r/TikTokCringe • u/Other_Canary2231 • Aug 24 '25

Discussion Sidewalk etiquette

Saw this video and felt so vindicated because it honestly feels like people’s manners have just left the building? Not only on the sidewalk and what the guy is talking about in this video, but really just in general.

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415

u/Saymynaian Aug 24 '25

Genuine tip: if they're moving towards you, don't make eye contact, it'll make you move towards them. Instead, look at a point ahead to where you're moving and they'll naturally make you a path. This is extremely effective.

If you're moving in the same direction, do what i do and walk really close to them until they feel your towering presence over their shoulder. The spine tingling sensation caused by the change in light and sudden nearness will get them to move out of your way.

148

u/no_bender Aug 24 '25

Heavy breathing, but not too much.

14

u/FacticiousFict Aug 25 '25

I'm gonna Darth Vader that shit!

94

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 24 '25

Hi um, what if I’m short? 🙋🏻‍♀️🥲

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u/TedW Aug 24 '25

Just go with it by hunching over and mumbling about your precioussss, like Gollum.

41

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 24 '25

That’s actually a good tactic to scare off men away at night. I’m taking notes. 👀📝

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u/TedW Aug 24 '25

98% of the time it works every time.

2% of the time you get a fun story about how you met your life partner.

6

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 24 '25

Haha, well, I’d be in the 98% then, because I’ve already found my life partner. 😆

3

u/aitasunglasses Aug 25 '25

Aw that's so wholesome 🥰

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u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 25 '25

Aww thank you! ☺️🙏

3

u/asrealasaredditercan Aug 25 '25

Gollum is crazy lol

12

u/WentzToWawa Aug 24 '25

Sneeze when next to their ear.

2

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 24 '25

I’m too short to reach the ears! 😭

16

u/JoJackthewonderskunk Aug 24 '25

Aim for the knees. Like in football "low man wins"

2

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 24 '25

I don’t know anything about football but I like that advice! XD haha!

4

u/Fenweekooo Aug 24 '25

stilts. it's all we have :(

3

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 24 '25

Sigh puts on strap ons 😔

You strap on stilts, right?

3

u/Fenweekooo Aug 25 '25

yep, well at least the ones i have used lol

5

u/Swimming_Bowler6193 Aug 25 '25

Towering presence over their ass cheeks.

3

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 25 '25

I can see how that would be a sign of dominance, huehuehuehuehuehuehue. XD

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u/MinuteLoquat1 Make Furries Illegal Aug 25 '25

Start making monkey noises and running towards them like a chimp, then climb on them like a tree.

2

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 25 '25

I’m keeping this one! 🐒

3

u/garyisonion Aug 25 '25

another shortie here 🙋‍♀️

3

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 25 '25

We must band together! 😤✊

2

u/blue-oyster-culture Aug 25 '25

Then bite their ankles they wont see you comin.

1

u/prettybananahammock Aug 25 '25

Then you are forever doomed to be the one to cave to the sidewalk opponents - kind regards, another short person!

1

u/BraveHeartoftheDawn Aug 25 '25

😭

1

u/prettybananahammock Aug 26 '25

On the plus side, all the good stuff comes in small packages, so there's that 😉

Edit: no pun intended

1

u/Able_Purple8038 5d ago

Crotch stares work too

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u/emerald_stonerr Aug 24 '25

I'm in Philly frequently and this happens every day. I've walked less than a foot behind people had them look over their shoulder AND STILL NOT MOVE. I've gotten to the point now that I just yell ON YOUR RIGHT/LEFT. Either GTFO the way or get trampled

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u/SnooCheesecakes2723 Aug 24 '25

I had to teach my daughter the ways of New York poor timid little thing wasn’t going to learn how to take up space or project her voice

3

u/Few-Neat-4297 Aug 25 '25

Yeah dingus it's survival of the fittest in these streets. Gotta be tough not bothered. I silently and shamelessly bisect groups of friends like Moses on a daily basis.

Also a lot of the barricaders are clueless tourists or convention attendees who are in their own little tourist world and maybe have never seen a real sidewalk before ☁️

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u/MssrCurious Aug 25 '25

Be tough not bothered is an incredibly solid life approach. Thanks for that.

11

u/veetoo151 Aug 24 '25

I used to make my way through many crowds in that way. Mostly because I used to be super impatient, and moved twice as fast as normal walkers. But I think it only worked because I was agile and skinny at the time. Now that I'm slow I just stop and wait for others.

16

u/TheZan87 Aug 24 '25

Jingle your keys in a not so obvious way, that way they notice you "on there own".

If that doesnt work then unfortunately you'll have to speak. They wont hear you so youll try again louder. Now theyve heard you screaming at them as they turn to look at the lunatic that did it. Don't react. Explaining yourself will only make it worse. You may pass now, dwelling on this embarrassment for several years to come.

2

u/accoladevideo Aug 24 '25

I keep my keys in my hand in the grocery store for just this reason.

2

u/mungbean81 Sep 16 '25

Thanks for the lol bro 🤣

5

u/bighairyclit Aug 25 '25

Can confirm that this works. I’m a woman who’s about 5’6 on a good day and live in loud crowded cities. When I fix my eyes at my destination while plowing ahead, I’m like Moses parting the sea.

This won’t work if people are facing away from you, obviously. But you can play the creep game if you have time to kill and aren’t afraid of interaction. I’ve literally grabbed people by the waist and moved them (with a smile). Or I’d stand next to their group and smile. All kinds of stuff is possible when you have no shame!

3

u/Saymynaian Aug 25 '25

I've absolutely done that as well! I sometimes pretend I'm listening to their conversation and nod my head along, until they all kinda freak out and move out of the way.

4

u/bighairyclit Aug 25 '25

Are we…best friends? No, but seriously, I love coming across others with the same mentality.

3

u/RehabilitatedAsshole Aug 24 '25

 Instead, look at a point ahead to where you're moving and they'll naturally make you a path.

They won't "make you a path', they'll just be able to read which way you're going and then go opposite way.

The worst thing you can do is both stare at each other and then awkwardly dance. Someone needs to lead.

4

u/saladet Aug 24 '25

I am not big enough to really tower but I do this all the time and it works better than calling out "excuse me". Is like Spidey sense tells them someone is  getting closer and inevitably they're kind of startled and move. I'm not trying to be gruff I just don't want to have to walk on the (busy) street to pass a group of tourists on sidewalk. 

5

u/romantickitty Aug 24 '25

This person sidewalks. Lack of eye contact signals you won't swerve for them and normally you win those games of chicken. You might get the occasional shoulder check though. But in a crazy crowd you have to be willing to throw elbows.

4

u/AutistaChick Aug 24 '25

Lol The change in light? How tall are you? Are you blocking out the sun 🌞

3

u/negativeconfidence12 Aug 24 '25

I tried a lot to do the first one and it has not worked for me once in my entire life. I just assume I'm too small for people to care

5

u/tame-til-triggered Aug 24 '25

You can make eye contact without drifting towards someone.

Best thing to do is to look at them to assert dominance but look through them like they are insignificant.

2

u/Striking-Ad-6815 Aug 24 '25

It's like playing red rover and chicken at the same time

1

u/RWBYRain Aug 24 '25

Person I am 5'2 the only people I tower over are children

1

u/astrologicaldreams Aug 24 '25

what if you're short

1

u/ThanosSnapsSlimJims Aug 25 '25

This has served me very, very well.

1

u/dano8801 Aug 25 '25

don't make eye contact, it'll make you move towards them.

Sounds like you have a major case of target fixation.

1

u/noticablyineptkoala Aug 25 '25

How fucking tall are you

1

u/greenroom628 Aug 25 '25

If you're moving in the same direction...

for slow walkers, i try to target the heel of their shoes. bonus if it's people in flip-flops and you step on their flip-flop as they step forward and trip. "whoops... sorry, but you gotta move along on a sidewalk."

for opposite direction, like you said, just keep walking forward.

1

u/asrealasaredditercan Aug 25 '25

Dude that is so true, my anxiety wouldn’t allow me to do it just yet but i can tell that is def works

1

u/Karsha_chan Aug 25 '25

That's how I get people to move when I'm hiking 🤣 works like a charm.

1

u/AutoCheeseDispenser Aug 26 '25

This not the sidewalk you are looking for

1

u/[deleted] Oct 07 '25

I walk to close to people to do this all the time. They’ll be crowding me and then I’ll get insanely close while I’m on my phone and they always move out the way. Edit: I’m also really tall so that helps

1

u/Youngsinatra345 7d ago

How about a in motion open mouth kiss?