Okay, I've had it. The next hapless umbrella-toting bastard whose brolly gets within three inches of my eye is not going to know what hit him/her.
I am sick and tired of people with umbrellas thinking they own the sidewalks. It rains here for a good five months of the year, and I can't understand why people don't just invest in a good waterproof hooded jacket. Umbrellas are for tourists who come here not expecting it to rain. Locals should know better. That said, if you're going to carry an umbrella, there are some rules of basic courtesy that should be obeyed when using it in a crowded public place:
1. Carrying an umbrella does not entitle you to walk under the awnings. The awnings are sheltered spaces for those people who need to be protected from the rain. You are carrying your own personal awning and do not need the protection. Leave the sheltered spaces for those of us who do.
2. Your personal walking space entitlement is not defined by the diameter of your oversized IKEA golf umbrella
On a crowded sidewalk, your personal space is limited to the width of your body, plus a few inches for the "comfort zone." Sidewalks are shared spaces. If 15-inch-wide Jodie is walking towards 4-foot-wide-umbrella-toting Asshole, it is Asshole's job to make room for Jodie, not the other way around. I don't enjoy feeling like I'm negotiating an obstacle course.
3. If you're short and your umbrella happens to be at they eye level of most of the general populus, watch where the fuck you are going and LIFT UP YOUR UMBRELLA WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO PEOPLE! I am tired of having to dodge my head every few steps to avoid losing an eye.
4. An umbrella is not a shield of invincibility, contrary to what you might believe. If you act like a self-centred asshole and don't extend some basic common courtesy, I will do what I have to do to make sure I don't get hurt. That just might involve having your umbrella knocked out of your grasp in order to protect my eyes.
I think that just about covers it. Basic common courtesy, folks. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's people who go about their day to day lives blissfully unaware that other people exist in this city.
END RANT.
P.S. Love you guys. Thanks for letting me vent
I am sick and tired of people with umbrellas thinking they own the sidewalks. It rains here for a good five months of the year, and I can't understand why people don't just invest in a good waterproof hooded jacket. Umbrellas are for tourists who come here not expecting it to rain. Locals should know better. That said, if you're going to carry an umbrella, there are some rules of basic courtesy that should be obeyed when using it in a crowded public place:
1. Carrying an umbrella does not entitle you to walk under the awnings. The awnings are sheltered spaces for those people who need to be protected from the rain. You are carrying your own personal awning and do not need the protection. Leave the sheltered spaces for those of us who do.
2. Your personal walking space entitlement is not defined by the diameter of your oversized IKEA golf umbrella
On a crowded sidewalk, your personal space is limited to the width of your body, plus a few inches for the "comfort zone." Sidewalks are shared spaces. If 15-inch-wide Jodie is walking towards 4-foot-wide-umbrella-toting Asshole, it is Asshole's job to make room for Jodie, not the other way around. I don't enjoy feeling like I'm negotiating an obstacle course. 3. If you're short and your umbrella happens to be at they eye level of most of the general populus, watch where the fuck you are going and LIFT UP YOUR UMBRELLA WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO PEOPLE! I am tired of having to dodge my head every few steps to avoid losing an eye.
4. An umbrella is not a shield of invincibility, contrary to what you might believe. If you act like a self-centred asshole and don't extend some basic common courtesy, I will do what I have to do to make sure I don't get hurt. That just might involve having your umbrella knocked out of your grasp in order to protect my eyes.
I think that just about covers it. Basic common courtesy, folks. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's people who go about their day to day lives blissfully unaware that other people exist in this city.
END RANT.
P.S. Love you guys. Thanks for letting me vent
