I had to read that word like three times.
I’m always sure to honk my horn and yell “Great job, genius!” so they know I think they’re doing great and also smarter than average.
What if you just mouthed your thanks to them and crossed without expectations about how or what they should think?
Crossing the street can be a dangerous thing, crosswalk or not.
Pedestrian crossings are part of the sidewalk and there is no reason for a human to ever be ‘thankful’ to continue walking exactly where they’re meant to. Remember, at an uncontrolled marked crossing, a pedestrian always has the right of way, whether it’s going over a small one lane street or (shudders) a four lane highway.
Similarly, pedestrians always have the right of way on the road. You may have been convinced otherwise, but Jay-walking is car manufacturer made up bullshit. It is illegal in some states, but even still pedestrians have the right of way, you can just be fined for exercising it. Roads were originally owned by people, not cars. Cars were visitors who now have overstayed their welcome.
There’s no reason for a human to ever be “thankful” in millions of situations. You’re allowed to be gracious. You don’t need to be callous about how the world has to be.
Being kind is fine, but I’m not going to thank a random person on the street for not mugging just like I won’t thank a driver for not putting my life in danger. I consider there to be a bare minimum of human behavior that doesn’t require thanks: putting trash in a bin rather than littering, not pissing onto a park bench, following the law for pedestrian crossings, etc.
It’s not even real gratitude. It’s a phatic expression in the same sense as “what’s up” and “how are you?” not actually intending to be a serious question on what’s happening in their life. Expressions like these exist in every language to help with social interaction, in a sense it’s what gives language its human element, beyond just a medium of information transport. Hell even tons of animals have similar types of behaviours so it seems really weird to be so staunchly against this very common and basic kind of communication.
I fucking hate cars and I still wave drivers who stop simply because that’s the common etiquette. It takes nearly zero effort so it’s more of a why not do it type situation. I genuinely think it’s easier to just do it instead of getting worked up and opposing it because it’s such a simple thing that doesn’t have any negative side effects on you.
. I consider there to be a bare minimum of human behavior
And part of that ‘bare minimum’ is acting graciously in your interactions with other people.
At worst, your giving up two seconds of your day to make someone else feel appreciated.
I’ll nod in thanks to a driver who slows to permit me to cross sooner. Because the alternative is me waiting longer to cross since I will not be commiting suicide to prove a point about ‘right of way’ by stepping in front of their moving car.
They should stop, but lots don’t…as such I’ll thank those who do. But hey, I also thank the fast food worker for handing me my bag of mcnuggies even though doing so doesn’t really make sense since they have no choice.
In my state cars have the right of way unless it’s a crosswalk and you have the signal to cross.
https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-32-motor-vehicles-and-traffic/al-code-sect-32-5a-212/
Jaywalking is a capitalist conspiracy, pedestrians should control the means of crossing