Why is Ireland so backward?

CamperMan

Sam Vimes wrote: »

You might think the thread is about the health service or child care or the road system but no, it's about something far more important: escalators.

Anywhere you go in Europe there's a system of stand on the right, walk on the left. People don't have to be told, they just do it and in Germany, any ignorant tourists who don't follow this basic rule are simply shoved out of the way until they learn it. They even have the rule on a sign at a lot of escalators. the Swedish are more polite about it but will give you dirty looks and tut until you move.

Take a look at the attached picture taken at a metro station in Stockholm. It's so simple yet so efficient. People who are in a rush can rush away and the slow ****s can dally about all day without getting in my way.

So when will Irish people learn to follow this excellent rule that's understood in the rest of Europe? Or are we doomed to be stuck behind fat women with 10 bags of shopping for the rest of our days?

fu*k me.... WTF are you talking about... everyone of those "sheep" in that photo looks miserable... and why?, because they have to many rules and regulations governing their lives, :mad: stand on the right.. walk on the left,

And I will tell you what is ignorant, some @rsehole pushing you out of the way.


Ireland isn't backward... the Irish don't like this horse sh!t of being told what to do in such a regimented way...Ireland is a relaxed country, If you don't like the Irish way of life... go and live in one of those countries you mentioned and follow the rest of the sheep......

Sam Vimes

CamperMan wrote: »

fu*k me.... WTF are you talking about... everyone of those "sheep" in that photo looks miserable... and why?, because they have to many rules and regulations governing their lives, :mad: stand on the right.. walk on the left,

And I will tell you what is ignorant, some @rsehole pushing you out of the way.


Ireland isn't backward... the Irish don't like this horse sh!t of being told what to do in such a regimented way...Ireland is a relaxed country, If you don't like the Irish way of life... go and live in one of those countries you mentioned and follow the rest of the sheep......

right so. let me know when you're leaving you're house from now on so myself and my swarm of spanish students can walk in front of you at 0.5 miles an hour wherever you go

edit: i think they may have loked miserable because some weird guy was taking a picture of them and it gets dark about half 3 here and it's fcukin freeeezing!

professore

Well France for a start : http://www.francesalut.com/2007/09/manners-from-he.html

And the Germans: http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t1533.html

And Belgium, my Belgian wife was amazed at the orderly queuing at the bus stops in Dublin. In Belgium its a shapeless crowd. You would never see a queue at a nightclub entrance for example.

So we could rename this thread to "why is Europe so backward"

tenandtracer

Hard Larry wrote: »

EDIT: where did the Yore Ma post go? Wierd

Not too sure - now I have a deep sense of foreboding

ART6

For me there's more to this than just escalators. Examples:
Why do women in supermarkets group together with trolleys and double width baby buggies to chat and completely block off an aisle to stop me from buying the one thing I went in there to get? Why do women with the trolleys keep on running into me when I weigh in at fourteen stones and six feet two, and am not entirely invisible? Why are little guys always in the way and trying without result to reach something well above their heads when the effort is doomed to failure? Why is the check out queue I join always delayed by someone who insists on opening a purse when told the bill, and then spends the next five minutes searching for the last one cent coin? Why is my check in queue at Cork airport always held up for ages by someone who seems to want to hold a debate with the clerk or who doesn't have the right ticket/ID that is a widely advertised requirement? Why is it that the airport security lane I get directed to is always the one that has the person before me completely unprepared for what is required of him/her, thereby holding up the lane for several minutes while he/she discusses the matter with the security guard?

It isn't an Irish thing. It's people.:D

Sam Vimes

ART6 wrote: »

Why is my check in queue at Cork airport always held up for ages by someone who seems to want to hold a debate with the clerk or who doesn't have the right ticket/ID that is a widely advertised requirement? Why is it that the airport security lane I get directed to is always the one that has the person before me completely unprepared for what is required of him/her, thereby holding up the lane for several minutes while he/she discusses the matter with the security guard?

yes and what's the deal with airline food?

zuroph

Dont you hate pants?!

galwayrush

To answer the thread title question, it's because of our Guilt Complex.

Capt'n Midnight

Some foreign moving stairs have sensors so they turn off when not in use.
Might be an idea here.

or maybe a turbo button for those in a hurry

Sam Vimes

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Some foreign moving stairs have sensors so they turn off when not in use.
Might be an idea here.

or maybe a turbo button for those in a hurry

Yes they do, fantastic idea. Also i reserved a seat on a train and the ticket said area D which i didn't understand until i noticed signs with letters all down the platform. The ticket was telling me exactly where to stand so i wouldn't have to drag my bag through the whole train. Genius!

Sam Vimes

i was also on a train on the way from germany to denmark where the train drove down to the dock and onto a ferry them drove off again when we reached denmark. I was gobsmacked

zuroph

i hear the trains leave on time there too xxxxxxx

Sam Vimes

zuroph wrote: »

i hear the trains leave on time there too xxxxxxx

To the second generally

Random

Sam Vimes wrote: »

i was also on a train on the way from germany to denmark where the train drove down to the dock and onto a ferry them drove off again when we reached denmark. I was gobsmacked

People told you in advance that was going to happen ! How was it such a surprise? These people telling you are known to always tell the truth at all times and not wind people up telling them they got off the train in the wrong city or whatever.

As for escalators ... do what Obama does. Send an advance team in 2 weeks in advance and clear the whole area. Straight run through to the subway then.

Sam Vimes

Random wrote: »

People told you in advance that was going to happen ! How was it such a surprise? These people telling you are known to always tell the truth at all times and not wind people up telling them they got off the train in the wrong city or whatever.

Oh yeah how silly of me :rolleyes:

Random wrote: »

As for escalators ... do what Obama does. Send an advance team in 2 weeks in advance and clear the whole area. Straight run through to the subway then.

sounds like a plan.

RandomAccess

Sam Vimes wrote: »

...They even have the rule on a sign at a lot of escalators.

So when will Irish people learn to follow this excellent rule that's understood in the rest of Europe?

Thats a retarded argument in fairness, people can't follow a rule which does not exist in their country. Not to mention the fact that the practice of standing to one side is a direct result of the use of escalators in Metro/Subway stations, I first encountered it on the London Underground.

I find that people here do step aside if someone is walking up the escalator assuming there is space. A point you fail to note is that having a single line of people requires that the escalator move faster because you are effectively halving the capacity. This high speed escalator is common on metro systems and in Airports, but they are hardly suited to a relaxed days at a shopping centre with Kids on tow. In this environment it is common for people to stand side by side and converse, hardly a criminal offense!

So perhaps you should save your whining until we have our own Metro, (whenever the hell thats going to be given the cutbacks underway)

Biggins

To answer the thread title question: Its Ireland. Since when do we do "normal?"

javaboy

RandomAccess wrote: »

A point you fail to note is that having a single line of people requires that the escalator move faster because you are effectively halving the capacity.

That's usually not the case actually. Often an escalator will be almost empty but two people will be standing side by side effectively holding up anyone behind them in a rush. Even in a busy shopping centre, forcing everyone to go single file would not have a great impact on capacity.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Some foreign moving stairs have sensors so they turn off when not in use.
Might be an idea here.

or maybe a turbo button for those in a hurry

They have them here too, but not everywhere, some of the newer buildings have them. Is it that hard to stand on the right and let people pass? If your in a hurry you are in a hurry and you can seldom help that fact..

Sam Vimes

RandomAccess wrote: »

Thats a retarded argument in fairness, people can't follow a rule which does not exist in their country. Not to mention the fact that the practice of standing to one side is a direct result of the use of escalators in Metro/Subway stations, I first encountered it on the London Underground.

i saw the sign once in a metro station in germany. the rule is followed all over europe. the sign is for tourists who don't know the rule. so it's not a rail regulation, it's a cultural thing, which brings me back to the question of why don't we do it here?

RandomAccess wrote: »

I find that people here do step aside if someone is walking up the escalator assuming there is space. A point you fail to note is that having a single line of people requires that the escalator move faster because you are effectively halving the capacity. This high speed escalator is common on metro systems and in Airports, but they are hardly suited to a relaxed days at a shopping centre with Kids on tow. In this environment it is common for people to stand side by side and converse, hardly a criminal offense!
So perhaps you should save your whining until we have our own Metro, (whenever the hell thats going to be given the cutbacks underway)

it's done on all escalators here regardless of speed in and out of the metro system. and if people want to stand around and chat on the escalator, surely they won't mind if it takes an extra few seconds because they're not being rude by standing in everyone's way?

and i never said it was a criminal offence, it's very rare for rudeness to be illegal but that doesn't mean it's ok

Sam Vimes

javaboy wrote: »

That's usually not the case actually. Often an escalator will be almost empty but two people will be standing side by side effectively holding up anyone behind them in a rush. Even in a busy shopping centre, forcing everyone to go single file would not have a great impact on capacity.

this is true. it's very rare for escalators to be running at that capacity for any length of time

galwayrush

I wish i had escalators up to the doors of my house, mother in law won't use them.:rolleyes:

Sam Vimes

Cairo Magnificent Rim wrote: »

They have them here too, but not everywhere, some of the newer buildings have them. Is it that hard to stand on the right and let people pass? If your in a hurry you are in a hurry and you can seldom help that fact..

now you mention it i remember that at oktoberfest. there were dozens of people on the escalator all standing behind two people having a chat. i wanted to strangle them

Elmo

Sam Vimes wrote: »

Anywhere you go in Europe there's a system of stand on the right, walk on the left. People don't have to be told, they just do it and in Germany, any ignorant tourists who don't follow this basic rule are simply shoved out of the way until they learn it. They even have the rule on a sign at a lot of escalators. the Swedish are more polite about it but will give you dirty looks and tut until you move.

Guess what we don't do that here and no we are not backward you might be but the rest of us aren't. If you want to walk up the stairs go and walk/run up the stairs.

"Ignorant Tourist" I won't be visiting Germany again.

Sam Vimes

Elmo wrote: »

Guess what we don't do that here and no we are not backward you might be but the rest of us aren't. If you want to walk up the stairs go and walk/run up the stairs.

"Ignorant Tourist" I won't be visiting Germany again.

don't take it personally mate. and you'll have to cross the whole of europe off your list so

also, i can't walk/run up the stairs cos ****s are in my way. that's the whole problem!

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Sam Vimes wrote: »

now you mention it i remember that at oktoberfest. there were dozens of people on the escalator all standing behind two people having a chat. i wanted to strangle them

I was at the shop the other day, a few people stopped at the door to talk or something, I said loudly, "why the fcuk would people stand at a door to talk, MORONS" they moved

WoollyRedHat

Escalators aren't as important here, as they are elsewhere.

For example with the Underground and such in London, escaltors are essential and the system of people leaving room for others to run up if they are in a hurry is in force there. It does save time.

Elmo

Cairo Magnificent Rim wrote: »

I was at the shop the other day, a few people stopped at the door to talk or something, I said loudly, "why the fcuk would people stand at a door to talk, MORONS" they moved

Yes but this is totally different you could have said politely "excuse me but you are in the way of other customers". They would have moved.

Sam Vimes

Elmo wrote: »

Yes but this is totally different

whether they're blocking my passage on an escalator or blocking my passage in a doorway they're still blocking my passage and should have more sense than to do so tbh

Elmo

Sam Vimes wrote: »

don't take it personally mate. and you'll have to cross the whole of europe off your list so

also, i can't walk/run up the stairs cos ****s are in my way. that's the whole problem!

I generally don't stand on stairs that don't move, doesn't get me anywhere . Thats why we have lifts and escalators so that we can relax. most shopping centres have both stairs and escalators. If you are in a rush and have to leap up the escalator then you can leap up the stairs.

TBH when I was in German I found them to be polite and I never had any problems about standing on escalators.

Sam Vimes

Elmo wrote: »

I generally don't stand on stairs that don't move, doesn't get me anywhere . Thats why we have lifts and escalators so that we can relax. most shopping centres have both stairs and escalators. If you are in a rush and have to leap up the escalator then you can leap up the stairs.

what about the many many cases where there are no stairs or the stairs are far away and the reason you want to run up them is because you're already in a rush?

Elmo wrote: »

TBH when I was in German I found them to be polite and I never had any problems about standing on escalators.

but did you ever block anyone's passage who was clearly trying to get past you?

Sam Vimes

really you don't actually have to stand on the right the whole time as long as you move out of the way of anyone trying to get past

Elmo

Sam Vimes wrote: »

what about the many many cases where there are no stairs or the stairs are far away and the reason you want to run up them is because you're already in a rush?


but did you ever block anyone's passage who was clearly trying to get past you?

No but then if generally I get out of the way if someone is walking up the escalator in a rush.

Tara st. Dart station has both an escalator and stairs yet people seem to want to run up the escalator, why? its going to take you just as long to run up the stairs. And in Tara st. people tend to stand on one side or move out of the way when they hear someone moving up the escalator.

If I do walk up the escalator I will excuse people politely out of my away, and guess what most people are polite enough to get out of the way.

Now if someone told me that I was a Moran I would actually not move out of the way on purpose.

In shopping centres people aren't generally in a rush and are relaxing their day away.

Sam Vimes

Elmo wrote: »

No but then if generally I get out of the way if someone is walking up the escalator in a rush.

well then you're not one of the people i'm complaining about
i'm complaining about the people with 50 people behind them who refuse to move or act as if you're the rude one for asking them to move

Elmo wrote: »

Tara st. Dart station has both an escalator and stairs yet people seem to want to run up the escalator, why? its going to take you just as long to run up the stairs.

emmmm......no it's not you run at a certain speed. if you're on an escalator you run at that speed plus the speed of the escalator. if what you're saying was true, then standing on normal stairs would somehow bring you to the top

Elmo wrote: »

And in Tara st. people tend to stand on one side or move out of the way when they here someone moving up the escalator.

good for them :pac:

Elmo wrote: »

If I do walk up the escalator I will excuse people politely out of my away, and guess what most people are polite enough to get out of the way.

Now if someone told me that I was a Moran I would actually not move out of the way on purpose.

you're right there. there's no need to be rude about it. the point of the thread is you shouldn't have to ask people to move. it should be an automatic thing. they should know it's rude to stand in people's way

deadhead13

Because our political party system is still based on a civil war fought over 90 years ago.

Sam Vimes

deadhead13 wrote: »

Because our political party system is still based on a civil war fought over 90 years ago.

i blame the lisbon treaty

Elmo

emmmm......no it's not you run at a certain speed. if you're on an escalator you run at that speed plus the speed of the escalator. if what you're saying was true, then standing on normal stairs would somehow bring you to the top

Nah its a moot point TBH. I amn't wasting my time with that. With my explanation! It wasn't very good anyway.

I don't see the point in escalators if you are going to walk up them, it seems to me to be a waste of energy to have escalators if everyone walks up them.

Queen-Mise

deadhead13 wrote: »

Because our political party system is still based on a civil war fought over 90 years ago.

I slag one of my friends constantly about this & it drives her mad. She is a vehement republican. she hates the english, whenever she went around to a college friend's house they always gave her PG Tips teabags, didn't tell her for months. She was very unimpressed when she found out.

I tell her that Ireland is split down the middle with everything and it drives her mad, for example Independent vs Times, or Lyons vs Barrys.

Sam Vimes

Elmo wrote: »

Nah its a moot point TBH. I amn't wasting my time with that. With my explanation! It wasn't very good anyway.

I don't see the point in escalators if you are going to walk up them, it seems to me to be a waste of energy to have escalators if everyone walks up them.

the point of escalators is to save energy. whether i stand on them or walk i save energy because if i walk, i have to take far fewer steps than if the steps weren't moving......no?

kerash

I presume because traditionally there were more stairs than escalators in Ireland and we never learned the 'stand to the side' etiquette.

If people would learn to be a bit more mannerly and less ignorant wouldn't it be better for all of us.
The amount of people that wouldn't dream of saying excuse me in this country, as if you should have some telepathic knowledge of their intentions:rolleyes:

But I agree, I take care not to stand in other peoples way, why they cant stand in outta the way is beyond me.

Cant stand people who plough through you without so much as excuse me - I find a good dig in the ribs is the best response to such rudeness.

Sam Vimes

kerash wrote: »

I presume because traditionally there were more stairs than escalators in Ireland and we never learned the 'stand to the side' etiquette.

you'd think that since we were so used to having to walk on stairs we'd have to get used to standing on them and would normally walk anyway :P

Elmo

queen-mise wrote: »

I slag one of my friends constantly about this & it drives her mad. She is a vehement republican.

If she is a vehement republican she understands that FF and FG are the same. OTT.

the point of escalators is to save energy. whether i stand on them or walk i save energy because if i walk, i have to take far fewer steps than if the steps weren't moving......no?

So we are wasting electricity so that you can save your own energy just for a few extra steps, bit of a waste of money IMO.

Sam Vimes

Elmo wrote: »

So we are wasting electricity so that you can save your own energy just for a few extra steps, bit of a waste of money IMO.

is that not exactly the same for the people who aren't walking? they just save a few more steps

Elmo

Sam Vimes wrote: »

is that not exactly the same for the people who aren't walking. they just save a few more steps

No because they are using them correctly IMO by not walking

Sam Vimes

Elmo wrote: »

No because they are using them correctly IMO by not walking

so on a 100 step escalator they save 100 steps and i save 50. saving fewer steps to get there faster does not count as incorrect use of an escalator, we're both using the fact that the steps are moving to save energy. i just save slightly less energy because i trade it off against getting there faster.


i don't really know how else to explain it tbh. can someone else agree with me here that walking up an escalator does not make them pointless because you still save energy?


for example, the escalator at my metro station, the one that's 100 metres long. i walk up it every day and never have a problem but it's been broken once or twice and i've been fcuking dying by the time i got to the top. do you not understand why that might be

Random

Sam Vimes wrote: »

so on a 100 step escalator they save 100 steps and i save 50. saving fewer steps to get there faster does not count as incorrect use of an escalator, we're both using the fact that the steps are moving to save energy. i just save slightly less energy because i trade it off against getting there faster.


i don't really know how else to explain it tbh. can someone else agree with me here that walking up an escalator does not make them pointless because you still save energy?


for example, the escalator at my metro station, the one that's 100 metres long. i walk up it every day and never have a problem but it's been broken once or twice and i've been fcuking dying by the time i got to the top. do you not understand why that might be

Nobody is going to agree with you Vimes. You're out of your depth here.

Why walk up a perfectly good moving stair case?

Crash Bang Wall

A lighthearted uneducated somewhat immature response, but here goes.....

There is a BIFFO in charge:eek:

Elmo

Sam Vimes wrote: »

so on a 100 step escalator they save 100 steps and i save 50. saving fewer steps to get there faster does not count as incorrect use of an escalator, we're both using the fact that the steps are moving to save energy. i just save slightly less energy because i trade it off against getting there faster.

There are no 100 step escalators in Ireland that I know of. And I don't think you would actually save 50 steps on a 100 step escalator, escalators don't travel that fast. You might save 20 walking and perhaps 30 running but then it would really depend on your speed.

Sam Vimes

Elmo wrote: »

There are no 100 step escalators in Ireland that I know of. And I don't think you would actually save 50 steps on a 100 step escalator, escalators don't travel that fast. You might save 20 walking and perhaps 30 running but then it would really depend on your speed.

Regardless of the exact number of steps you save, you still save meaning that walking on escalators doesn't make them pointless.....no?

Random

I agree with people getting the feck out of my way.
I will run down an escalator if I'm rushing somewhere.
I disagree with walking up escalators. Seems like a waste of energy

And will you two stop arguing over the number of steps on escalators!