Post 86: Pet Peeves Series - Road Blocks

It has been awhile since I've contributed to my Pet Peeves Series, so I figured I should add a little something new. Today,  we were going to talk about one of the most hypocritical pet peeves. I say hypocritical because I know a lot of people who complain about this, who do it themselves. Even I cannot in with an entirely clear conscience claim I have never done this. What is "this"?


Being a road block.


There are multiple types of road blockers. The most common is the person who, while walking down the hallway, stops suddenly right in front of someone else. That person is forced to choose between a collision and stopping abruptly themselves. And, unless this leads to some sort of freak pedestrian pile-up, it doesn't lead to harm. However, it is extremely annoying.


The next type of road block is the group road block. They are the group of friends that walks side-by-side just close enough you can't cut through them easily, but just far enough to take up the entire hallway. Sometimes, if you say 'excuse me' they will let you through. Some groups, however, just ignore you.


The third type is going back towards the first more and is a stationary road block. This is group that stops suddenly or congregates in the hallway making it hard for anyone to get through. I have, on an occasion or two, been part of one of these groups.


 As you can probably imagine, all three can induce frustration when in encounter. But, as I also said, most people find themselves doing it at one time or another. Maybe not intentionally, but when they realize they left their phone somewhere and stop to look for it. Or they're trying to have a conversation with a few friends and don't want to walk behind them and not be heard. Or they start as a group of one or two (therefore, not a substantial block) and friends just happen to join them to create a block.


So, this should just be taken as a sort of PSA (public service announcement) that you should be aware of these things. Walk out of people's way before stopping to look for your phone or, at least, just try and stay aware as to who and what is around you.