Ms Macbeth Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I've wondered for a while why people will stand at a pelican crossing waiting for the traffic to stop - when they haven't activated it by pressing the button? Its one of the mysteries of life for me at the moment. I also wonder why people who are getting on a tram get so close to the doors that other people can't get off easily. I can understand this in rush hour when they want to make sure they get on/get a seat, but at 10.30 in the morning when the trams are pretty empty? Why? I suppose its the same thought pattern that those people have who shove their trolley up the backside of the person in front at the supermarket checkout. I'm not having the best of days - these issues are so trivial but somehow niggling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christoff Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Yeah, that has always baffled me! I'm sure psychological literature would suggest that this illustrates a form of the bystander effect - where as soon as you are stood in a group of people you are less likely to act on something than if you are on your own or in a much smaller group. So in this case if there are 5 people stood at the lights, you'd be less likely to press the button than if there was you on your own. Having said that though, countless times I've seen a lone person stood waiting for ages for the man to turn magically green without a lit wait button in sight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Macbeth Posted October 17, 2006 Author Share Posted October 17, 2006 Yeah, that has always baffled me! I'm sure psychological literature would suggest that this illustrates a form of the bystander effect - where as soon as you are stood in a group of people you are less likely to act on something than if you are on your own or in a much smaller group. So in this case if there are 5 people stood at the lights, you'd be less likely to press the button than if there was you on your own. Having said that though, countless times I've seen a lone person stood waiting for ages for the man to turn magically green without a lit wait button in sight! I'm so glad I haven't imagined it! There is also the syndrome that pressing the button several times will speed up the green man, I find that odd as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarSparkle Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 It's the same sort of phenomenon as where you have several people waiting at a bus-stop, but everyone expects everyone else to put their arm out to stop the bus. Of course, no-one does, so the bus goes sailing past! I've seen this happen so many times! When I'm waiting in a bus-queue, I always stick my arm out wherever I am in the queue, just in case nobody else does. StarSparkle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banjo Griner Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 It's the 'Dawn of the Dead' mental state I think - there's loads of instances in modern society where people just switch off and wander round in a daze. Shopping is my most hated chore mainly because of this - especially people who stop and stand still at the top of escalators, people who refuse to take their eyes off the shelves as they wander straight into you, etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fr8neck Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Perhaps they don't know that the button needs pressing.... ....or they fear contamination.... ....or they feel it's beneath their dignity and social status to press a public button.... ...or it may be a hobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fox20thc Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I also wonder why people who are getting on a tram get so close to the doors that other people can't get off easily. I can understand this in rush hour when they want to make sure they get on/get a seat, but at 10.30 in the morning when the trams are pretty empty? Why? This in rush hour reminds me of the tube mentality in London. Being a sensible yorkshire lass I always stand back when the scary fast train approaches and wait to board. Other lunatic londoners throw themselves at it. Must admit though I hurl myself on the tram in the morning to race to the only remaining metro on the tram because the flippin conductor keeps binning them at the termius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagpuss29 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 or they could just be in a day dream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv_milk Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 why, when there's more than one set of lights (say, at a crossroads) do people press the button and wait at the side of the road while the traffic lights are on red for one lot of traffic (and the red man's lit), then as soon as the traffic lights turn green (red man still lit) walk out in front of the traffic?! can't tell you how many times this happens in-front of my car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babychickens Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 it's called stupidity, where stupidity is spelt L-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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