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Comment by ryukoposting | Hacker News Reader

Maybe this sounds idiotic, but I've started playing chicken with drivers. If it's a crosswalk with no pedestrian signals, as long as they've made eye contact with me, I just go.

Hit me. You won't.

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This is standard protocol in most cities. It's not that novel.

Note that this works everywhere but Boston. I visit every once in a while for family or work and every time it takes me a day and a couple close calls to adjust.

I wonder if it would help if you had a wagon full of cinder blocks with you.

When I told my wife-to-be this, she told me I'm insane! And she grew up in one of the biggest cities in the US. There's a couple other commenters expressing the same sentiment.

Most big cities these days have cops who basically quiet quit, and often the shit drivers don't even have plates. Many won't care about "accidentally" hitting and running you, and some might even enjoy it.

You might think this is a joke, but simply giving some idiots a middle finger is enough to lead to them shooting you (or your kid - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-man-killed-6...). Trying to be mr.tough guy with idiot drivers is a quick way to make yourself road kill.

As a city dweller for my entire adult life... huh? What you're describing sounds more like a GTA game than any of my lived experiences in the city. If what you've described is an accurate depiction of your living conditions, I urge you to leave.

One freak incident that made the news isn't going to convince me. And, I'm sorry, but following basic traffic laws isn't being "Mr Tough Guy."

I've lived in mostly safe cities where this doesn't happen, but all you need to do is spend a week in a place like Baltimore to see that what I am writing is absolutely real, and many places really are like an "IRL GTA".

You should Google "the risk of ruin".

As long as there aren't drivers on alcohol or coke in your city, they will not try to pass faster than you by that place. If somebody does and kills you, they will be fined, so is a... "you win". Maybe. Sort of.

I think this works better if you keep your head aimed at the goal position and only observe the vehicle by turning your eyes, it makes drivers think you're unaware and therefore they behave more cautiously

I am comfortable with my self-confidence as a pedestrian being known. If they choose to interpret it as something else, that's their problem.

This is just crossing the road.

That is idiotic because you're vastly increasing your risk of injury. And for what? To make some point? I don't see how you benefit from that increased risk you are taking on.

> And for what? To make some point?

For me, it's more about the cumulative mental energy required to get somewhere. If I walked maximally defensively, that would put me in a certain state of mind. It would expend some of the limited focus that I have in a day. Much in the same way that I don't always read all of the EULA before clicking "I Agree". It's easy to blame someone for skipping through after it goes bad. But the amount of energy and discipline it takes to maintain that when the environment is stacked against you is impractical.

So whatever. Just hit me if you have to. I have no illusion that I'm making a noble point. I just don't have the energy.

Another commenter replied that this is standard practice. Funny.

Because I actually make it to where I'm going in a reasonable amount of time.

Because it's the law. I have the right of way in the crosswalk [1].

Because I'm in the middle of a pleasant morning stroll and I'd rather not have it interrupted by some jackass whose day will somehow be ruined if they arrive at work 4 seconds later than they expected.

[1]: https://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/when-do-pedestrians-ha...

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