Crowds: Inviting or Distracting?

[Flavius]

When you are surrounded by hundreds or even thousands of people you don't know, are you the type of person that appreciates being a crowded area, or does it drive you to get away from it as quickly as possible?

Being raised in the suburbs, my ventures into the city is usually met with fear of being lost among the masses. So in extreme cases like that, I tend to want to find the nearest "uncrowded" place where there is a fraction of the people there. Though I do have degrees of tolerance depending on location.

A stroll in a park with a large group of people isn't so bad. Going to the mall can be sort of dizzying, but manageable. But being among pedestrians in a busy city can be pretty nerve-wrecking for me.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

...one thing i can tell ya. i hate BLACK FRIDAYS at WALMART. especially when theyre selling laptops for $300.

this experience will teach you to hate crowds. and people, for that matter.

[CrossboneGundam]

I'm a city person. I don't like sparsely populated areas for too long, it makes me feel as though I'm out of touch and disconnected from the world, which I find more disconcerting that being in a bustling crowd. I enjoy people watching, anyway.

[Old Ape Face]

I'm usually a single person, if i'm in a crowd I'll blend it and make use of the traffic like a Matrix Morpheus breeze. but if I'm in a group I'll avoid the crowd.

[neiru_3]

I hate crowded places..I avoid them. I can't be bunched up with people. I grew up in the city, but never liked it. I like peace and tranquility.

[Haro!]

Sigh I always seem to get on the train when its packed but I don't mind it. I do however hate a packed bus, well I hate the bus in general. I don't mind crowded areas much, or rather I don't even think about it. I'm not much of a party person though, to be honest, but more so because of the excess noise in that type of environment.

[Old Ape Face]

Actually considering my place of residence includes

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5630/dscf0192tm7.jpg
My front yard

There are not that many crowds to walk through, even at school it's not to hard to get around. so i don't have to worries about big ridiculous crowds.

[Dark_Shiki]

At malls, I've mastered the art of weaving in and out of people. I can't stand when they don't speed up when I'm right behind them though. That's why I shop like this: Get in, buy what I'm there to buy, and get out.
I don't have much affinity for crowds either, but I can deal as long as there's an exit point somewhere. Now if it's PACKED, I absolutely hate that. That iswhen one realizes how little other human beings care about your personal space as long as they can wiggle by.

[DazzleKitty]

I don't like crowds very much. Whenever I am in malls or other stores near holidays and it's really busy, I get so angry with everyone. They're rude and push you around and everyone is in a rush.
I just dislike crowds in general. I like to have my space.

[J Dude]

I don't like crowds very much. Whenever I am in malls or other stores near holidays and it's really busy, I get so angry with everyone. They're rude and push you around and everyone is in a rush.
I just dislike crowds in general. I like to have my space.

Whenever I have to do shopping at my near by mall, I always try to make sure that I go in the morning on a weekday when possible, since it's not crowded at all. Now on holidays I just tend to avoid malls altogether. If I have to do shopping for my family for X-Mas, I can very well just do that online. As you can guess, I don't like crowds. While some people might think of going to a party and getting drunk as their idea of fun, my idea of fun is just kicking back in my room and enjoying a good anime or video game. Not to say that I don't enjoy doing other stuff. I love bowling even though I've lost my touch and I suck at it now. I also like playing pool.

[Nano]

I dislike the people in crowd s but not crowds themselves. I like partys, my social skills are growing slowly. So yeah, I enjoy them more everytime, I don't have many friends besides my college friends who live far away so in the city I'm not in a big gang most times. But I love the city, it doesn't scare me. I do get pissed off at people walking in front of me and stuff, so I've gotten pretty good at walking fast and avoiding idiots.

[Nami]

I want to get off that place as fast as possible. I usually don't like crowded place. I think I don't mind being in crowded street, but when I'm in the mall when there are big sales and people just packed up there, it makes me want to scream and run away. This also apply to packed bazaar/crowded exhibition center as well.

[Leader Desslock]

Actually considering my place of residence includes

[pic]

My front yard...
Pish. There's a telephone pole, a transformer, power lines and signs of land cultivation & development in that pic. Back where I'm from, that's considered "urban". I bet you have running water, too. Sheesh...

On-Topic: Back in high school, we got the typical essay assignment of "what would you do if you found yourself alone on a deserted island? Could you survive, assuming that your basic needs (food & shelter) were met?" In the discussion that ensued, the topic of human interaction came up. Most of the class said that they couldn't take being alone for extended periods of time. When someone asked, "Well, who could?" the discussion paused and the class turned as one to stare at me. My reply to the group was as follows: "I love some of you in this room like siblings, ut if I never saw a single one of you ever again, it wouldn't affect my life at all."

My attitude toward humanity hasn't significantly changed in the subsequent decades.

I'm fine in a crowd, but I prefer the solitude of the open country.

[tenshi_a]

I don't hate the crowds, I hate the people. The noise...

I don't mind crowds as long as I don't have to interact with anyone while the crowd is present. I hate trying to socialise in noisy pubs or things like that because I can't generate enough noise to be heard even when yelling directly into someone's ear. I'm a very quiet person.

I ignore party invites.

But walking through crowds on streets, reading manga on a crowded train, attending a rock concert (as long as I'm not trying to talk to anyone), they're all fine.

I think I just hate people.

Xmas shopping is indeed Hell On Earth, but I think that's part of the Christian experience. Shopping mall crowds are good for starting fights in, then running away and watching the outcome.

[Hajime Saitou]

When someone asked, "Well, who could?" the discussion paused and the class turned as one to stare at me.

That made me laugh so hard :lol:.

I'm like that as well. If I was trapped alone on a deserted island I would be fine without anyone. I enjoy human interaction in certain situations, but if I no longer had any, I really wouldn't be any worse off.

Even though most people say they would go crazy in that situation, I could stay level-headed without anyone else around.

Whenever I have to do shopping at my near by mall, I always try to make sure that I go in the morning on a weekday when possible, since it's not crowded at all.

The mall that I go to opens up at 10. I'm there at 9:55.

Other than the clerk at the EB Games there, I rarely run into anyone. It only took me a few trips to the mall(years ago of course) for me to realize that was not the environment for me.

[Midoriko87]

That depends on what type of crowd it is.

During the Holidays, I love the crowds. It just feels good.

MARTA trains... I CANNOT STAND a crowded MARTA TRAIN (for a few different reasons).

1: My Balance is HORRIBLE. I know there's junk to hold onto, but even still, my Balance is HORRIBLE. :lol: I even tilt when I'm sitting down... It's really crazy. Once, I felt onto this dude. He smiled and asked if I was alright... I was so embarassed. Thank Goose, he got off at the next stop. Actually, I was with some friends... if I had been alone, and he hadn't've exited the train, I would've.

2) Eye Contact. I am so envious of those persons who can look in your direction but not like actually look at you. I can't do that. I have eyes that just have to focus in on people. I mean, those seats with the backs against the windows, and you're parallel to folks... that's just horrible. So, I just look down/to the side. And then, there's that one person that's always looking at you. And, it's like, "Is he looking over here?" Then, I have to act brave and stare up at them like, "Um, what are you looking at?" But, they don't look away!! DAMN!!

3) ALLEY Teenagers. I hate being around these losers. For some reason, it makes me feel embarrassed when I shouldn't be.

MARTA Buses, I can tolerate... as long as I get a seat ('cause of my tiltiness).

In Class, I love having a whole bunch of students around. Actually, it's harder for me to concentrate in a classroom without a bunch of kids gossiping... Maybe. Of course, stuff like that doesn't seem to happen in these damned Post-Secondary Schools.

And, sometimes Crowds make me feel lonely... when I'm alone. Then again, sometimes I prefer to be alone in the Crowd.

[tenshi_a]

And, sometimes Crowds make me feel lonely... when I'm alone. Then again, sometimes I prefer to be alone in the Crowd.

Crowds make me feel lonlier than I've ever felt without the presence of people. And *especially* if I'm with people I know... because if there's a party or social gathering... everyone else seems to be getting along fine, they can all interact fine, they're all doing great... and although I'm not speaking, I can park myself at the side and enjoy just being in the room with them; they're good people... then someone... it doesn't matter who... will come along and ask:

"Are you ok? ... you look really unhappy"

And that's when I realise... I'm not like them. I can't do this whole social thing. It's just somethine I plain old *don't get*. And I'll never be like them. And goddamit, they're the ones having fun!

And that's when I feel lonliest.

I hate people. They make me feel lonely.

Having said that, I'd only take a desert island with access to all my anime, manga & videogames.

[Midoriko87]

. And *especially* if I'm with people I know... because if there's a party or social gathering... everyone else seems to be getting along fine, they can all interact fine, they're all doing great... and although I'm not speaking, I can park myself at the side and enjoy just being in the room with them; they're good people... then someone... it doesn't matter who... will come along and ask:

"Are you ok? ... you look really unhappy"

I have those times (a lot, actually). I can be around people without saying a word. I just enjoy the feeling of being around my friends/family or whatever, so I don't feel the need to say anything. And, I'll usually get the, "Why are you so quiet? You seem so sad." I don't think anyone understands that part of me. But, I guess I kinda understand why people think I'm sad when I'm quiet, because most persons close to me have seen that part of me which I like to call "Hookerbot 5000" (I just made that up). :lol: I can talk a lot, though, and I do act pretty fantastic, sometimes. Like my dad said, "If we put you in a cage with a parrot, you'd talk that bird to Death." :lol:

But, I like to think that my Intuition is just Hella good. I understand why I'm like that... Not anything I'm willing to share with anyone, right now. So, I guess they'll just keeping asking why I'm sad. :D

[Alice Catherine]

...one thing i can tell ya. i hate BLACK FRIDAYS at WALMART. especially when theyre selling laptops for $300.

this experience will teach you to hate crowds. and people, for that matter.

Black Friday is an early Christmas for my grandpa. (Who works at a flea market.)
My mom fell down a flight of steps at the mall on BF 1999.

As for me, crowds are OK until you can't walk.

[Tom Servo]

Lone wolf is the only way to be... perhaps crowds would be a-ok if some of them didn't contain all sorts of astral nasties and tried to rape your mind as you walk-past, trying to use your thoughts back in the past - it's a type of censoring system in that folk's thoughts about proper things are monitored and then used in the past to make sure those things never come to be - to keep the same cycle of lies going. If I had some IR equipment or equipment that could see into the microwave range of frequencies then you could show people the sort of things they were dragging around with them... over their left eye, or the lower spinal area - mostly.

I have to go into town proper tomorrow to sign on and I can already feel from then the types of evil present there -

what's worse is -

I know that the true timeline is running underneath all that - that all the evils are just bolted on and aren't necessary. Most minds seem to be narrowed by tech. so they are only experiencing and projecting a tiny fraction of what reality is, so everyone else gets locked into their labyrinthian prison.

Good thing the seeds for the Palm Tree Garden are planted... >

[Nano]

I have those times (a lot, actually). I can be around people without saying a word. I just enjoy the feeling of being around my friends/family or whatever, so I don't feel the need to say anything. And, I'll usually get the, "Why are you so quiet? You seem so sad." I don't think anyone understands that part of me. But, I guess I kinda understand why people think I'm sad when I'm quiet, because most persons close to me have seen that part of me which I like to call "Hookerbot 5000" (I just made that up). :lol: I can talk a lot, though, and I do act pretty fantastic, sometimes. Like my dad said, "If we put you in a cage with a parrot, you'd talk that bird to Death." :lol:

But, I like to think that my Intuition is just Hella good. I understand why I'm like that... Not anything I'm willing to share with anyone, right now. So, I guess they'll just keeping asking why I'm sad. :D
We're exactly alike. I feel the same way and I can just stand with friends and not feel the need to say anything. I do wish I would interact more and be happier for it.
But I think Hookerbot 5000 is from Futrama.
Fry: "Look! there's Hookerbot 5000, she has a heart of pure gold" It's the episode where Bender becomes religious.

[Dr. Ezra]

I always stay away from crowds. They're awful.

[Suiko Eiji]

At malls, I've mastered the art of weaving in and out of people. I can't stand when they don't speed up when I'm right behind them though. That's why I shop like this: Get in, buy what I'm there to buy, and get out.

I'm kinda like this. I don't mind maybe taking a stroll around, so long as I'm able to actually move faster than herded cattle. But the worst is when I have to slow down for someone else who isn't paying attention to what they're doing and just moving slow (and it gets much worse once I enter a vehicle).

Probably the worst thing I hate about crowds are new parents with strollers. They take their time, take up the extra space, and they're nigh impossible to get around. You had the kid, now pick it up and carry it. They're only slightly worse than teenage girls squealing in an echo chamber.

I work in the city but live in the 'burbs. I've considered moving into certain parts of the city in the next couple years, but I might be too picky with what I consider a good part of the city so I might just have to settle for some of the nicer areas closer to the city. Ironically, many of my vacations have landed me in plenty of downtown settings and I have a blast just walking about and interacting yet some of the suburban settings in those same areas I've visited just didn't feel right.

Social interaction, I'm fine with. I hate going to dance clubs or something like that where I have to yell (plus, too many other conversations going on, I have selective hearing) but have a bunch of people over for a house party, I can talk to most anyone about anything for nearly any amount of time.

[Holy Knight]

I don't feel the difference. People are just obstacles in my way to wherever I'm going, so the less I have to dodge, the better. I don't easily get distracted, so large crowds don't disorient me, even though I've been living in a suburban area for as long as I can remember. I don't particularly prefer more or less people, I'm fine either way and get along nicely as long as I don't have to actually converse with others. I'm terrible at even the simplest of conversations.

[Nano]

I'm terrible at even the simplest of conversations.
Meh, you're so smart and talented I think you could learn all your social skills from a book and become a great talker. I really want to talk to you now in person because of my disbelief.

[Old Ape Face]

Pish. There's a telephone pole, a transformer, power lines and signs of land cultivation & development in that pic. Back where I'm from, that's considered "urban". I bet you have running water, too. Sheesh...

On-Topic: Back in high school, we got the typical essay assignment of "what would you do if you found yourself alone on a deserted island? Could you survive, assuming that your basic needs (food & shelter) were met?" In the discussion that ensued, the topic of human interaction came up. Most of the class said that they couldn't take being alone for extended periods of time. When someone asked, "Well, who could?" the discussion paused and the class turned as one to stare at me. My reply to the group was as follows: "I love some of you in this room like siblings, ut if I never saw a single one of you ever again, it wouldn't affect my life at all."

My attitude toward humanity hasn't significantly changed in the subsequent decades.

I'm fine in a crowd, but I prefer the solitude of the open country.

Actually we have well water, but only because the city water pipes haven't reached our stretch of the road yet. Also this town once had a population that consisted of more cows then people, but agriculture is dwindling, there are more and more urban developments popping up that were once large acres of farm land. The population is steadily growing, but the distance between my house and the rest of the neighborhood is still a descent lot of 5 acres. and even at the outskirts there's only one neighboring road with a house complex, everywhere else is more farm land, soon to be turned into more residential land.

[Geo]

I'm ok in a crowd. The only thing that can go wrong for me is if:

-Some random person bugs me
-A weird smell arises from a close by human being

[Old Ape Face]

I'm ok in a crowd. The only thing that can go wrong for me is if:

-Some random person bugs me
-A weird smell arises from a close by human being

I'd rather take that from a crowd of cows then a crowd of people anyday :P

[Mr March]

I like people. When I was a kid I remember being fairly shy, but I've really opened up with age and I love meeting new people. Crowds are okay with me, I love the city. Plus, people watching from a sidewalk cafe with your friends can be a lot of fun :)

[superplough]

Don't like crowds, fortunately I live in New Zealand in a city with only 300,000 people and there usually aren't too many people about. If it gets too much I go back home to Cheviot. (about 500 people max)

[SDAnimeFan]

I never liked being in a crowd. Going to the mall getting stuck behind people walking slow. That why I try to do what shopping I do for anime and other stuff online. Whenever I am at a party or anything I am usually the more quiet one, everyone who knows me knows thats the way I am. They know I'm a little shy. I think thats why I am a person of few words around here too though I am trying to work on that.^_^

[CrossboneGundam]

Lone wolf is the only way to be... perhaps crowds would be a-ok if some of them didn't contain all sorts of astral nasties and tried to rape your mind as you walk-past, trying to use your thoughts back in the past - it's a type of censoring system in that folk's thoughts about proper things are monitored and then used in the past to make sure those things never come to be - to keep the same cycle of lies going. If I had some IR equipment or equipment that could see into the microwave range of frequencies then you could show people the sort of things they were dragging around with them... over their left eye, or the lower spinal area - mostly.

I have to go into town proper tomorrow to sign on and I can already feel from then the types of evil present there -

what's worse is -

I know that the true timeline is running underneath all that - that all the evils are just bolted on and aren't necessary. Most minds seem to be narrowed by tech. so they are only experiencing and projecting a tiny fraction of what reality is, so everyone else gets locked into their labyrinthian prison.

Good thing the seeds for the Palm Tree Garden are planted... >

zugzwang? Is that you?

[Hajime Saitou]

I think thats why I am a person of few words around here too though I am trying to work on that.^_^

Well, that is the longest post I have ever seen you make, so you're off to a good start.

[Solid_Snake]

...one thing i can tell ya. i hate BLACK FRIDAYS at WALMART. especially when theyre selling laptops for $300.

Got my 52 inch HDTV from one of those. Had to wait since 10 PM in the cold... Dayum.

[Ketaru]

Having gone to an overpopulated high school, I have come to hate crowded places that have one thing: groups of people standing around for idle chat. You have to weave your way around them. The worst thing is that the groups were all maybe 5 feet from each other and definitely weren't standing in the same side of the hallway.

I'm so glad people in college don't stop for pointless chatter.

[Flavius]

I hear ya, Ketaru. My high school was the same way, in that there would be scores of people who stop right in the middle of the hallway and chit chat, even during bell transitions. It's kind of like being stuck in traffic, while at the same time having people slow down to look at an accident.

[Rain]

It's such a pity that there are so many introverted and asocial people on here, but it's to be expected. :lol:

Anyway, I enjoy participating in intellectual crowds where we have discussions about random albeit "profound" subjects. In addition, I like to converse with people who possess charming charisma and amiable qualities. Thus, if I found myself in a crowd full of morons, I'd rather be alone.

[sailornyanko]

I thought the topic was about being in crowds of friends and not being surrounded by crowds of people in general.

I live in a huge city and ever since 5th semester, I have to go downtown on subway on ever random hours (sometimes on rush hour in one of the busiest lines of the metro). I've lived through the horror of being squished and sardine packed into subway trains with no air around really overweight people in every direction squishing my peuwny body into unnatural positions. If that's not enough, you get bootleg music playing at the top of your eardrums right in front of you. At least I haven't had many experiences with BO in the subway. I think I've only encountered two men who didn't look like they have bathed in a few weeks. Most people are obsessive-compulsive shower freaks that would shower three times a day if they had the time.

But the women only wagons. NEVER EVER get on one of those at rush hour. Women are the most evil, evil, evil creatures. My god. Two weeks ago I made that mistake and they were shoving and pushing at eachother. This really obese woman throws this delicate looking old woman and her poor daughter screams at her to scold her for being so rude (there was space for all, but she had a me me me first attitude). They say they have these wagons to avoid groping at rush hour, I think they were made to avoid harpy psycho women from beating the crap out of the poor men. :lol: My advice: go to the unisex trains. The men are polite and don't push you.

I'm somewhat antisocial, but I can survive crowds of strangers pretty well. I would of become psychotic long ago if I didn't. I live in the suburbs and my street rarely has people on it, but I do live in a pretty heavily populated area, at least half a million. There is a huge park just across the street though.

If it were for me though, I'd rather live in a city like my native Minneapolis, somewhat populated, but not sardine packed either. But until I start my internship, I'm still going to live in this city for the time being. Just gotta avoid the women trains that's all. ^^' *shudders*

[Scandiadream]

I have a serious severe crowd phobia. I found out the root of it last year- I would have never suspected. Especially bad is when a crowd of people gangs up on me- even if it is just to ask me questions, wanting to see a grade, or to get computer tickets. It has given me nasty anxiety attacks.

[HSaabedra]

It's such a pity that there are so many introverted and asocial people on here, but it's to be expected. :lol:

Anyway, I enjoy participating in intellectual crowds where we have discussions about random albeit "profound" subjects. In addition, I like to converse with people who possess charming charisma and amiable qualities. Thus, if I found myself in a crowd full of morons, I'd rather be alone.

I should make it a point to hang out with you if I'm in the area. :)

[Shiroiyuki]

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5630/dscf0192tm7.jpg
My front yard


I've got that beat. 10 acres of forested area (that we own), surrounded by 90 acres of actual forest/woods/yikes, that is owned by a seasonal neighbor (who only hunts on the property).
A view of behind the house, between trees. One of the more 'open' areas:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/671/10020750ur.jpg

Our 110 foot driveway:
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9303/10020837ng.jpg

You should see the place in the fall, beautiful ^_^.

Actually we have well water, but only because the city water pipes haven't reached our stretch of the road yet. Also this town once had a population that consisted of more cows then people, but agriculture is dwindling, there are more and more urban developments popping up that were once large acres of farm land. The population is steadily growing, but the distance between my house and the rest of the neighborhood is still a descent lot of 5 acres. and even at the outskirts there's only one neighboring road with a house complex, everywhere else is more farm land, soon to be turned into more residential land.
Yeah, we have well water too...but because we live in the sticks where our closest neighbor (not counting seasonal people who stay in their cabins for a week and then go back home) is a mile down the road. 'Road', being a dirt path with some rocks thrown on top to create 'texture'. Not because 'civilization' hasn't reached us yet. My god, 'civilization' (okay, a Wal-mart and a few random stores) is about 23 miles away from my house. It's going to be a while until it reaches us, :lol:

Down the main road from us (not our road, but the one we branch off of) is a dairy farmer, a corn...um...grower (has about 180 acres worth of corn fields, three mills, and a couple barns), and a veterinary hospital with horses grazing its fields. We are in the country; you are in 'delayed suburbia'.

[Sendo Takeshi]

I hate large crowds. And since I work in Manhattan, it's always full of stupid tourists. I prefer a small crowd that consists of upto 7 people. =/

[Anime Junkie]

large groups of people I try to stay away from them for my sanity

[Haro!]

I hate large crowds. And since I work in Manhattan, it's always full of stupid tourists. I prefer a small crowd that consists of upto 7 people. =/
Ah thats interesting. i actually don't mind crowds, at least of people I don't know. however I can't hang out with more than 3 girls at a time. I don't know I just don't like being with more than 3 other people.

[Alice Catherine]

OMG the traffic jams at school. I've found out the hard way that unless it's a kid with a disability I'ma shove that ***** out of the way.
I piledrived into TJ once. Wasn't a pretty sight. I ended up causing a lot more traffic....

[GusGus]

Lately I actually like crowds, for example when I walk through a park full of little stands that sell books or craftworks. I like to hear the sound people makes, the wishpers, the kids, the cars passing by, They make me feel a little more connected to the world.

Oh and like some others in this thread I'm also the one who almost doesn't speak in reunions and ends feeling more lonely. :/