Under the Raydar

I have been struck with a hyperawareness of awareness itself, and it has appeared in extremely polar forms. Please be warned, this is going to start with a bitter tone, but read on!

What I have noticed that should be considered, and corrected:

1) The unstoppable group walkers. Groups of people who walk in a row on the sidewalk, so engrossed in their own interactions that they fail to notice the solitary-opposite-direction-walker, continuing to walk without letting this person to pass. The solitary walker must stop and wait, suffer an unapologetic collision or duck into the grass, snow or sleety-excuse for snow. Be courteous. Let others pass.

2) The door slipper. We have all seen and experienced you, darting into the library or the dining hall. Preoccupied with your ear buds or intentions, you find it impossible to hold the door for the people walking immediately behind you. Stop darting responsibility. It may take a full two seconds, but your polite door-hold would be greatly appreciated, especially on a cold day.

3) The distracting unpleasant-habit pursuer. Especially in close quarters (like a library carrel, or a quiet row in a classroom), the distracting unpleasant-habit pursuer appears so aloof that he or she continues chewing gum disgustingly loudly, biting nails sloppily, listening to music or sighing dramatically and profusely. This isn’t Renaissance Drama, and this isn’t your own private room. Please stop popping your gum, and take pity on those who are trying to hear the lecture, but cannot fully appreciate the professor’s voice over the crunch of your cuticles.

4) The interrupter. Our education theoretically costs over $50,000. Please stop interrupting the professor to tell a personal anecdote. I am all for anecdotes in the right context, but right now I want to listen to the research-driven, career-built passion of a professor. So, please put your hand down and wait for discussion section. There I said it.

What I have noticed that outweighs the irksome unawareness of courtesy:

1) The friendly converser. Not only does the bridge worker, the custodian, the library-lobby-waiter move to the side when you are trying to pass by — he stops to smile, nod, and even ask you how you are. It is lovely when we acknowledge each other as humans, and treat each other with human friendliness!

2) The hand-washing-commiserator. Instead of sighing or shaking his or her head, the hand-washing-commiserator engages other bathroom-breakers in lighthearted conversation, complaining, or compliments an outfit or hairstyle. This person remembers that there are always chances to chat and enjoy others’ company.

3) The good-deed-doer. I recently saw a woman trying to tie her dog’s leash to a railing while she made an effort to dart into the library. A boy saw this and offered to watch her dog for a bit, and stood outside with the leash, petting the dog, smiling when the woman was done her errand. Good deeds are reminders of how genuinely caring people can be, not just in an isolated interaction, but to all onlookers.

4) The whistling line-waiter. Instead of groaning or standing stoically in line at Proctor, the line-whistler is cheerful. “Hey,” she seems to say, “here is pretty good food, and I can have as much of it as I want! Why not celebrate a bit?” The line-whistler is more memorable than the line, just as the good is more memorable than the bad. Luckily, I’ve sensed that the line-whistler’s tune overpowers the nail biter, but the tune will be even more resilient if we put away our gum and earphones and hum along, smiling courteously as we do.