How fast are you? Do slow people irritate you?

I walk fast myself, but accept that everyone walks at their own pace.

The walkers who irritate me are those who weave back and forth across the whole pavement, or walk three abreast so you cannot get past them.

I try not to show it, but people who stop in the middle of a sentence for thirty seconds or so before finishing what they were saying, drive me mad!

Granmarderby10

Dee1012 yes these new fangled perambulater things should have rear view mirrors and indicators on 😉 and while we’re about it maybe widen the pavements (so narrowing the roads where necessary) and create “fast lanes” for people who know where they’re going then strolling lanes for toddlers and their parent/grandparent/carer and otherwise incapacitated citizens, …then finally an inside lane for the window shoppers, and texters and handbag furtlers. (They know who they are).
Do you think it could catch on?😁

Granmarderby10 when I'm Czar of the UK, it will be done! .

Your post did remind me of an incident last year when I walked past someone or tried to after saying 'excuse me' a couple of times, it was a busy shop!
She turned round, glaring at me and said 'I'm trying to send an important f**** text'

My husband has a heart condition and takes beta blockers. He used to be a very fast walker but is now a real dwardler - I feel like putting a rein on him and yanking him along after me!
He also drives like an old fart very slowly which drives me and other road users mad.

I have 3 irritations with slow people.
1. At airport security when your items have been scanned and your tray comes through you are supposed to lift the tray away and take it to one of the sorting shelves. The people who don't remove the tray and start to sort out their items, putting on belts and shoes etc then causing a log jam of trays holding my tray up. Grhhhh.
2. In the supermarkets where you are supposed to put your items back in the trolley after being scanned but no, folk hold up the queue by doing their perfect packing into bags. Another Grrh. And
3. Once shopping is scanned why oh why does it seem to come as a surprise that it needs to be paid for. The number of folk, mainly elderly who then start searching for purses and wallets. Why can they not have a card ready or if cash at least the purse searched for and ready before their shopping is scanned.
Moan over for the day.

My dad always walked very quickly. When we were small children, my sisters and I used to beg him, "Daddy, wait for us!" We had to run to keep up. I walk fast and it can be irritating walking with someone slower. If we went for a walk with my husband's parents, years ago, I sometimes used to walk ahead and turn and walk back to them, several times.
It's a scientific fact that the faster you walk, the longer you live.

When my husband's parents visited on a Sunday, I admit I found it irritating watching my mother-in-law peeling the spuds for Sunday dinner. Boy, did she take her time over it and she always offered. I hadn't the heart to reject her offer. She was such a lovely woman. Still, it inspired me to be more organised and get the spuds done before they arrived.

I don't think I'm mega fast doing anything else.

I’m a speedy thing too.
Once took a friend of my daughters’ on holiday with us - they were all about 17. I knew the friend was a slowcoach and bit my tongue several times, but one day when she was straightening her hair to go to the beach I snapped and told her that she had five minutes or she’d be left behind.
Thankfully we knew each other well and she still tells everyone that it was the best holiday she’s ever had in her life and, 13 years later, has taken her mum to the same Greek island.

I tend to do things at speed. I suppose being short doesn't help when it comes to walking... I have always needed up keep up with my longer legged friends and DH, so it is the norm for me!

4allweknow it's at the self scan with the conveyor belt that I get a bit irritated. There's a notice on the screen saying, "I brought my own bags." or some version of that. You press there and it says, "Please place your bags in the bagging area and touch 'done' when finished." Then you scan your stuff, pop it in the bags, finish and pay and Bob's your uncle! It's so annoying when the person in front of you scans each item and places it in the bagging area, while their bags remain in their trolley. When they're done they proceed to load each item into their bags, so it takes twice as long and there's a queue fuming behind them!

I move quickly too and get impatient with slow strolling especially if a group spreads across the pavement. It is lack of spatial awareness as well as basic ignorance. I know that not everyone moves quickly so I do have a word with myself sometimes!

lizzypopbottle
I used to give my MIL the sprouts to do. It would take hrcages, she didn't mind and at least she was sitting in the kitchen, at the table, with company while I was whizzing round doing everything else.
I thought of her the other day because it seemed to take me ages to do the sprouts!

My DM practically ran everywhere until she became ill and lost mobility, my MIL was a 'plodder' but both lived to their mid to late 80s.

I learned to adjust to their different speeds if I was with them.

I walk and move quickly. I don't get impatient with people who are slow. The only exception being the supermarket shopping thing mentioned by 4allweknow. People who have waited in a long queue then carefully place all their shopping into bags then when that's done, search for their purse/wallet. Grrrr

Medium to fast. Can't stand dilly dallying

Then you are lucky. Consider what the slow people who irritate you are going through no fault of their own.

I am not in any hurry to get to the next world. Slow and steady wins the race. Mo Farah never seems to be in a hurry. Just a gentle steady pace.

Sorry all you Speedy Gonzales.

Just be grateful for what you can still do but do not judge others who can’t. You could change by the blink of the eye as my late very active husband did, confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life relying on all these slow people to help you do everything.
As someone else said by rushing around you are missing out on so much, live in the now, actually SEE the world and enjoy. How about slowing down to your husband’s speed and actually doing things with him rather than getting irritated by his lack of speed!!

Coco51

Then you are lucky. Consider what the slow people who irritate you are going through no fault of their own.

Well said Coco51

I remember when I was much more speedy but I hope I was always more considerate of those who weren't for some reason.

One autumn day years ago I was walking in town and saw an old lady struggling slowly along. There were wet leaves on the pavement and I asked if she was all right, she said she was and I told her to be careful of the wet leaves. As I turned to go, I slipped on the leaves and next thing I was flat on the pavement and she was bending over me, asking me if I was ok.
🍂🍂🍂

www.youtube.com/watch?v=So0ZrTwf8vI

Love it Callistemom21 👍

Just come back from Tesco where I was nearly mown down by a speed merchant on a mobility scooter. Was it worth nearly injuring someone just to shave a few seconds off his time in the supermarket?

Moderate pace for me. Although when going to any appointments, I speed up until I have arrived as I hate to be late. I can feel irritated by people who faff about and don't get on with things. As for the supermarket I am always aware of other customers in the check out queue and will have bags and purse at the ready.

DH walks much faster than me so I have to keep reminding him that I find it difficult to keep up. I have short legs as well so probably take three steps to his two. I keep suggesting that he joins a local walkers group so he can get a decent walk. However, we both are very cautious when doing anything with my SIL. She is for instance very slow when eating a meal and to watch her preparing one is excruciating- takes about half an hour to cut up a carrot! Once she gets out for a walk it’s usually ok but the build up to going requires extreme patience.

My husband and I found it was better to agree to meet at particular places or at a coffee shop or whatever at a set time. That way I could hurtle around and he could amble, but that way we were able to go at our own speed and not annoy each other. Now I am on my own , on bad days I dont go out,better days I go around and if I am going slowly I keep nearer the shops so others can pass by.

What do people mean when they talk about ‘having their purse/bag ready at the checkout’? I’ve never understood that. How can you pack the shopping if you have your purse or bank card in your hand?

It’s the work of a moment to get my purse and get my cards out p, it’s hardly holding up a queue. (Unless Dh has taken control of the trolley and disappeared to the other end of the shop with my bag! )

You just put your card/purse/bag on the end of the of the slide where your items gather, bag 'em up, then pay pdq. alternatively, although I'm not sure its politically correct, use the self serve. It's the folk who look surprised that they have to pay, and then take an age to find a card they are happy to use. Should have a separate checkout for them.

With the utmost respect to all, I honestly don't understand all this desire to do everything in the shortest time possible. My mother does everything at lightening speed - crash, bang, wallop. Where's the medal? Tuts at any slattern that doesn't do the same - then drums fingers endlessly, can't relax unless she's doing something. Another person I know is the same, they always have to be 'doing something'. Up at 6am because half the day is gone if you don't get up and 'do'. Both are unable to just 'be'.
I was lucky enough to retire a little early. In full health. I love my leisurely coffee in bed before my shower and getting ready for the day. Small things. My house is clean (yes, I do it - thoroughly and in my own time), I love walking miles and miles at a good pace, alone or with others. Never late for anything - i'm prepared! Happy to stop all the time, regardless of what i'm doing to appreciate and allow for anything around me (after many difficult times in my life) knowing that time I have is all I have - for now and that's good enough. I'm not going to change the world, but I do my best by others. Love, and am there for my children/grandchildren/the few friends I have known for many years. Patient with ditherers. I could go on. Many may disapprove, but I think it's ok to take time... Can't be just me??