How stupid would you have to be to walk into THIS?

@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
February 20, 2016 6:45am CST
Last weekend we visited my parents in Salisbury and I took this photo of my mum and my husband in the Cathedral Close. There's a special sculpture installation there at the moment - mostly naked ladies with the heads of hares dancing about - and this statue of a massive pair of hands. I just read in the papers that it had to be moved because too many people walked into it. They were too busy looking at the screens of their phones and apparently "didn't see" a 20 foot high solid statue. That's pretty dumb. What's even more incredible is that this is in the grounds of one of the world's most beautiful gothic cathedrals that dates back to the 13th century. Seriously what kind of utter philistine do you need to be to walk past a stunning building and not take your eyes off your screen? I'm reminded of one of my favourite lines from Alice Walker's book 'The Colour Purple': "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it." How much more would He be disappointed that you don't stop your obsession with online life long enough to recognise a massive cathedral?
34 people like this
36 responses
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
20 Feb 16
My niece had a car accident two days ago... she was looking at her phone. I told hear hundreds of times, I hope that this is a lesson. Youngsters seem only capable to look at their gadgets in our days, they are not interested by the nature, monuments and statues around them.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
20 Feb 16
@boiboing Not too much, she has to wear a soft cervical collar for a couple of weeks. She had the bad habit to look all the time at the cell phone.
4 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
I hope she wasn't hurt.
3 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
21 Feb 16
@LadyDuck It's the trouble with mostly everyone now. Many severe accidents occur due to this habit. And not to forget the awful habit of keeping the headphones in your ears while crossing the roads. Seriously? How careless and irresponsible can you get?
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Feb 16
We don't even see people's faces anymore as they are always looking down at their phones. I saw a teenage girl once walk into moving traffic because she was looking at her phone.
4 people like this
• United States
21 Feb 16
Indeed does anyone even look up from their phone?
2 people like this
• United States
26 Feb 16
@fishtiger58 When we have down time we are glued to our gadgets. That's just how society is becoming... over stimulated and want instant gratifcation
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Feb 16
@3SnuggleBunnies I really don't think so.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
20 Feb 16
It is miraculous that more people have not been killed crossing the roads while using their mobile phones. Reading on Facebook seems far more important top many people than whether a car is about to hit them.
4 people like this
• Midland, Michigan
3 Mar 16
@boiboing Listening to music isn't as bad as texting while walking down busy streets.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
3 Mar 16
@MarshaMusselman Not as bad, I agree. But potentially worse for creating people who are totally deaf to their surroundings.
3 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
That's very true. I have never seen how people can walk down the road listening to music without getting run over.
4 people like this
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
21 Feb 16
That is very disappointing. People are too tied up in the digital world.
3 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
20 Feb 16
They should keep it there for people to walk into it. These senseless people really need to have some senses knock into them.
3 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
I fear it wouldn't work.
2 people like this
• United States
20 Feb 16
People should be taught to leave their phones off unless it is needed to take a picture, look up a map or make a call. Mine is off almost all of the time. I am too busy living to get sucked into a virtual world. My computer will be off in a few minutes too. It will stay off until later today.
4 people like this
• United States
20 Feb 16
Bummer they have to move this statue. Some people are just too attached to their phones that they do not pay attention.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
I swear if you stood an elephant on the High Street of most towns, somebody would walk into it.
2 people like this
• United States
20 Feb 16
I'm just glad you all didn't walk into it by accident.
2 people like this
• United States
21 Feb 16
@boiboing Unless you were blitzed!
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
Even with my specs off I couldn't miss that.
3 people like this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
20 Feb 16
Yes,this is going on all over.Very annoying./They cannot live with out them.Boring people that they are
2 people like this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
2 Mar 16
@boiboing depend how you define boring people.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
But they must be REALLY interesting people to have so many other boring people sending them messages all the time.
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
20 Feb 16
Lol.. erm I'd be one of these people lol I walked into some glass door (which was locked on the inside) at Ibiza airport whilst sober. I had to pretend to be wasted afterwards to "save face"
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
20 Feb 16
@boiboing oh ya, if I was sober.. my IQ is called to question. But if I was wasted.. then people will just think "meh it's Ibiza"
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
I love that you'd rather people thought you drunk than clumsy.
3 people like this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
1 Mar 16
@Drosophila that is not your fault though. Glass doors should have plenty of stickers on them so it is clear that there is not empty space
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
20 Feb 16
Would be funny to just sit on a bench and watch people walk into it lol
2 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
21 Feb 16
@boiboing that actually does sound quite amazing. throw in some tea, and we have a deal, lol!
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
Yes, that's a great idea.
3 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
21 Feb 16
I think I have your perfect day our arranged. You sit by the statue for an hour or so and then join my mum and Sue at the White Hart poking fun at the wedding guests and their terrible outfits.
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Feb 16
In San Diego recently, a man walked off a cliff while watching his screen. It surpasses understanding.
2 people like this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
1 Mar 16
Oh boy, whatever next?
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb 16
People amaze me sometimes. We have a mobile phone for emergencies. Vince takes care of it. I don't even know our number.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
You sound just like my mum.
3 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
21 Feb 16
@JudyEv She's 74 and as feisty as ever.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342277)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb 16
@boiboing I'm probably nearly old enough to be your Mum!!
2 people like this
• Philippines
20 Feb 16
I can't imagine that peole would walk through that big statue and moreso not appreciate a stunning buiding. Shaking my head.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
It's so sad, isn't it?
2 people like this
• Philippines
20 Feb 16
@boiboing really sad how people get caught up into something which make them miss more important things.
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Feb 16
I try really hard not to walk and use my phone at the same time. I've come close to walking into things before so if I need to be on my phone I'll stop to use it instead of walking into something.
2 people like this
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
21 Feb 16
I am always amazed at how people living anywhere have no idea of the sights. The othervday I took a friend who has lived in the villahe for ages to see the msnor and the church. We live in countryside. It is hard to miss. She was amazed to see the view for the first time......We are surroundef by fields.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
21 Feb 16
I don't think it's the locals that are walking into it. More likely it's the coach tours of continental teenagers being bussed from one sight to the next and seeing history as nothing more than a backdrop for their selfies.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (140043)
• Roseburg, Oregon
20 Feb 16
A teenager here was so busy on his cell phone that he feel into a opened manhole and broke his leg. He had to call for help to get out of the man hole. How sad it is to not even watch where you are walking.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
Good job he had his phone with him.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
20 Feb 16
It makes you wonder what people go there for. I've been to that cathedral and it's magnificent, and the sculptures look interesting too. The people that you are talking about would rather live in a virtual world than appreciate what's in front of them.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
20 Feb 16
Yes, I think you summed it up well. They should be getting cricks in their necks from looking at the spire, not from bumping into large objects.
3 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
20 Feb 16
We're becoming androids, it's hard to take. My memories of times when there was only radio in our house (and a wall phone that we had to crank to get the operator who would then connect our local call) bring up other memories of a full, rich life, not spent entirely in my head. Even for me, it's a struggle to maintain a life outside this computer. I won't own a "smart" phone. No way.
2 people like this
@paigea (36315)
• Canada
21 Feb 16
That is unfortunate that they had to move it. Let people keep walking into it and deal with the headache, I say
2 people like this