Walking Entitlement

walking-silhouette-clip-art  

Where do I even begin? Lets begin in Los Angeles because what I’m about to jump into *mainly occurs in LA.

Imagine you come to an area (LA) with a dream and you don’t meet the dream in the time period you set for yourself. Now imagine being around tons of people who have the same dream, and those people seem to be multiplying and they’re not hitting their dream strides either. They’re getting frustrated, now you’re getting frustrated. You’re chasing after what you want and you’re being rejected… so are other people. Fuck, a bunch of people are getting really frustrated! You feel out of control. Bunches of people feel out of control. You need to take a walk and think about things, you need to feel in control.

Enter – Walking Entitlement.

I’ve never been around so many people who seem to be totally fucking clueless when walking across a street or on a sidewalk. But they’re not really clueless, they’re minding their own business, which of course is fine, but they’re not minding unspoken spatial laws of life. The law that may or may not state: Being aware is a priority when walking in a congested city with frustrated humans.

I believe that people feel so out of control in their jobs or pursuit of jobs that they relieve frustration by trying to show themselves and others they’re in control. One place to do this… when taking a walk. It sounds ridiculous but it’s true.

People in LA just step into streets with a 30-mile per hour car 10 feet away and expect a full stop.

People walk with dogs and occupy full sidewalk without worrying about others walking towards them.

People walk in bunches on a sidewalk and don’t move when you’re walking by yourself.

I’ve heard people say “I’m going to sue you if you hit me” and walk in front of cars when they shouldn’t be walking… just because. What kind of asshole does that? People feel entitled while walking. Really, when they’re driving too, but that is a different story. It all breaks down to CONTROL. Which I get… but you don’t have to be an asshole.

I wish there were rules in stone that would allow people to do something to absentminded walkers without facing repercussions.

(Just drifted into a world that sees people getting “get out of jail free” digital cards to allow you to teach appropriate lesson without actually harming the person. In this world there is also specialized honking horns that directs attention at poor drivers).

Okay, I’m back.

Walking entitlement. I get that it’s everywhere, but it’s especially bad in LA. I’ve never seen anything like it. It boils down to being unaware of your surroundings and thinking you can just go. The danger of the unaware walker is that it’s a bigger risk for accident or problem to other people. Having said all of that…

I love LA.

(Cue: Randy Newman)

Woman Trick #87

I should start by saying this may sound a little creepy. But I have noticed something that is common with many different women. When I’m walking down the street and I find myself walking behind a woman many times she’ll stop and look in her purse, as I pass she’ll finish up looking in her purse and continue walking.

When I first noticed this I didn’t think much of it, then I noticed it time and time again. Eventually I went complete creeper and started to walk behind women to see if they’d do it. Most would, some wouldn’t.

I called my buddy Dortch. I asked him “Hey do you ever notice if you walk behind a woman they look in their purse?”

His reply: “Ah yes, one of the oldest tricks. It happens all the time.”

So it’s not just me! I equate this to a few things:

Women feel uncomfortable and think they’re going to get mugged.

Women think they guy behind them is looking at their ass.

Women feel out of control and want to regain it by walking behind.

Errr… Maybe it’s something in their purse?

Those are the four conclusions I came up with. But I’m curious if women do this when other women walk behind them?

Either way this finds itself as woman trick #87: The fake purse check on the street.

Your personality - The Street Crosser.

You’re either one of two people and this can be determined by how you cross the street.

The Scenario: A car is either making a turn or it i headed straight, however it is coming directly at you, but you need to cross the street. 

A) You kind of hesitate to make eye contact with the car’s driver to make sure he/she sees you. You start to creep across the street but you don’t commit, you need to make sure they see you. Once they see you… you walk across the street, give a possible nice wave.

B) You have walkers entitlement, you are the pedestrian and they are the driver. You put your eyes to the other side of the road and you make your B-Line to cross the street. You KNOW you have the right of way and you need not look at the driver because in the back of your head you KNOW he/she will stop… at least you hope they stop. 

If you fall in the “A” category typically you pick up you pace a bit, always give a friendly wave, and tend to be a little more cautious.

If you fall in the “B” category you’re the person who walks in the middle of a parking lot not caring that the car creeping behind you, needs to pass. If you fall here, you have the walkman’s entitlement. And tend to be a tad bit careless.

The Study is 100 percent accurate.