Hallway Rage

I quote my cool friend Casey, "I had, like, High School Hallway Rage."

Oh, how great it is to reminisce about high school. It feels so great to be finished with that portion of life! Casey and I were just walking back to our dorms, casually discussing walking speeds when she once again noted my apparent speed walking tendencies and I duly apologized. High school hallways totally suck and really aren't worth reminiscing because they were a source of pain and agony but in hindsight, they're actually somewhat funny.

Hallway rage is defined as being stuck behind a much slower walker (esp. one toting a rather large, cumbersome, and typically dangerously hard backpack) and being angry about being stuck. "Yea, you slow walker. You're being an ***," thought Casey. The problem seems not to lie in physical capabilities, but differing walking distances. High school students who have less distance to travel tend to walk much slower because they pace themselves. The farther away the next class, the faster the walker. It's really quite a simple relationship. In fact, so simple that the problem wouldn't be too significant if only pedestrian traffic were dictated by rules similar to automobile traffic. Slower drivers are advised to stay in the right lane, so the slower the walker, the more rightmost they stay. Very simple solution, eh?

Flipping Flip-flops

Summertime is the time of kick-butt sunglasses, little bikinis, tiny shorts, beach gear, sun-tanning (hopefully natural), and most importantly flip-flops! Flip flops are great in the summer because they're so minimal, leaving the foot bare so it'll tan better (I guess). It's always sad when my flip-flops are forced into early retirement because my delicate feet can't handle the friction and develop gross blisters. It also makes me sad when other people have to bandage their feet because of shoe issues. I feel for them.

What I don't feel for, however, is when people are so lazy they can't pick up their feet; shuffling around is neither acceptable nor attractive and it's annoying. "Thud, thud," or "Taek, taek," or "Clack, clack" sounds are absolutely unexcusable. Not only do the heels of your flip-flops wear away much faster than if you expended the extra bit of energy to actually lift your knee the slightest bit, but your knee might suffer minute damages from kicking out so lazily. Where's the need to shuffle? It's not more effective, it's definitely not more fun, and it's most importantly not more attractive. People observe other people. Whether we observe for approval, or for unspoken cues, or something else, it doesn't matter. Judgements of character are made every second. How footwear degrades really tells a lot about a person. Whether those judgements are correct or not, they exist and often alter perception. The soles of your feet tell a tale of your own soul.

That's why people should stop shuffling around.