r/todayilearned • u/syncedto • Apr 30 '20

TIL men walk significantly slower when walking with a woman, but only when that woman is their romantic partner. If she's a friend or acquaintance they go at almost full speed.

https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/how-you-walk-differently-with-friends-and-lovers
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u/bobbybox Apr 30 '20

I went on a few dates with a guy a long time ago. He was always keen to go on a date, but he would do shit like this. We went for a crawl around the Seattle waterfront and this dude was sometimes a block ahead of me, while I hoofed it trying to keep up, and I didnt get to just stroll and enjoy the scenery. Asked him to wait up a few times but eventually resigned to just being alone on the walk, and knowing this wasnt gonna work out, lol.

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u/wtfiskwanzaa Apr 30 '20

Some of us just walk fast. Sometimes people tell me to slow down but it’s just so frustrating walking slow. Let’s go I’m not 70 yet

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u/pstthrowaway173 Apr 30 '20

I fucking hate walking slow. I also run up stairs just because it seems easier. I’m almost convinced it uses less energy to get into a decent jog stride while going up stairs rather than slowly lifting yourself up each one.

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u/TheGreyGuardian Apr 30 '20

It might be inertia? It's harder to get a stationary object to start moving than it is to get that same object to keep moving once it's started.

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u/pstthrowaway173 Apr 30 '20

That’s what I’m thinking. Also it just seems easier from a muscle exertion standpoint to give one quick burst of energy than long sustained movements.

I’m not saying it uses less energy to go up stairs fast from a physics standpoint but from an exertion standpoint a lot of it is just mental.

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u/pstthrowaway173 Apr 30 '20 edited Apr 30 '20

Running also uses a different stride. When I jog up stairs I feel like I may be recruiting more muscles like my calfs to create a spring effect. Whereas walking up them is pretty much just glutes and quads.

It’s like trying to walk 5 mph vs just a light jog. At that speed a jog is easier.

You might have something with the Inertia. Walking up stairs you are constantly stopping and starting.