People bumping/walking into me

Taiwan Living in Taiwan
1

Maybe it’s just me, but I come from a country where if somebody even brushes past you ever so slightly they apologize (Strangely, you both apologize but that’s a different matter)

Yet here, sometimes people will just walk straight into me as if I’m not even there. I must get bumped into several times a day, usually the older generation are worse.

There is no apology, no acknowledgement that somebody has just stepped on my shoes or knocked me back.

An example could be I wait for people getting off of the MRT at behind the line. I stand exactly still and I must have around 5 people shoulder barge past me as well as impatient people behind me pushing wondering why I’m not racing onto the MRT as soon as the doors open.

Does this frustrate anybody else as much as it does me?

2

You’ll get used to it. Or you will eventually get so fed up that you’ll leave if you can.

This is just the way people are in Taiwan. Try to look on the bright side: it could be worse. You could be driving a car.

3

Maybe you are a people magnet?

4

We haven’t had this thread before! Something original for a change! If you find out why people keep bumping into you, could you please tell me why Taiwanese schools prefer WASP blondes, and where to buy sour cream?

5

This has been talked about on here countless times.

  1. Most Taiwanese have poor spatial awareness. Even they acknowledge it.

  2. This is a crowded city / island.

  3. Don’t let it bother you. Things are just different here.

pass the sour cream please

6

Spacial awareness isnt a priority here. Sorry, but its a reality. It gets extrapolated on roadways where people are often maimed or killed due to such lack of awareness.

Now where can i find that sour cream? Or some bread without sugar?

7

Yes! Now we’re asking the important questions!

8

Yea it’s a pain. Also crossing the road. Try not to sweat it and reduce your own spatial awareness? When in Rome etc

9

Strongly recommend against reducing ones spacial awareness. In fact, in order to not end up dead, crippled or diseased, you should work on tripling it. I can spot a mite on a cockroach behind the wall in a restaurant now after living here so long. This is good practice to hone your skills. Glass is always half full.

10

Is this America?

Because in America people get violent and stuff if you bump into them, regardless if you apologize or not.

I guess Taiwan’s different in that they know if you run into them it’s because it’s overcrowded or something. Nobody has gotten violent so far over this.

11

We get it. You hate America. And we know. 15,000 people were killed there alone today when they were stabbed in the neck after bumping into someone.

The thread is clearly about Taiwan, so why vent about the US here?

12

Cause it’s a thread about adapting ones existing spatial awareness to another location

I saw a guy in a motorised wheelchair mozying along in the middle lane of a three lane road today. With speeding cars busses etc.

13

Because Forumosa is such a great community that prides itself in dumping hate on another person.

14

True, but at least we have you here to bring some positivity and sunshine into the mix! :rainbow: :sun_with_face: :blush:

Liam_Og 15
1 Like
16

When I went to Manila I felt it was noticeably worse than here.

17

Weird, no one bumps into me in Taiwan.

Maybe you guys are the ones bumping into other people?

18

Vietnam is more too. I’m thinking more about crossing the road, but yea having to adjust your path to avoid a bump

And Andrew enters the dodgem cars driving the wrong way. :laughing:

19

And afterwards you noticed your wallet is missing as well in Manila…

20

Maybe it depends on one’s gender/size/appearance?

Nobody really bumps into me either…and, if I get the impression they’re going to, I make a split-second decision whether I’m going to move out of the way as a courtesy or tense my shoulders, let physics happen, and see who wins the collision (usually me).