely, someone may go slow because they enjoy their job and want to do it well and thoroughly. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/12 "2010-12-17T12:36:49Z")
Are these slow people big and/or heavy? Because I have noticed that it’s the small, light people who are all the fastest ones (and this makes sense - they have less mass for their muscles to cart around. I am a fairly slow person. Also, pretty tall. And yeah, it’s just the way I am. If I can leverage my size (eg, walking somewhere) I can do okay, but anything requiring moving backwards and forwards and I’m just shot. Doesn’t help that I’m clumsy too, so if I try to do things quickly I make a mess, knock things over, and break stuff. So as well as being naturally slow, I’ve also _learned_ to be slow, for my own protection (and everybody else’s) The guy in post #3 was just a lazy bum though… ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/13 "2010-12-17T13:35:38Z")
Stubborn. My grandfather was slow, and it was just stubbornness on his part. He was gonna do what he was gonna do when he was good and ready to do it. ---
**Author:** ![stegon66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@stegon66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stegon66)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/14 "2010-12-17T15:35:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Perhaps he simply doesn’t care about what he is doing? Not everyone has a job they enjoy you know. Well, that’d be fine if others didn’t have to pick up his slack. And he’s the first person to bitch (and he does it quite loudly) if someone else forgets to do something. Basically it’s okay for him to move slowly and half-ass everything but if you only stock nine loaves of bread instead of ten he’ll cuss you out. FWIW, he’s skinny and on the tall side. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/15 "2010-12-17T15:43:21Z")
The walking is the worst, when you have to walk with these people. I admit, I am a fast walker, but I am willing to come part way to meet you. It’s when we slow down to a crawl that I am like WTF? I am not saying that you should do everything fast, but efficiency is apparently an unheard of concept in their minds. And that check story would have made me want to beat him with the checks. That’s people’s money! You do not mess with people’s money. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/16 "2010-12-17T15:54:18Z")
When my sister came home from the Army, she all-of-a-sudden started walking twice as fast as everyone else. My brother and I were always yelling at her to slow down and wait for us. Then I went and came back. My sister and I would yell at my brother to catch up. Then he went and came back. Now our SOs yell at us to wait for them. So my suggestion to you, OP, is to get the guy drafted. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/17 "2010-12-17T16:03:30Z")
I walk at the pace I walk at. You can either be with me or you can rush off like a nervous little Chuhuahua. ---
**Author:** ![Stormcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@Stormcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stormcrow)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/18 "2010-12-17T16:08:42Z")
> [@stegon66](#): > > So is he just being lazy or is there some rare malady that causes slowness? :dubious: Where are you from, and where is he from? I find that people from larger cities tend to move much faster than people from the country. It may just be simply a matter of differing upbringings - a pace of life thing. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/19 "2010-12-17T16:25:56Z")
My mom has gotten slow over the years, mainly in walking and I assume it has to do with age. I was watching her gait once and noticed she doesn’t step forward. She tends to rock back and forth to walk, a lot like this [wind up toy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwCUzYuiTdk&feature=channel). I’m not sure why she does this, I’m a touch worried her hips or knees are getting a little worn out with age. But I had a roommate in college who was genuinely slow. It was like every single thing he did was a series of discreet movements and not one fluid process. For example, I “tied my shoe”. My roommate didn’t “tie his shoe”. He pulled evenly on both laces until the criss-crossing over the top of his foot felt snug, then he crossed the laces, then he fed one lace under the other lace using the index finger of his right hand, then he pulled the two laces to make them tighter using the thumb and fore finger of each hand gripping the ends of each lace, then he used his left forefinger and his left thumb to make a loop, about three inches long, with the left lace, then he wrapped the lace on the right once around the base of this loop, then he fed a loop of right lace under the left lace using his right forefinger again, then he pulled, both loops until they tightened to be snug. Then he started on the double knot. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459/20 "2010-12-17T16:26:53Z")
The people you call slow are just doing what they do with care and caution instead of running around like chickens with their heads cut off, bumping into everyone, going the wrong way, and causing the chaos that the ‘slow’ people have to clean up after. Unless they’re slower than me, and then they’re just idiots. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-slow-people-slow/564459.md?page=2)