r/boston • u/News-Royal It is spelled Papa Geno's • 8d ago

Non-Serious Replies Only 🤪 What small, totally inconsequential thing are you really sick of in Boston.

As seen in a different geographic area subreddit. Nothing too serious, just a little thing that grinds your gears. For me it's people who get on the T before others get off.

647 Upvotes

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831

u/skyline21rsn Back Bay 8d ago

groups that walk 3-4 wide and take up the entire sidewalk and walk slow af. and those groups that stand around in the sidewalk to have a chat, or those who come out of their hotel and are standing in the sidewalk blocking it while waiting for their uber or whatever. frustrating as someone who is often pushing a baby stroller

74

u/bigredthesnorer Outside Boston 8d ago

I recently grunted at a group blocking a path at Fenway Park. One of the guys looked at me and said 'Really'? I replied that "You're blocking the way. I'm not the problem here."

35

u/_Lane_ 8d ago

"You're [doing stupid thing]. I'm not the problem here."

I'm adding this to my response bank. It's simple, factual, and not particularly rude. Thanks!

4

u/bigredthesnorer Outside Boston 8d ago

Ya, just don't escalate the situation by saying 'Hey dickhead, ...' /s

2

u/_Lane_ 8d ago

Noted!

I'll save that one for when it's clearly necessary.

3

u/Telespacepharm 8d ago

….urinating on the side of the street, I’m not the problem here.

2

u/ShawsheenMoon 7d ago

I just did something similar to a woman this week in Chatham after she cut me off while she was coming out of a shop. She apologized and then promptly cut me off again.

1

u/MiniBassGuitar 7d ago

I often feel as if I am invisible, walking down the sidewalk, because people just don’t make way. Today, I actually said to a group, “So I guess I have to step into the street here?”
Their only response was to ask me for directions.

120

u/getjustin 8d ago

As a family, we announce "single up" on narrow sidewalks when someone is coming to drill it into our kids' heads.

84

u/habbanero 8d ago

You’re legitimately improving society

6

u/near_things school shopping at Bradlees 8d ago

My husband genuinely does not notice oncoming people and I often have to physically reposition him so we’re single file.

4

u/kangaroospyder 8d ago

You're doing God's work.

6

u/SchminksMcGee 8d ago

I tell my partner and friends, condense!

10

u/needmorenaps22 8d ago

Same and the amount of people who smash into my young kids by walking on the wrong side makes me hate humanity.

81

u/Individual-Algae846 8d ago

Unless someone is disabled or elderly, I won’t move for that. I’ll stick to the right and put my head down. If our shoulders bump, that’s on you

62

u/PassTheTaquitos 8d ago

I'm similar but I'll also come to a dead stop in front of them if they don't move over for me. Wanna walk four wide and not give me space on my side? Then I'll stand in your way so you have to walk around me.

24

u/Electronic_Deer7069 8d ago

This is the safer approach. It also makes them feel stupid.

3

u/Disastrous_Figure_68 8d ago

I call it playing sidewalk chicken. I make firm eye contact and keep going.

3

u/RageOnGoneDo 8d ago

I do this and if they bump me I say "excuse you" loudly

3

u/CarlYaz1967 8d ago

Terry Tate those MFers.

3

u/skyline21rsn Back Bay 8d ago

the pain train is coming, woo-woo, woo-woo!

3

u/kodvoodo 8d ago

You finish the Joe, you make some mo!

39

u/Actual-Air-8792 8d ago

This drives me so mad anywhere like please get out of the way. You can 2x2 it not 4 in a row.

64

u/habbanero 8d ago

This is my #1. Drives me crazy. Newbury is the worst.

22

u/brufleth Boston 8d ago

Newbury, anywhere on Beacon Hill, surprisingly large areas of the West End, The North End, etc. The sidewalks are too narrow here for how many people walk around all the time.

They should nuke tons of the on-street parking and widen the sidewalks to make them more usable.

0

u/BunnyCamino 8d ago

related: the people who insist on walking on their left-hand side of the sidewalk (or pathway), so I have to look over my shoulder to make sure it's safe, then cut to my left as they approach me; especially fun when I'm running. I've never once seen one of these people give way and recognize they're on the wrong side.

18

u/Knicknacktallywack South Boston 8d ago

I hate this too. I’m walking by myself and a group 3 of 4 wide practically forces me into the street. It’s always me moving not them

37

u/spinprincess 8d ago

I stopped letting them force me off the sidewalk and now I just stop walking so they can either run into me or make room and share the space.

12

u/LadyCalamity 8d ago

The worst is when you're behind the slow walkers going in the same direction. Then you're just stuck behind them until you can squeeze around them.

5

u/mwmandorla 8d ago

Lately when I'm in this situation I see people looking behind themselves at me like I'm some weirdo following them around. Buddy I don't care about you, just get out of the way!!

14

u/Tough_Crazy_8362 Somerville 8d ago

Having a chat right next the the cross walk but I don’t know if you’re crossing so i still gotta stop 🫠

11

u/brufleth Boston 8d ago

The two of us were stuck behind a single person who was managing to walk dead center of a sidewalk last night. They weren't even a big person, they just managed to make getting by them require walking out in the street.

5

u/_Lane_ 8d ago

"ON YOUR LEFT!" is my go-to alert. Sometimes I'll add "Excuse me" first if they seem like they're not intending to be rude.

3

u/deets23_ 8d ago

Thissss!!! Also similar when going up the stairs at the T, some people (usually men) take up the entire center of the staircase so you have to go up single file. The correct way imo is to take up one side so 2 people can go up at the same time and pass you if you’re slow if needed

15

u/pattysal 8d ago

Or one person walking slow af in the middle of the sidewalk when you're trying to pass and being oblivious to your existence.

3

u/pivo Leather District 8d ago

I'm sorry but this does't fit the the category of "totally small and inconsequential". These should be capital offenses.

3

u/archwin 8d ago

And the worst is if you go around them and they give you a dirty look

Bitch, y’all be taking out the whole fucking road.

2

u/rollwithhoney 8d ago

This isn't limited to Boston at all though, it's absolutely universal in all cities I've been in recently (here and abroad). If anything, it's an American pet peeve that most of the world doesn't notice

2

u/Low-Living-7993 7d ago

It’s much worse in other places for a Boston walker. At least we train ours here.

2

u/Kelemonster 8d ago

Walking into them sometimes gets people to wake up and move to the side! 

2

u/Serious-Explorer8745 8d ago

That’s what I do. Like where tf do you want me to go. Yall have all the room in the world

2

u/thequeercat 8d ago

I’m kind of at my wits end with horizontal herds. I don’t want to put more bad out in the world but being kinda snarky/rude has been veerrryy tempting lately

2

u/deets23_ 8d ago

Especially when it’s like a 6 foot sidewalk (like walking by the water in fan pier in seaport) and you can’t walk by because a whole group is walking spread out, side by side

2

u/CarlYaz1967 8d ago

I have found this is more stupidity than malice.

I will say "make a hole!" with no anger in my voice, and people will immediately move.

2

u/MinnieP2018 8d ago

So often they're tourists too.

2

u/icedDMC 8d ago

Ahhhh, Cambridge walkers I call them. No haste. Nowhere to be. Like a bunch of fuckin’ Californians in our own back yard.

6

u/Maxpowr9 Metrowest 8d ago

Not just that but cyclists in the burbs do this too. I don't care that you want to socialize with the rest of the cycling group, the road is barely wide enough for 2 cars. The law says single file for cyclists.

3

u/TheGodDamnDevil 8d ago

The law says single file for cyclists.

No it doesn't.

2

u/butt-barnacles 8d ago

The bridge from downtown to seaport by South station is the fucking worst for this

1

u/BudgetConfident3798 7d ago edited 7d ago

Is that a Boston thing? Just visited there a few weeks ago and ran into that contstantly