 |
| So this is what a driver's ed car looks like on the inside. |
Everywhere we go, we are conditioned to be on the right side. People walk up stairs holding on to the inner railing. They walk down holding on to the outer railing. Coincidentally, perhaps by some form of architectural wizardry, both sides are on the right.
Watching people walk down sidewalks (side note: why is it that we always walk down sidewalks and never up?), you notice that, without any lines being painted or signs informing them to do so, people tend to walk on their right side of the sidewalk.
Of course there is the occasional group of three or four abreast that refuse to break up or form a single file line so you can also use the sidewalk. Or the occasional rogue, walking down the opposite side of the sidewalk, perhaps in an attempt to "stick it to the man" or mix things up.
Either way, the majority of people walk on the right side of the sidewalk. They drive on the right side of the road. They write with the right hand. They drive with the right foot.
 |
| There are some who call me...Tim. |
I don't remember ever being told to walk on the right side of the sidewalk. I guess it's just one of those things we all know. Either that or you have been trampled by a pack of vicious right-leaning walkers and learned your lesson.
JOHN CLEESE!!! YES YES YES!
ReplyDeleteAnd the reason that we walk on the right side was because back in the day when men still carried swords around, they would carry the sword on the opposite hip from the hand they parried with. Since most people are right-handed the sword went on the left hip.
Walking on someone's right side then became a way to show that you were friendly and were not going to pull your weapon out and run it through the person you were walking by without them having a chance to defend themselves. It's also the reason why we shake with our right hands.
Basically it all goes back to some medieval code of chivalry that isn't really relevant anymore... And now you know ;)
Ministry of Silly Walks? Classic! I have to admit, I've noticed this pattern of walking on the right myself. It always irks me when I'm walking around on campus and I approach someone who instead of letting me pass them on my right hand side, will make me do a weird little dance, trying to figure out which way they're going then force me to the left side of the sidewalk in order to pass. Maybe I'm just OCD that way but it's bothersome.
ReplyDeleteAlso to add to Karen's point, the reason why Brits still drive on the left hand side of the road is because that fits the arrangement for jousting. The more you know! *bells chime*
That's why they call it the "right."
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of right, RIGHT ON, Monty Python reference!
Ministry of Silly Walks FTW! And yes, I find myself doing the same thing. You just get used to it, I guess.
ReplyDeleteFun Fact: In America, people drive on the right side of the road. In England, people drive on the left side of the road. In Norway, they drive in the middle. True story. Ask David Letterman.
I was in Jamaica over Spring break and they walked on both sides of the sidewalk. I like that we walk on the right side. It's frustrating when you're walking towards a group of people spread out over the entire width of the sidewalk and they won't let you through.
ReplyDelete