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Brenden
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« on: August 10, 2010, 03:44:35 PM » |
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Something I have always wondered about since it's odd.
Why am I expected to treat moving sidewalks and escalators as though they were normal floors or stairs? If you aren't walking on a moving sidewalk, people look at you like you're the weird one, but it's a moving sidewalk, isn't the idea of making the floor move done so you don't have to do the walking yourself? If we were supposed to treat it as just a normal floor, why even have it? The same thing happens with escalators, we having the stairs move for us because we don't want to climb the stairs ourselves, otherwise I'd just use the stairs.
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murlough23
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« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2010, 04:12:57 PM » |
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Something I have always wondered about since it's odd.
Why am I expected to treat moving sidewalks and escalators as though they were normal floors or stairs? If you aren't walking on a moving sidewalk, people look at you like you're the weird one, but it's a moving sidewalk, isn't the idea of making the floor move done so you don't have to do the walking yourself? If we were supposed to treat it as just a normal floor, why even have it? The same thing happens with escalators, we having the stairs move for us because we don't want to climb the stairs ourselves, otherwise I'd just use the stairs.
Your velocity plus the escalator/conveyor belt's velocity = a much faster velocity than you could normally walk. You can view it as either a way to do no work, or just as a way to get farther with less work. I don't have a problem with folks standing still on these things, but in situations like airports where they're installed to help people walk longer distances quickly and efficiently, I do get annoyed when a group of people standing still is blocking the path for the walkers. It should be treated like a stationary floor or regular stairs in that sense - don't stand around preventing others from getting by. If you want a break from walking, leave room for folks to get around you. This reminds me of the old joke about the power outage that left thousands of (insert whatever ethnicity you want to disparage) stranded on escalators. EDIT: People also may be moving heavy or awkward items up/down escalators or across long sections of floor in some of these places as well. So they do serve a function beyond just laziness. Dragging a 50 pound suitcase up a flight of stairs can be a real pain in the ass. |
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« Last Edit: August 10, 2010, 04:15:27 PM by murlough23 »
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Vlad!
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« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2010, 04:45:53 PM » |
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By now most people seem to have boarded the cluetrain about walking on moving sidewalks, though you do still get the occasional morbidly obese individual whose posterior alone prevents forward motion. However, it seems like stopping on escalators is still common practice; I usually take the stairs and reach the top before the people in front of me who got on the escalator.
(As to *why* you should keep moving on these contrivances, murlough pretty much got it in one. They're not there so you can be lazy, they're there to help you get where you're going faster.)
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« Last Edit: August 10, 2010, 05:01:47 PM by Vlad! »
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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murlough23
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« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2010, 04:55:16 PM » |
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(As to *why* you should keep moving on these contrivances, murlough pretty much got it in one. They're not there so you can be lazy, they're there to help you get where you're going faster.)
With the caveat that if I'm carrying something heavy or that rolls, I'm going to appreciate the break when I step on an escalator. I have an inherent mistrust of elevators. I use them when necessary and it's no big deal, but I get nervous when they rattle and so forth. This might explain why I didn't visit the Space Needle last week. |
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enemy anemone
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« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2010, 04:58:11 PM » |
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However, it seems like stopping on elevators is still common practice
I like to run around in circles when I'm in an elevator. |
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murlough23
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« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2010, 05:01:59 PM » |
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I have a real pet peeve with folks who don't pay attention to whether an elevator's going up or down until they're in the middle of stepping into one, then they stop IN THE DOORWAY to ask you which way you're going. Either that or they press buttons and act confused when they won't light up. This almost always results in wasted time* for the people who know where they're going as the confused people either keep the doors from closing or have to make the elevator stop on an extra floor so that they can get out and "turn around" without taking the ride all the way down and back up (which would probably take about the same length of time, unless there's a large bank of elevators).
(*I realize they're wasting, like, a few seconds of my life. It just gets irritating when it's a daily occurrence in my place of employment. Not so much the time spent, just having to continually put up with people not having a clue.)
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Vlad!
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« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2010, 07:36:31 PM » |
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I'm amused that this discussion of elevators came about because my brain doesn't work right and I can't type 'escalator' correctly.
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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Brenden
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« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2010, 11:53:35 PM » |
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(As to *why* you should keep moving on these contrivances, murlough pretty much got it in one. They're not there so you can be lazy, they're there to help you get where you're going faster.) There's being lazy, and then there's being chill and not in such a hurry all the time. If I was in a rush, I'd be running down a normal floor or up normal stairs, not walking at normal speed on a moving sidewalk. I like the chance to just chill for a few moments while the machine does the work. Besides, does it really matter if I get to the next floor a few seconds faster than I would if I weren't always rushing? Or down the hallway a few seconds faster than I would taking my time? |
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murlough23
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« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2010, 12:47:55 AM » |
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There's being lazy, and then there's being chill and not in such a hurry all the time. If I was in a rush, I'd be running down a normal floor or up normal stairs, not walking at normal speed on a moving sidewalk. I like the chance to just chill for a few moments while the machine does the work. Besides, does it really matter if I get to the next floor a few seconds faster than I would if I weren't always rushing? Or down the hallway a few seconds faster than I would taking my time?
It could matter if you're late to catch a plane or something. Though I guess the plane won't take off without you and with your luggage on board, at least not in this country, but it'll be really embarrassing if you're being paged by name throughout the terminal. In a shopping mall or something, yeah, not such a big deal. All the same, just chill without blocking the path and then everything'll be agreeable for both the chill folks and the hurried folks. it's cool if people want to take their time, but people taking their time who are completely oblivious to those whose paths they are blocking really annoy me. |
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Vlad!
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« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2010, 07:18:54 AM » |
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There's being lazy, and then there's being chill and not in such a hurry all the time. If I was in a rush, I'd be running down a normal floor or up normal stairs, not walking at normal speed on a moving sidewalk. I like the chance to just chill for a few moments while the machine does the work. Besides, does it really matter if I get to the next floor a few seconds faster than I would if I weren't always rushing? Or down the hallway a few seconds faster than I would taking my time?
If I'm walking through an airport, I'm not there to chill...I'm there to accomplish a goal (namely, get to my gate on time). Once I'm at the gate, then I can chill by sitting down and reading a book until my section is called for boarding. Believe me, I can appreciate the "hey, slow down, enjoy life" attitude, but moving sidewalks are for people who are trying to get somewhere. If you want to chill, do it on a bench. To turn your question around, do the few seconds you remain motionless really improve your mental well-being all that much? If you were strolling forward rather than remaining stationary, would you really be that much less relaxed? (If so then I think you have bigger problems than impatient jerks behind you). |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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Brenden
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« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2010, 08:11:55 AM » |
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Believe me, I can appreciate the "hey, slow down, enjoy life" attitude, but moving sidewalks are for people who are trying to get somewhere. If you want to chill, do it on a bench. To turn your question around, do the few seconds you remain motionless really improve your mental well-being all that much? If you were strolling forward rather than remaining stationary, would you really be that much less relaxed?
(If so then I think you have bigger problems than impatient jerks behind you).
I worked as a server for three years where I had to move at full tilt most of my shift, 40 hours a week. After a while you start to appreciate the chance to let the machine do the work for you instead of having to book to wherever you need to be. It's not a matter of being less relaxed, it's a matter of not having any need to continue walking. Why do I NEED to keep moving and not just let the machine do the work? Obviously I don't get in anyone's way, but people getting frustrated at those who roll their eyes and can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to keep on moving. |
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Vlad!
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« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2010, 09:09:52 AM » |
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Lulz. Why do I NEED to keep moving and not just let the machine do the work?
You don't NEED to, but even if I'm in no hurry, I find it to be better to just keep on going at a slow amble rather than stopping and starting again in a few seconds. It's not like moving sidewalks are long enough to let you take a particularly significant rest. If I'm tired, I'll just try to get where I'm going faster so I can take a longer rest once I get there. (I can understand wanting to stop on escalators since for many people climbing stairs is a nontrivial amount of exercise, but when I'm in a hurry it's annoying how it's actually faster to hoof it up the stairs than to deal with the loiterers on the escalator. If you want to stand still, find the elevator and use it.) |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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Brenden
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« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2010, 09:27:21 AM » |
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If you want to stand still, find the elevator and use it. Using an elevator for one floor is pretty pointless and really only intended for people who can't climb stairs or use an escalator. Maybe the problem is being so desperate to get to the next floor that having to wait a few seconds on an escalator gets to you. If the stairs are gonna be faster, use them, is it really that big of an issue that you need to get frustrated over it? It's not like moving sidewalks are long enough to let you take a particularly significant rest. I've been to some airports that have really long breaks between the terminals and having moving sidewalks the entire length. I could walk that length anyway, or I could stand still and take a break from walking, taking full advantage of the technology at my disposal. |
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Vlad!
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« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2010, 09:42:34 AM » |
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I've been to some airports that have really long breaks between the terminals and having moving sidewalks the entire length. I could walk that length anyway, or I could stand still and take a break from walking, taking full advantage of the technology at my disposal.
The only airports I've been to with moving sidewalks like this generally have lots of short ones rather than one long one (presumably so that a breakdown of one mechanism doesn't affect the others, and because as the length increases the tension on the belt increases and the load the motors have to carry greatly increases). Rather than stop/start/stop/start, I prefer to just keep walking forward. And I'm pretty sure you've expended more energy arguing about this than you've saved by resting on the moving sidewalks  |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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enemy anemone
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« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2010, 12:35:09 PM » |
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If you aren't walking on a moving sidewalk, people look at you like you're the weird one maybe they're thinking "you have too much time on your hands".  sometimes I walk on moving walkways and sometimes I don't. if I'm not in a hurry, I like to take notice of whatever is around me. I think I like airports more than most people do. |
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murlough23
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« Reply #16 on: August 11, 2010, 01:14:42 PM » |
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This is a pretty silly argument, guys. Just don't get in each other's way and don't be pushy, and we can all live in one big, harmonious, mechanically-propelled utopia.
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Vlad!
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« Reply #17 on: August 11, 2010, 02:51:12 PM » |
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This is a pretty silly argument, guys. Just don't get in each other's way and don't be pushy, and we can all live in one big, harmonious, mechanically-propelled utopia.
Geez, murlough, this is the Internet. I think silly arguments are what this thing was invented for. Moving sidewalks occur primarily in airports, and people generally are hauling bulky luggage in airports. Escalators are even worse, because if the stairs are even wide enough for two people to stand on a single stair, it's not by much. Thus, if I want to walk on one of these and someone in front of me doesn't, I have to decide whether to be rude and push/squeeze by or be annoyed and stop moving. (The designers of the airports seem to agree with me, since most have signs in front of the moving sidewalks saying "if you're not going to walk, keep to the side so others can get by". This seems to indicate that pedestrians are expected to walk.) |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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murlough23
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« Reply #18 on: August 11, 2010, 02:52:33 PM » |
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Geez, murlough, this is the Internet. I think silly arguments are what this thing was invented for. You are wrong. It was invented for porn. |
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Brenden
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« Reply #19 on: August 11, 2010, 04:50:15 PM » |
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This is a pretty silly argument, guys. Just don't get in each other's way and don't be pushy, and we can all live in one big, harmonious, mechanically-propelled utopia.
But this is the internet! The most important debate forum ever! |
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Vlad!
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« Reply #20 on: March 08, 2012, 04:02:07 PM » |
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A discussion with one of my co-workers prompted me to find this thread and admit that, after having nearly two years to ponder the issue, I have come to the conclusion that I am completely and utterly right.
However, it's also not worth getting frustrated or angry about, especially considering the minute amounts of time and energy we're talking about either way.
So if you're in front of me on an escalator and you're just standing there, take heart. I'm probably not fantasizing about pushing you off.
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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murlough23
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« Reply #21 on: March 08, 2012, 04:06:46 PM » |
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I've seen airports where there are signs indicating that the standers/slow-movers should stand on the right side while the walkers should walk on the right. This creates "lanes", analogous to a freeway situation where slow cars merging on or off are less likely to interfere with the through traffic in "the fast lane". Seems to me like everyone wins in that situation... assuming they observe the rules, anyway.
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Vlad!
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« Reply #22 on: March 08, 2012, 04:10:54 PM » |
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And assuming they're not so massively fat that they block the entire way.
(I have much more tolerance for people who have lots of luggage and block the sidewalk or people with small children who block the sidewalk. Were I in their shoes, I would likely want to take a few-second rest myself.)
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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murlough23
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« Reply #23 on: March 08, 2012, 04:12:18 PM » |
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And assuming they're not so massively fat that they block the entire way.
(I have much more tolerance for people who have lots of luggage and block the sidewalk or people with small children who block the sidewalk. Were I in their shoes, I would likely want to take a few-second rest myself.)
Saying "excuse me" and making people feel awkward that they can't expediently get out of your way is always fun in those types of situations. |
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Vlad!
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« Reply #24 on: March 08, 2012, 04:51:07 PM » |
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I prefer to just remain silently and smugly superior. Not only is it more alliterative, it's much more passive aggressive (which is the best kind of aggressive).
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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murlough23
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« Reply #25 on: March 08, 2012, 04:53:21 PM » |
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I prefer to just remain silently and smugly superior. Not only is it more alliterative, it's much more passive aggressive (which is the best kind of aggressive).
Heh. I'm totally passive aggressive when people are in my way - trying so hard to act like it's not a big deal that they are slowing me down, but they can probably tell from my body language that I consider them to be an obstacle. This often backfires when I try to squeeze around people who don't realize they're in my way, only for them to inadvertently back into me. I have this ridiculous phobia about talking to strangers, but a brief "excuse me" probably would have helped in such situations just to warn them I was there. |
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Vlad!
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« Reply #26 on: April 03, 2012, 10:04:00 AM » |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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murlough23
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« Reply #27 on: April 03, 2012, 01:00:00 PM » |
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