I suspect this phenomenon is not so much American vs Camadians. as it is related to the tourists one usually sees in Toronto and Montreal. Growing up in an inner city area in New Jersey, I spent a great deal of time in New York City and Philadelphia. One quickly learns a particular walk that says don't &*^% with me- walk rapidly even if you aren't sure where you are going, don't look up for sights or let your gaze wander. Included is a particular way of looking (or not looking). Either one does not look at passersby or makes brief eye contact and looks pointedly away (and never show any expression). My students in California, wander all over the place, and don't seem to notice distinctions like sidewalks and roads. The speed up and slow down with no apparent reason. I suspect they would be immediately spotted in any big city on the East Coast, in Chicago or in Minneapolis etc. In addition people from big cities seem to have a horror of being viewed as tourists, so they adopt their home town walk to strange cities. I know I have to tell myself it is okay to look around when I go to San Francisco because I lived there for a number of years as well, and we could always spot the tourist. So can panhandlers, obviously.
Harry Avis PhD Sierra College Rocklin, CA 95677 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Life is opinion - Marcus Aurelius There is nothing that is good or bad, but that thinking makes it so - Shakespeare >From: Michael Sylvester <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Canadian:TARGET FIXATION >Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 10:26:41 -0500 (EST) > > >while on this subject,it has been noted that one can sometimes >detect an American in Canada by the way they walk. >Apparently,in cities like Toronto and Montreal,Americans >walk well focused and unidirectional on where they are going,whereas >others are free in moving about. >Like that song by Aerosmith and Run DMC "Walk this way..Talk this >way". > > Comments invited. > >Michael Sylvester,PhD >Daytona Beach,Florida > > > > > > >--- >You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
