Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
Time for some self-assessment. Below, via the WSJ, four tell-tale signs of the "sidewalk rager".
1. You act like a crazy lunatic on crowded sidewalks.
Signs of a sidewalk rager include muttering or bumping into others; uncaringly hogging a walking lane; and acting in a hostile manner by staring, giving a "mean face" or approaching others too closely, says Leon James, a psychology professor at the University of Hawaii who studies pedestrian and driver aggression.
2. You believe that there exists an unspoken pedestrian code of conduct.
Ragers tend to have a strong sense of how other people should behave. Their code: Slower people keep to the right. Step aside to take a picture. And the left side of an escalator should be, of course, kept free for anyone wanting to walk up.
3. You possess negative or violent thoughts toward fellow pedestrians.
Ragers' thoughts tend to be overly negative, over-generalized and blown out of proportion, leaving them fuming about how they can't stand the situation, how late they are going to be, and how this always comes up, Dr. Deffenbacher says...Some ragers say that thinking insulting thoughts about other pedestrians serves as "mental venting"—and makes them feel better.
4. Friends or family comment on your aggressive sidewalk habits.
If friends or family comment on your anger, or you think you need to tell someone how to walk—however politely—you may have a problem, says Dr. James, who devised the Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome Scale.
If you exhibit one or more of these symptoms regularly, you are not alone. You have me for company.
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Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
Strong with that one, the parent ego state force is.
Oct '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
Does it say anything about the what the signs are for laundry room ennui? And should I be self-medicating with bourbon or cookies?
Oct '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
Please say these studies were not via government grants.
The impatience with others who do not conform to your model is rather selfish on its face. Getting to point A from point B does not require being a bully.
Real anger management means you go home and chop firewood, a productive end.
Jun '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
I'm an advanced case, based on that description. I walk fast and purposeful and insist that everyone stay focused on the task of reaching their destination. No dilly dallying! I was especially aggrieved in Russia where it seemed like there was no street walking social contract at all. I also try to stick to "the right side of the road" while walking. However, in England, it causes me quite a lot of trouble because I think many of them are using the same concept, but from the wrong darn side. Yes, if you could only hear my silent rage.
Jul '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
Diane, I navigated the sidewalks of Manhattan for 20 years. I can tell you that rage is folly; you have to keep your cool.
It's like being a jockey or a race-car driver: you have to constantly scan the pack ahead, looking for your slot and making your move with split-second precision. It's almost like dancing.
Yeah. Dancing.
Oct '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
"It's like being a jockey or a race-car driver: you have to constantly scan the pack ahead, looking for your slot and making your move with split-second precision."
And then the wallflower who was leaning against the wall for the past 25 hours will take that one single step that forcloses your path to freedom.
Jul '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
I exhibit all of those symptoms but strangely, my friends and family think I could actually go a lot further with any of them. So I guess if I've got sidewalk rage...at least it's better than my Grandmother's case? I exhibit very little sidewalk rage to the courteous, and should get points for that, too.
Jul '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
I consider Myself a "grocery store rager."
Jun '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
I guess I have "sidewalk rage" of another variety: I rage at the idiots who walk in the street in our suburban neighborhood, when there is (as I always mutter) a PERFECTLY GOOD SIDEWALK they could be using. And believe me, it's not like the sidewalk is monopolized by other ragers!
Dec '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
One word - airports. I have a different pace in the airport. I tend to walk a little quicker than normal to make sure I'm at my gate on time. I often experience intense rage when people violate the escalator - or more egregiously the moving sidewalk - stand to the right dictum. Keep in mind that in the case of the moving sidewalks it is NOT an unstated rule - virtually every one of them has either a sign or a recorded announcement telling the standers to stand to the right.
But the worst case in memory was in the Cincinnati airport. There is a 2 story escalator going from the tunnel up to the exit. Several flights had unloaded at close to the same time, so the escalator was heavily packed. 4 elderly women in a group reach the top, take one step off and then decide to stop and have a conversation while the escaltor continues to vomit hundreds of people behind them.
The discussion should be about how rude it is to impede pedestrian traffic.
Sep '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
The broader issue is social rage: righteous indignation at those lazy, rude, or self-involved dolts who violate the social compact with reckless abandon. Litterers. Loud cell phone talkers. Left lane drivers. Airport wanderers.
A little rage is a good thing. How else are we going to enforce the basic niceties of society? A vocal response to rude behaviour should be encouraged. "Hey, buddy! You just dropped this cigarette butt."
May '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
I noticed in Europe that crosswalks are either non-existent or ignored entirely. I've been told the trick is to not make eye contact with drivers.
Diane Ellis, Ed.:
4. Friends or family comment on your aggressive sidewalk habits.
What did you do, Diane?
Sep '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
Fat people are wide and slow, a bad combination.
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
Steven Drexler: The broader issue is social rage: righteous indignation at those lazy, rude, or self-involved dolts who violate the social compact with reckless abandon. Litterers. Loud cell phone talkers. Left lane drivers. Airport wanderers.
I'll add to your list those slobs who don't pick up their dog's dirt on city sidewalks. That's about as rude as you can get. You're virtually ensuring that some poor soul will step in it at some point during the day or night. When I see folks ignore their dog poop, I offer them a bag...and have to try with all my might not to insult them.
Dec '10
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Steven Drexler: The broader issue is social rage: righteous indignation at those lazy, rude, or self-involved dolts who violate the social compact with reckless abandon. Litterers. Loud cell phone talkers. Left lane drivers. Airport wanderers.
I'll add to your list those slobs who don't pick up their dog's dirt on city sidewalks. That's about as rude as you can get. You're virtually ensuring that some poor soul will step in it at some point during the day or night. When I see folks ignore their dog poop, I offer them a bag...and have to try with all my might not to insult them. · Feb 16 at 1:21pm
I just go ahead and insult them. 'Course, I'm a relatively large guy.
Re: Four Signs That You May Have "Sidewalk Rage"
The Great Adventure!
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Steven Drexler: The broader issue is social rage: righteous indignation at those lazy, rude, or self-involved dolts who violate the social compact with reckless abandon. Litterers. Loud cell phone talkers. Left lane drivers. Airport wanderers.
I'll add to your list those slobs who don't pick up their dog's dirt on city sidewalks. That's about as rude as you can get. You're virtually ensuring that some poor soul will step in it at some point during the day or night. When I see folks ignore their dog poop, I offer them a bag...and have to try with all my might not to insult them. · Feb 16 at 1:21pm
I just go ahead and insult them. 'Course, I'm a relatively large guy. · Feb 16 at 3:56pm
I'm not a large guy. But I do carry pepper spray (in a pink spritzer).