Texting While Walking — "Wexting"
I enjoy listening to the podcast, Note to Self, available through WNYC's website. One episode on wexters (those who walk and text at the same time, often oblivious to what is going on around them) elicited a reaction from me, which I put down into words and emailed to them:
In your podcast, "On Wexting and Other Woes", I found your guest somewhat too forgiving of wexters and definitely so regarding the issue of an individual's power to make a difference — in this case, getting wexters to stop wexting. She discourages one to follow the advice, "See Something? Say Something", which got me to thinking...
Of course, I have a little more power in this regard, being a rabid... er... avid bicyclist. I often encounter wexters who have stepped off the curb and who would have me mow them down if not for my resonant tenor voice yelling, "Heads Up!!" — or the sometimes not-so-polite equivalent. It works every time — usually accompanied with a look of horror from them and a wry smile — even a malicious giggle — from me. (By the way, the bicycle bell may be the "legal" warning device, but is quite ineffective in this case, and many others.)
This certainly is different from encountering a wexter in less dangerous situations — say, as a pedestrian, stepping out of the way of an approaching, foot-traffic-oblivious wexter or the rather comical scene of watching a wexter walk into a street-sign pole (certainly a sight almost demanding a giggle or even a guffaw!). However, as a pedestrian there are ways to battle the oblivious wexter and/or help them avoid injury. Here's a couple of methods:
• Stand still; when the wexter is just about to run into you, go "Boo!" — then run like hell. (This could be considered normal eccentric New York behaviour, eh?!)
• If you'd prefer not to be too eccentric, simply move quickly left or right (your choice) just as the wexter is ready to run into you, then walk on. Do not look back. Most folks have sufficient peripheral vision to get the drift.
• A rather loud "EXCUSE ME!" often works in the middle of subway stairs. Always make sure to say "Thank you" afterwards.
• And, of course, always giggle, laugh, or guffaw when a wexter runs into something. The harder the object run into, the more vigorous you response can be. But — If there's blood, call 911... on the victim's smart phone, if possible.
By the way, I don't own a smart phone; it would be too much of a temptation for me to become yet another victim of wexting, falling into oblivion, or worse. And I don't use my flip-top-beam-me-up-Scotty cell phone while riding. That and texting is illegal when operating any vehicle, probably even skateboards (skexters??). Although each of us [probably] wishes not to be that silly individual who is always accosting wexters, skexters, or bicyclexters, telling them to cease and desist, the subtle art of New York streetwalking does include a sufficient repertoire of reactions to them which, I guarantee you, will get the point across enough times to buoy the ego of any anti-wexter. See Something?? Well — "Where there's a will, there's a way..." And — have fun with it.
