This is all over the media today, newspapers radio and TV alike (in fact it's going to be on the 6 o'clock news tonight if anyone's watching online or at home).
Big article in today's Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle1733967.ece
But the basic gist is that we're all speeding up.
Anyhoo, it's rather fun because there's a test you can do to measure your own pace of life here: www.paceoflife.co.ukThe pace of life is speeding up: scientists have discovered that pedestrians all over the world are walking faster than a decade ago.
An experiment conducted in 32 cities has revealed that average walking speeds have increased by about 10 per cent since 1994. Psychologists said the findings reflected the way that technology such as the internet and mobile phones had made people more impatient, leading them to cram more and more activities into a day.
I thought I'd share it - for the record my pace of life is 45.
I scored 2 ???
They don't call me 'Action Jackson' for nothing you know.
No, I got 27 - I'm just a laid-back dude. 8)
Even then I think it was an artificially high score because of the questions. I mean, I avoid queues but that's not because I'm impatient; it's 'cause I'd rather go for a lie down or something.
I wonder if it'll be on Newsnight. I'll put it on in the background and wait for it.
This story is flipping everywhere! It even got a full page in today's Daily Star (complete with a Girl Aloud).
Nice coverage on the beeb.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6614637.stm
Have you seen some of the readers' comments on the BBC page?
Many of them are taking the research to mean that walking quickly is bad for you.
It's about how living a more frantic lifestyle is bad for you and measuring walking speed is a good indicator of how frantic we've become.
It all fits in with the instant gratification culture we seem to have adopted in the UK.
How? ? ? ???Originally Posted by John Jackson
M
I scored 40.
Although I completed the test in 4.37 seconds
I got 23. But I do walk really fast.
51
Is that good or bad? Do I go to Area 51 now?
I scored 32 - and I live in the country - and I'm old!
M
We all seem to want everything now. As consumers we want something and expect to have it instantly (usually by paying on credit) and this leads to businesses etc. having to cater to this desire for instant gratification. The result is a more frantic business life and and as a result a more frantic home life which in turn means we want services etc. to be faster...
Obviously that's a big generalisation but I think it's valid.
Of course, measuring people's speed of walking in city centres probably reflects what I'm talking about. A measure of people in country villages may not show up such an increase in the pace of life.
As for me, I'm not saying I'm laid back or anything, but if Richard Wiseman wants to film me in action, I'd suggest time-lapse photography.
I live in the most idyllic place – people who live here choose it on purpose to escape all that stuff you are talking about. It also draws “healers” and “therapists” who complain there’s no business! Well what can you expect?!
I scored higher marks than I thought I would (32) on “The Pace of Life” – I have no patience in queues, traffic, or shops because I am not used to them anymore – if I stand in a queue it’s with people I know – so it just feels like a “get together” and we chat. If I’m stuck behind a tractor on a road - well that’s the country! In a city I’m a wreck! I can’t stand the crowds on the street, in shops, banks or parking areas. I suffer terrible frustration and stress and it’s really bad for my health! I turn into a bad tempered, aggressive monster.
On the other hand, one is still affected by the speed of life in the country if you have anything to do with computers! My computers are not quick enough for me even with broadband, wireless, and everything to “speed up”!
Personally my husband and I are consumer nightmares – and many people I know here are too – we mend things! We are mean with our money. We wear charity shop clothes, we have the same cars till it is sensible to renew them, we give things and get things off “Freecycle” and buy from church bazaars and farmers markets. I couldn’t give a fig for fashion – or the latest kitchen ware, gimmick, gadgets or gizmos EXCEPT if it has anything to do with computers! I really dislike shopping! My husband does the grocery shopping ( lots of BOGOF) after work in the nearest town supermarket – so I seldom have to go there myself – suits me just fine! And not many of the businesses around here cater for instant gratification much – people will and do wait! In exchange you may or may not get an invoice!!!
In another post John, you spoke about debt free living which I think you got "spot on" – well, the above lifestyle is one of the ways to achieve this. Mentally one must be immune to any advertising (critical thinking skills imperative) and immune to peer pressure. One needs to become “the great British eccentric” so that people admire you for your unusualness rather than sneer at you.
I think that a “care less, careful” debt free way of life might still be possible in a city. But, to me, the main stressor in city life where everyone suffers is that most businesses are pushing to get more work out of fewer workers for the least money - no wonder people are walking faster!
M
55
I am deeply unconvinced by this. What is 'pace of life'? Why would our walking pace be any metric of it at all? A fallacy of equivocation perhaps?
I think its a leap and play on words for me. There seems to be a metaphorical fudging of the term 'pace' going on. I think its a not to well thought out idea that may make intuitive sense at first glance but falters with anything more than that. :-\
Pop psychology or bubble-gum for the brain perhaps.....8)
You know, speaking more generally, not all projects like this help science in the public domain - if that 'science' itself has no or little substance. There is an argument than one could be generating confusion. ???
I agree, the value seems limited. I walk fast because I don't like public places, not because I have a "high-paced" lifestyle, and most people are going to get impatient if they have to stand in a queue for longer than necessary.
I am also deeply skeptical of the value of having a scale going up to 70 using only 7 questions with 3 options each, this suggests that a single (c) option gives you an extra 10 points.
Yeah, it's just awful when a psychology story gets all over the media worldwide.
Araneus, all the c options are worth 10 points. The quiz is just a fun way of engaging people, it's not related to the actual study, funded by The British Council, which timed walking paces around the world. But if you want the science I will get you more info. Just because a story has been interpreted so the media find it interesting and the public want to know more, that doesn't mean there isn't serious science behind it. The general gist is that the cities with the highest walking pace also have the highest rate of heart disease.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks