So there I was at the airport early (before 6:30am) getting ready to board a flight. I actually like getting to the airport early in the morning. It’s kind of somber, quiet, and really gives me an opportunity to look around and take in everything.
As I was sitting there listening to music I noticed that a few couples walked past me and both of the men were walking ahead of their partners/significant others. As usual this gave me a chance to pause and think about it and I actually performed a test. As I was sitting there, I said to myself how many of the next 10 couples that walk by me are walking together or one person is 3-4 steps ahead of the other. Well the results are in and sure enough 7 men were ahead of their partner, 1 women was ahead of her partner, and the other 2 people were walking together. I decided to do it one more time to see if the results would change and they really didn’t. Men still walked ahead of their partners in 6 cases while the other 4 couples were walking together. I realize this isn’t a scientific experiment but it does make me wonder:
- Do you think men typically walk faster than women?
- Are men more impatient and anxious to get to their gate or baggage claim more than women?
- Do men just have to take the lead?
- In your relationship does one of you tend to walk a little faster than the other?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Melanie says:
My husband has a longer stride than I do. And I often wear heels. In an airport especially where it’s often so busy you can’t walk side by side, he goes into “work” mode and walks so fast I can’t keep up. I have to call out to him. Sometimes I just see how far ahead he will get before he realizes he’s left me behind. Once I couldn’t even see him any more. 🙂
Rudy Bublitz says:
Hey Merrill,
My girlfriend says she likes looking at me as I walk in front of her!
Thanks for your valuable input in last weeks MSU MSMR board meeting.
Rudy
Ed Sugar says:
The y chromosome strikes again!
Kelly Heatly says:
In general:
– Yes
– Yes
– Probably, but I think it’s more about getting there than “winning”
– Yes. I walk fast, but my husband makes me look like a slow poke. He walks fast because of bullet #2 not #3.
Paul Kirch says:
Is it possible that one was walking in front, out of irritation? Travel can be stressful and I’ve seen couples traveling together where one intentionally walks slower or faster, to make a statement. How many times do you see couples sitting at a restaurant and not looking at each other or talking. It always saddens me to see that, but some of it speaks to relationships (at any given moment). I clearly have longer strides than my wife, but she tends to walk faster. And, depending on her mood that pace can get really brisk. 🙂 We tend to walk together, but if one of us is “irritated”, it’s almost certain there will be a gap. I’ll bet if you applied more study to it, you’d learn that there are many emotional and “state” related factors for some of those travelers.
Al says:
“…and the other 2 people were walking together.”
“…while the other 4 couples were walking together.”
Give it time. These are probably newly formed relationships.