# You're walking. Where are you looking? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715 "2017-04-18T17:14:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/1 "2017-04-18T17:14:46Z")
When I walk, my eyeballs roam everywhere. Indoors, I’m looking flyers on the wall, gazing down the hall to see who’s coming toward me, checking out lights, trim, paint, whatever. Outdoors, I’m taking in the scenery, watching cars go by, and so on. Sometimes I encounter other pedestrians whose eyes are perpetually locked onto the ground a few feet in front of them. For some it may be social anxiety, although I see some people who do this even when there’s no one in their immediate vicinity, and on occasions when I talk to them, they seem fine. For others…I don’t know. I’m at a loss to understand why they seem so focused on that patch of ground right in front of them. Are you one of those ground watchers? Why do you do that? What’s going through your mind while you walk? ---
**Author:** ![Lowdown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Lowdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lowdown)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/2 "2017-04-18T17:30:54Z")
Mostly boobs, sometimes I watch out for traffic. I don’t get the ground watchers either. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/3 "2017-04-18T17:35:28Z")
I had some idiot texting and walking nearly impale himself on my skis in the parking lot. I had to yell at him, “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING!” ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/4 "2017-04-18T17:36:02Z")
My phone. I’m using the time to read/respond to text messages. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/5 "2017-04-18T18:11:23Z")
Like the OP, everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/6 "2017-04-18T18:29:26Z")
Another one who is always looking around, except when someone is walking toward me, then I am directly at them. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/7 "2017-04-18T18:40:20Z")
I’m looking around unless I’m tired and going home. Then it’s straight ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/8 "2017-04-18T21:23:59Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I had some idiot texting and walking nearly impale himself on my skis in the parking lot. I had to yell at him, “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING!” > [@kayaker](#): > > My phone. I’m using the time to read/respond to text messages. Does this need to be taken to the pit? 😉 ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/9 "2017-04-18T21:30:37Z")
I watch where I’m going. I look at people who are in my vicinity (personal security), I watch for cars when crossing the street - especially over my left shoulder to make sure nobody is going to turn and run me down (personal safety), and I walk into people who are walking directly at me and too busy to stop texting or reading the latest LOL to observe common courtesies. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/10 "2017-04-18T21:33:03Z")
Mostly ground watcher here. Mainly because the sidewalk potholes are just as bad as the ones in the streets. Many of the concrete blocks are lifted and you take your life in your hands if you ignore this. Occasionally I find money but that is not my reason. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/11 "2017-04-18T21:38:42Z")
I am aware of the world around me. As such, I am able to avoid people locked in to their texting or just walking, looking at the ground and nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/12 "2017-04-18T21:57:07Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > Mostly boobs, sometimes I watch out for traffic. I don’t get the ground watchers either. When people drop money, it tends to land on the ground, so while I don’t look _only_ at the ground, I do keep watch. I find pennies often, dimes and nickels occasionally, and rarely quarters. I think the most I’ve found in one spot were two one-dollar bills in a parking lot. It never ceases to amaze me how much money people drop and just can’t be arsed to pick up, not that I’m complaining any, mind you.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/13 "2017-04-18T21:59:58Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > When I walk, my eyeballs roam everywhere. > > Are you one of those ground watchers? Why do you do that? What’s going through your mind while you walk? Depends on where I’m walking. Growing up, I walked across rough terrain and crudely plowed fields a lot. Looking down saves face-plants. In uncertain terrain, I still do this. Most times, though, my head is on a swivel. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/14 "2017-04-18T22:02:31Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > When people drop money, it tends to land on the ground, so while I don’t look _only_ at the ground, I do keep watch. I find pennies often, dimes and nickels occasionally, and rarely quarters. I think the most I’ve found in one spot were two one-dollar bills in a parking lot. > [@](#): > > Ain’t no point in looking down > Ain’t no mortgage on the ground… With apologies to a thousand generations of drill sergeants… ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/15 "2017-04-18T22:09:50Z")
> [@Tranquilis](#): > > Depends on where I’m walking. Growing up, I walked across rough terrain and crudely plowed fields a lot. Looking down saves face-plants. Yeah, as I get older and the cost of falls increases, I scan the ground in front of me a lot more than I used to. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/16 "2017-04-18T22:14:03Z")
I normally keep my eyes on where I’m going, but when I moved back to Saint Paul from Berkeley a few years ago, I noticed I was falling back into watching the ground, because it’s pretty important to know if you’re about to step onto an icy patch. Plus, people in St. Paul don’t seem to be so aggressive about picking up after their dogs. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/17 "2017-04-18T22:28:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Does this need to be taken to the pit? 😉 😃 Although I’m reading/sending texts, I’ve never run into anyone. I no longer read texts in the car (even at red lights it freaks out my gf), so I look at my phone while intermittently looking up while I’m walking. A few weeks ago I took our dogs for a walk in the woods. I know the trails by heart, so I was comfortable catching up on texts and emails. Suddenly all three dogs froze and I stopped short, barely avoiding falling over them. Looking where they were looking, I saw nothing. Until the herd of deer jumped up from the weeds where they had bedded down. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/18 "2017-04-19T00:13:37Z")
I pay pretty close attention to the ground. Even if it’s a smooth sidewalk, I look down often, to make sure of my footing. I look up, also: I admire the scenery. But maybe 2/3 of my attention is on the ground a step or two ahead of me, especially out on the hiking trails. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/19 "2017-04-19T00:15:33Z")
Mostly , concentrating on where I was planning to go when I started out, like kitchen or bathroom, so I don’t forget along the way. Once in Nicaragua, I tripped over a cow that was snoozing on a footpath. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715/20 "2017-04-19T01:00:19Z")
Where I live, I tend to watch the ground more because I am walking in the forest or on other very uneven footing. Also want to avoid stepping on random amphibians or slugs (ours are 6" long and bright yellow). In the suburbs, I track my trajectory mostly, as the whole thing is built for cars and you can waste a lot of time otherwise. In the city, I watch everything. The more lonely the street, the more proactive I become. The last time I lived in a city it was in a ghetto. Most of the women I knew walked in the middle of the street, away from doorways and alleys. I don’t go to the city much any more. I never walk and text. I consider it an incredibly stupid thing to do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-walking-where-are-you-looking/784715.md?page=2)