Backpack wearing eejits

[matei]

For the umpteenth time this morning I was nearly flattened by some backpack wearing eejit in the Tube.

Why do people - grown adults - insist on wearing backpacks in crowded places? I'm not talking about tourists either - I'm talking about suit-wearing commuters on their way in to work.

They seem to be oblivious to the fact that their backpack greatly increases their girth. However these halfwits still try to squeeze past you - raking your carefully pressed and cleaned clothing with their filthy rucksacks.

Worse yet is when they suddenly whip around and broadside you with their rucksack. This happened to me this morning, nearly knocked me off the platform while waiting for the tube.

For crying out loud people - take the *$&£*%$@ backpacks off before getting into the bus/train/subway!!!

Whew... that feels better...

Anyone else notice this?

 

[Senator Jack]

Notice them? Are you kidding? I'm here in NYC where I risk being knocked out by these chowderheads every day!

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

This is why I hate the tube and avoid it whenever possible. Well, one of the many reasons!

 

["Doc" Devereux]

Don't get me started...

There are also the people who walk abreast and block the pavement, forcing one to step out onto the road to get by them. Then there's the people who dont pay attention to your size and expect you to get through the 3 micron gap they made as though it's a mile wide (I have shoulders, they do not fold). And the people who stop dead in the middle of the street, almost causing a pile-up, and the ones who cut straight across you without looking, and the ones who almost ram everyone with their pushchairs, and... :rage:

Okay, deep breath...

This is why I'm glad to work from home.

 

[Senator Jack]

Simmer down, Scorpio. Simmer down.

SJ

 

[Cobden]

The worst I find are the foreign language students, or a coach party of foreign school children. The move about in swarms, nattering, taking up the entire width of a pedestrianised street, stopping for no obvious reason. I now just ignore them and continue straight on - if one of the little b**gers happens to be in my way, tough titty. I live here (Canterbury) and thus have better reasons to get where I'm going then those little nattering marauders do...:rage:

 

[matei]

I found the annual swarms of foreign language kids to be much worse when we lived in Dublin than here in London.

The footpaths are smaller, and can be difficult to cut through (in a civilised manner) a crowd of noisy students.

That being said, they appear to be seasonal - like swallows.

The eejits with the backpacks are year-round.

The worst I find are the foreign language students, or a coach party of foreign school children. The move about in swarms, nattering, taking up the entire width of a pedestrianised street, stopping for no obvious reason. I now just ignore them and continue straight on - if one of the little b**gers happens to be in my way, tough titty. I live here (Canterbury) and thus have better reasons to get where I'm going then those little nattering marauders do...:rage:

 

[Story]

Matei,
See if you can watch some American Ice Hockey games on cable this season. Learn the dirty checking moves - embrace them - use them.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I found the annual swarms of foreign language kids to be much worse when we lived in Dublin than here in London.

The footpaths are smaller, and can be difficult to cut through (in a civilised manner) a crowd of noisy students.

And the Guiness has been flowing all day when you meet them in Dublin. So they're be-baclpacked and abusive ...

bk

 

[Story]

Another solution - http://www.geocities.com/glendoyle/bata/

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]There are also the people who walk abreast and block the pavement, forcing one to step out onto the road to get by them. Then there's the people who dont pay attention to your size and expect you to get through the 3 micron gap they made as though it's a mile wide (I have shoulders, they do not fold). And the people who stop dead in the middle of the street, almost causing a pile-up, and the ones who cut straight across you without looking, and the ones who almost ram everyone with their pushchairs, and... :rage:

Okay, deep breath...

This is why I'm glad to work from home.[/QUOTE]
Wow, I thought I was the only one who felt that way about people on the streets. Boston is a very old city. It's side walks are narrow. WHY do these people, if in groups of more than 2, insist on walking side by side taking up the entire side walk? When walking in these areas I feel like I'm playing a game of red rover! I am the one who never moves. Why should I risk my life jumping into the streets so these touchy groups can keep their line of family together? I just don't get it.....
I feel the same way about back packs. I do often travel with one, for it fit's my laptop, journal, and other needed things when I travel. But, if I am on the T, boarding a plane or an amtrak, I take the back pack off. It is too shame making to knock someone over with a heavy bag. How about the people who take off their bags, and insist that they have their own seat! So, you have to stand and try to hold onto a bar that is barely in reach so their back pack can be comfortable! I've seen pregnant woman and older folks standing because some young kid is carrying so much stuff he takes up more than one seat and can't put his precious bags in his lap or under his feet.
Here, in a city of tourists, it can be frustrating when you experience, all in one day, being bowled down by a back pack, then kicked off the sidewalk. Wonder what Emily Post would say about these actions? I like it when my city gets visited. I travel a lot, but I always remember how I feel when my daily routine is surrounded by out of towners who don't know how to be polite. The worst part is driving. Mass residents aren't known for their driving skills. But, Get stuck behind someone from out of town who insists on driving down Comm Ave. to see all of it's beauty at 5 MPH, this can be infuriating. If you're gonna drive that slow, make me late, you might as well park and walk down the street.....AAhh, that feels better!

 

[Feraud]

For the umpteenth time this morning I was nearly flattened by some backpack wearing eejit in the Tube.

Ugh, do not get me started on this brand of idiot!
As if a grown up cannot figure out a backpack ads about a foot and a half to your spineless back. I have to get bumped every time you turn from side to side? :rage:

Excuse me for complaining, it is a rainy day in NYC.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

But what I want to know is,

What exactly is the point of carrying a piece of luggage on one's back? Is it really that important? What sort of equipment and supplies do they need? Provisions for several days in the field? Tent, blankets, camping gear? Extra ammunition?

Why be burdened with a 25 pound bag of supplies, if it's not absolutely essential?
I like to travel light, so if I were to take a trip to a park in the fall, let's say,...I would take the smallest bag I could to accomodate camera equipment and maybe a snack.
But, as I tend to avoid excursions into large urban areas, maybe the logistics are entirely differant these days?

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

They wore them to school, and they never grew up.

Do what I do, bulk up to 300+ pounds and they don't bother you. lol

 

[Quigley Brown]

I carry a backpack camera bag, but am aware of other people. I've been hit the knees with briefcases, knocked with the elbows of cell phone idiots and whacked by women carry large shoulder purses (or whatever they're called). So geeesh, people...don't slam us all.

 

[Feraud]

So geeesh, people...don't slam us all.

Correct. Not all!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

No, not all.

I can see the point if one needs to carry some bulky items, but my philosophy has always been: "Less is More"
I just don't like being burdened with carrying a lot of stuff around, not only in my daily travels, but in life in general. I'm just not very materialistic.

 

[Feraud]

I do not mind what anyone else chooses to carry. They can walk around with a parrot on their shoulder for all I care! lol
What I do not want to experience is some gal pressing her purse into my rib on a subway!

 

[LaMedicine]

I've been ...whacked by women carry large shoulder purses

What I do not want to experience is some gal pressing her purse into my rib on a subway!

Oops. Guilty!! But it is such good armor against the pushy types.lol
(Not you gentlemen, of course. )

 

[matei]

No worries - I played ice hockey as a kid/young adult. I was a goaltender, but "Battling" Billy Smith was my hero...

Matei,
See if you can watch some American Ice Hockey games on cable this season. Learn the dirty checking moves - embrace them - use them.