When walking and someone is walking the opposite direction directly at you, some people move out of the way and others seem to refuse to move. Why do some people act like you need to move for them? I feel like both people should move a little bit out of simple courtesy. What happens when two people who refuse to move come across each other? I don’t see people running into each other or standing face to face waiting for the other person to move. Is there some kind of subtle, subliminal social structure on who should move out of the other persons way?
3 comments
Common sense. Your brain is constantly analysing the environment choosing the best route.
Some examples for this situation of crossing another person and stepping aside could be that the other person is older, pregnant, scary, lifting weight, carrying something, not looking where he/she is going.
The same thing applies the other way
This was a great Dr. Seuss visual in a story called “The Zax.”
Two people walking (in a VERY wide open space) came upon each other and refused to move. Eventually a highway is built around them and the world moves on. But THEY don’t!
They aren’t actually ‘people’ they are a fictional two-legged species called Zax. But still, the point is made.
As an aside it’s often the case that less self-confident people tend to move out of the way for more self-confident people. But I agree that it’s polite when BOTH people give up a little space!
From my experience when both people try to go out of each others way they end up mirroring the movement and you still end up in each others way.
I personally go in straight line where there is a biker/scooter going in my direction, because it’s a lot harder for them to fastly adapt to a sudden change. Thus me walking straight makes it easier for them to maneuver around me.