This is something I've noticed more and more over the last couple of years, and it only seems to be getting worse. Why is it that so many people seem to have a problem understanding what to do on escalators? The same thing applies on moving walkways, to some degree, but escalators seem to cause people the most problems.

  Look over there to the right - it's an escalator. Now, what causes so many problems? It's not the actual travelling on it (well, most of the time, anyway) - it's the ends of it that seem to be like an IQ challenge to people. Specifically, getting on and off the bloody things. I have to use these ones every day at the moment myself - it doesn't give me any cause for struggle. Hell, I'm a resident of the 20th century (I'm using 20th century, because it's not like these things have suddenly materialised all over the planet, contrary to how some people react to them) so I know that at most it's simple timing to get on and off them. At best, they're simply a flight of steps that happen to move.

  But if you've got a spare couple of minutes sometime, stand at the side of the escalator, and watch the faces of the people getting on (or off - depending on which end you stand near) - it's actually quite hilarious. The concentration that goes into it, the sheer worry and fear in some peoples eyes, like this is some terrifying predatory beast, it's jaws preparing to snatch unprepared feet/children/dogs/idiots and chew them to a pulp. The escalator is a beast fed on the shoelaces of the innocent. Chairman Mao said that - or would have done, if Communist China had ever had an escalator. From the way most of the populace treat them, he should have had some simply to help on the populace elimination procedures he was renowned for.

  So what is it that cause people so much trouble? It's not like the things are rocket science, we've had them since xxxx, and they haven't changed much in that time. They're simply lazy stairs - rather than us climbing them and putting in the effort, it's just "stand and go" - and I'm pretty sure most people can handle stairs. (Before I get the Disability Rights Commission on my back as well, I know that there are people who can't handle them, but that's a rant for another day - promise) The walkways/travelators are even easier - they're just lazy pavements, and yet they still cause people shedloads of problems too. I think it's just the movement thing that makes people stop - like it's something that's still uncommon, unnatural, it's just not right!

  That's the only reason I can think of for why so many people seem to have such problems with the concepts behind escalators and walkways. It's either that or they're pig-thick. Actually, that's possibly the reason. Is there anything that could change people's minds, attitudes and timing when it comes to them? Somehow I doubt it - personally, I'd love to see an escalator made completely out of transparent materials, but that would freak people out completely, I'm sure.

  And in the meantime, well, people will just keep on being scared of the damned things, blocking the way for the people who know how to get on and get off without having to think about it beforehand, who don't need to time their steps, or go through the rituals of which foot should go on the step first, and who can, in general, simply cope with escalators. I still wonder why the people who have these problems don't simply use the flights of stairs that are normally somewhere close to the escalators - but maybe stairs are too complicated because they don't move...