Get off the phone!!!

[yupitsme]

I was walking to work this morning. Yes...I was on the phone. An elderly gentleman stepped up onto the sidewalk behind a mailbox...no where near a cross walk. I almost bumped into him when he came out from behind the mailbox. I stepped out of his way, said sorry and walked around him. I didn't think anything of it. All of a sudden I hear him yelling "Get off the phone!!!"

I was a little shocked. I moved for him! He was the one jaywalking across a bad street! This totally messed up a good Friday morning!

Am I in the wrong here? or is it just because I'm a young person on a cell phone it automatically means that I'm not paying attention?

[Animala]

I don't think it is wrong to walk and talk on a phone if you are aware of what is going on around you.  I think it depends.  Do you think you would have seen him if you weren't on the phone?  If not I wouldn't worry about it. either way let it go and enjoy the rest of your Friday.

[vikingchyk]

As much as I loathe cell phones (due to the misbehaviour of way too many people while using them) you were not in the wrong.  By what rule would he have the right of way to step into the flow of foot traffic like that?  None that I can see.  You were nice to apologize for almost bumping him.  It wasn't required, but it never hurts to practice good manners for when you really do need them

[BeagleMommy]

I don't think you did anything wrong.  You didn't bump into him and then walk past him carrying on your conversation.  You apologized for the bump.  If he was jaywalking he was in the wrong.  What if it had been someone pushing a baby carriage or in a wheelchair?  Would he really expect them to abandon their devices?  Chalk it up to being a curmudgeon!  He's probably the guy yelling "Get off my lawn".

[yupitsme]

He's probably the guy yelling "Get off my lawn".

This made me laugh!!!  Thanks!!!

[RedWolf]

You were fine.

But I had a vivid mental picture of a little old gentleman crouching behind the mailbox, peeking around as he waits for someone to come along chatting on the phone. As the unwitting victim approaches, he's muttering, "Wait for it... wait for it... NOW!" and deliberately steps into the victim's path so he can shout, "Get off the phone." 

[JoW]

Let me see if I understand this.  An old man walked across a busy street but not in a cross walk.  He vanished behind a mailbox, then re-appeared right in your path. 

Where was he before he appeared in your path?  Behind a mail box – either he was exceptionally small, the curb was exceptionally tall, or you didn’t notice his head sticking up above the mailbox.  And before he got to the mailbox, where was he?  He was walking across a busy street.  You didn’t notice him in the street. 

Both of you were walking without paying attention to your surroundings.   I think there’s enough “in the wrong” for both of you to have some. 

[Kaypeep]

I don't think you were in the wrong.  I know how you feel though.  A few months ago I was backing into a parking space (Parallel parking -on a busy street under and elevated train so there were pillars and other cars to be careful of while backing into the spot) in the middle of the block when a woman started screaming bloody murder.  Seems she and her son decided to cross the street mid-block, through the spot I was backing into.  I hit the brakes and she was yelling at me.  But she was in the wrong for stepping into the street randomly without looking!  I was so rattled but also so angry!  The discomfort stuck with me for days!

[TootsNYC]

Kaypeep, I have noticed that people are ALWAYS walking into my parallel parking space as I'm trying to pull in or out. It's like they see the gap, but not the car moving around in it.

One guy started to walk in front of me just as I started moving forward. He stepped back, so I finished that movement and went to pull backward to shimmy into the space--and there he was, walking BEHIND me.

[little bird]

Kaypeep, I have noticed that people are ALWAYS walking into my parallel parking space as I'm trying to pull in or out. It's like they see the gap, but not the car moving around in it.

One guy started to walk in front of me just as I started moving forward. He stepped back, so I finished that movement and went to pull backward to shimmy into the space--and there he was, walking BEHIND me.

It's almost like they're playing 'how many different ways can I get hit by the same car?'  Not a game I enjoy participating in! 

[Raintree]

You did nothing wrong. He sounds like one of these people who hates cell phones in any situation, not recognizing their incredible usefulness for many people.  Sure, they got along fine without them "in his day" but if they had been invented then, you can bet the people "in his day" would have found them just as useful.

It's none of his business if you want to walk down the street talking on your cell phone. You're not driving, and it's not a library or any other situation where there is an expectation of quiet.