Do you SLOW your WALK if you see an OLD MAN in front?
@lordwarwizard (35747)
Singapore
April 5, 2007 4:10am CST
Here's a real situation that I encounter pretty often. Imagine: You are running late for an appointment and you step up your pace. Repeated excuse-me's volley out of your mouth as you elbow your way through the crowd. There.. you finally reach a clear space and you can march forward without obstruction.
But wait! You see an old man in front. Mind you, not one of those well dressed gentlemen with a diamond crusted cane and a string of bodyguards around him. But one frail looking, sympathy-evoking old man who is hobbling with a limp.
What do you do in this situation? Do you continue walking briskly past him since he is really none of your concern? Or do you actually slow your walk? I always slow down when I walk past people like him. All of us grow old and one day, we might find ourselves unable to walk fast too. All of us were young once and most of us had probably enjoyed the exhilaration of being able to run on our feet. But when you get old and need to limp around, how would you take to some youngster who speeds past you without a care?
I just feel it is cruel to remind that old man that I am younger and still have my good two legs. Though he must have got used to this change in circumstance, it still feels wrong to rub salt onto his wounds. What do you think? Am I over-reacting? Or do you slow down your pace when you walk past the elderly too?
39 people like this
100 responses
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Are you out of your mind? Honestly or have you gotten so grand here in mylot you have forgotten your station? You expect everyone here to read your entire post. Run over an old man indeed. Maybe you could at least say hello on your barrel through. Wizard I wonder if you know what it is to at least get out of the bed and have bones hurt. Maybe the walk he is taking is 1'2 a block. Who are you just bowled me over and not given me the right to walk that block. Just in your post you are telling me that I an old man do not have the same rights to a side walk. You younger folks to busy and have to hurry, hurry, to your job. It's okay run me over. I am done! I have no right to this sidewalk, this street.
8 people like this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
5 Apr 07
"Who are you just bowled me over and not given me the right to walk that block." I did not add the punctuation that was needed to make you understand that in my voice I was speaking for the old man.
My whole point here is how many responses do you expect to get on the other side of the coin.
Yes Lord wizard I run over old men all day. What kind of a post is this? I am neither a teenager nor a thorn in your side I just found this whole post outrageous given your status.
4 people like this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
5 Apr 07
Ack, I'm not sure what to say here. =p
For one thing, what lordwarwizard is saying doesn't seem to have anything to do with knocking the old man down. The question seems to be either walking slower so as not to make him feel bad that he walks so slow, or just continuing about your way at your previous pace.
If it were indeed "Would you knock the poor old guy over?" then I could see the offense. I see why even someone in their forties could feel offended by it, because at any age someone could have problems that keep them from walking well. Heck, I'm 26 and have arthritis in my knees that keeps me from walking well on the worst days for it.
Still, I honestly believe lordwarwizard didn't expect to get "Yeah I knock the old coot over" responses, so much as possibly "No, I just go carefully around him" or "Yeah, I slow down too" responses.
5 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
5 Apr 07
Angelwhispers, your language befuddles my mind. Did you or did you not read through my entire discussion? If you did not, my take is that you are not even fit to respond. Nevertheless, I have gotten so "grand" that I have forgotten my "station", and I will be nice and try to decipher your ramblings anyway.
I must confess though that I am having much difficulty. You wrote "Who are you just bowled me over and not given me the right to walk that block." This implies that you are a teenager and you are questioning why you cannot just knock the old man apart as you speed past him. After all, you are a fellow human too and you have a right to the space.
Then you said "You younger folks to busy and have to hurry, hurry, to your job. It's okay run me over. I am done! I have no right to this sidewalk, this street." This implies that you are old and you are condemning me for suggesting that old people have no right to be walking in other people's way. If you have had the courtesy to read my discussion carefully, you will see that on the contrary, I am asking people to respect the elderly.
From your profile, you are in your forties. This is an age that is neither too young nor too old. As such, I don't know what to make of your response. What exactly is your grievance? I would appreciate if you be clearer so that I would at least know what you are wrongly accusing me of.
6 people like this
@jazzafrazz (910)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
Honestly, I have caught myself walking like a penguin with two left feet while walking behind the elderly trying to pass them by. I often find those to be funny moments i don't know why. Then when I try to pass I'm always being so nice that I find myself wanting just waddle behind them with funny expressions on my face. I'm not mocking them or at least I'm not trying to. Sometime I'll just wait until there's an opening to pass. But If I do that, I have to really pick up my pace or they'll prolly trip over my 13 size shoes.. that thought often sits in the back of my mind. Thank you for your discussion, I'll be sure to waddle faster!
7 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
5 Apr 07
If you didn't say so, I almost thought you were mocking them by your description! :P
3 people like this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Jazz? do you believe in karma? Or any thought pattern that says what goes around comes around?
3 people like this
@jazzafrazz (910)
• Canada
6 Apr 07
Nobody can say that they have never done anything different. As far as anything coming back to haunt me, well that would most likely be planned! I'm sure we've all done something rather close, if not exactly that!
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
I walk slower than many older people, and I really don't care if somebody walks faster than I do. It doesn't change the speed of my walking and I do not want to hold them up just because I cannot walk fast.
7 people like this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Hello you...Sorry haven't been around much, I'm actually working now no more training... :)
But, in my office there are two men in particular that's older. There is one man that walks with two canes and he's very very slow. However, If I'm behind him I will slow down, once I pass him I speed up. I think most people respect the fact they are infact slow and most the time he will just move to the side to let people get by.
I personally don't think it's cruel especially if I have somewhere to be and I'm not pushing them to move faster. Most the people in my building will move aside or even say excuse me...Some don't...It's about 900 people in my building not only does some of the older ones walk slow but even the younger ones...lol
I'm a fast walker also, I don't know why always have been though...
7 people like this
@lucy67 (819)
• China
5 Apr 07
i appreciate your feeling for the old. as for me, perhaps i will walk past the elderly coz i am in such a hurry. but i will take care not to push him or complain he is in my way. besides, perhaps the elderly will not feel so sad when they find youngers walk faster than they do.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I slow down.. I can see how someone could accuse you of over reacting.. but I'm afraid the wind of one's passing could disorient the person and I can just picture them falling and on go I in ignorant and uncaring bliss..
Seriously though.. I do slow down..
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Usually I will just walk right on by the person if they are walking slowly. There have been times where I will slow my pace but for the most part I will go by the person, whether they are elderly or not. There are a lot of young people that walk really slowly too. It would not bother me if I was elderly and people walked by me. People walk by me now as it is and do not care. Some people might be in a hurry to get somewhere which is fine.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
5 Apr 07
I always try to be careful around the elderly. They deserve respect. ;-)
3 people like this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I do not care who suggested you as a friend. This one is a disgrace. Jesus you expect some one to tell you yes I would run over the old ******* over? I wonder my dear wizard how many OH I WOULD JUST MOVE OVER responses you are going to get on this one?
3 people like this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I wanted to make a joke about just blasting on past, or even (gently) pushing them aside if need be, but I just couldn't do it! See How I just had to add the word "gently" in parenthesis.. The elderly are a precious resource.. Lord Wizzy is quite right to slow down.. Though there's no fault in hurrying by either!! Yes, I think (and certainly would hope) all folks are most careful in this..
:))
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
5 Apr 07
I don't know what's wrong with this angel lass. She misread my discussion and still goes all pompous in wrecking my discussion. This is the 3rd irrelevant response she has posted.
3 people like this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
5 Apr 07
if i am not runing late for the appointment
and i will have an elderly walking with me on the same side of the road, i will walk behind him, or go and offer him some help if i see he is carrying some heavy things.
but if i am runing late for an appointment
i will go on the other side of the road so he wouldn't be insolted.
but you know i am not sure i agree with all of things you said.
i know that many elderly people like being around youth.
they like being treated normally and not like they are old.
i know that my grandfather was like that.
he always hated when someone treated him specially like is handicapped or somthing just because he is old.
he adored being with young people, he always said it helps him love life.
so i guess there are different kinds of elderly people:)
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
5 Apr 07
I guess we have to be diplomatic and see what kind of behavior they like.
2 people like this
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
5 Apr 07
I will try to slow down when I see an old man in front,eveen I am in a hurry, I just do not want to make him trip over because of me if I walk too fast. If he fell down on the street ,I will be guilty of myself and I may have to stop for even longer time to help him.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
5 Apr 07
Many have commented that I walked rather fast. Or is it roll? So far, I don't remember coming across the situation mentioned. Or maybe I have, but did not realised it since I was crawling at a fast pace.
I have been taught to look far ahead, and if I see any obstacle in front, I will detour by default. If there is isn't any space for me to bypass, it means I am forced to slow down. Don't worry, I would not crashing into the grandpa. I will go slow behind him.
Whether I will overtake the grandpa if there is any opportunity, I not sure. Maybe yes, as I am rather impatient with slow walk unless I have company.
And yes, you did give me something for thought. I should walk with him. LOL.
@venkyvenky (621)
• India
5 Apr 07
I do.i even try to help them if they need to cross the road. Until they are comfortable,, i help them and then go on my way.I ahve done this lot many times on the road, at the railway station too.i feel so bad if i see them strucggling at these splaces hence i stop and slow down and sometimes even help them whenever theya re in need of
@marlyse (1056)
• Switzerland
6 Apr 07
i like the way you act. its gentlemanlike. when i was able to run, i did slow down too, because once an old woman felt directly to my feet and i had to take care that i didnt step on her. that woman felt in coma and i was glad i could help her. i find it better to slow down, because some of the elder people are afraid of someone in hurry. they feel unsure and are afraid to fall down.
@xfallenxlostx (2074)
• United States
6 Apr 07
Well, before when i COULD walk fast, i used to slow down for the elderly. It's just rude to brush past them like an annoyance or obstruction. Now i am more in the situation of the old man since my accident. Half the time i am in a wheelchair and the other half i have to stop every hundred feet to breathe becauase my lungs are so bad. i knwo how that old person feels...wich everyone rudely brushing past you with annoyed looks on their faces because you simply CANNOT move any faster...
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
6 Apr 07
I can try to understand your situation.. sorry to hear about it. :/
@anonymili (3138)
•
5 Apr 07
I am not the fastest walker than I know but I tend not to take notice of other people. I would carrying on walking at the pace I was walking at regardless of whether I was passing an elderly person or I was being passed by a sprightly teenager. It all depends on how quickly I need to get to wherever I need to get to. I would never push past someone to get my way but I would not slow down or speed up for the benefit of others. Saying that I do feel rather annoyed when I see people walking past elderly people almost knocking them over in their rush to get past. If the path is clear, walk around them, if not, a polite "excuse me" does no harm if you're in a hurry, or just walk till there is space to pass them :)
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
5 Apr 07
I am usually afraid of saying "excuse me" to them too. It's like, they may turn around and wonder if you are trying to rob them. When you are old, you might feel some insecurity when walking the streets alone... that's why I normally just try to make myself inconspicuous when walking past them.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
5 Apr 07
i'll slow down while i'm behind him-but when i can pass without being insulting,i do.
i try not to look like i want them to hurry,because sometimes they'll try to speed up and fall.i've seen it happen.
3 people like this
@net_chick (103)
• Philippines
6 Apr 07
I usually slow down and ask if the elderly needs my help, sometimes they would say yes but sometimes they would answer that they can walk by themselves... It's not that I pity them because they can't walk properly but it is because I feel that is the most courteous thing to do when faced upon that kind of situation... and just think of someone old you know, probably your grandma, don't you wish that someone would also help her and be courteous to her whenever she is away from home
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
6 Apr 07
I am not the right one to answer this one but I am going to try. I am a RN by trade and worked with the elderly for 20years. I now am disabled and walk with a cane and on bad days use a walker.
I do not mind when someone walkes fast or rushes past me. I do hate the feeling of holding someone up. I do not want to make some late for an appointment.
I to like that you respect that the older generation enough to slow down and walk slowly around them.
