How do you walk? How do you stand?

[intpz]

Head down, head up, hands in the pockets, arms swinging half a meter to both sides, arms position in a squared manner, anything else?

I used to walk with my head down, observing the tiles, hands barely swinging or in my pockets, slow step, not too big, even though I've long legs. Either because I was very shy, or because over here, if you look at someone, you can lose your phone, wallet and get your face smashed a couple of times. Also the tiles were (and still are in most places) fucked up, you can step into a hole where a tile used to be, or anything equally potentially dangerous.

Now I walk with my head up (not like those aristocrats in the movies about England), straight look, since my figure's quite athletic, hands not extended makes me look like a bodyguard just thinner, fast medium step. I prefer sunglasses, so nobody would see what I'm looking at, I like observing people I pass, usually I put them in a frame of what they might be like, where they're from, nationality, etc..

When I'm standing (usually waiting until the cars pass or for a green light, whichever comes first), I've my hands crossed in the front, like those Mafia guys.

I think many people find my posture quite intimidating and confident, which is good in most cases. Sometimes passing guys might look at me intimidatingly, some just look away. I'm okay with that, I doubt somebody would attempt to talk to me at a bus stop.

P.S. Do you wait for green light, or you go if the street's empty/car's far away?

 

[skip]

Neat idea for a thread.

Head up, moving like I have someplace to be - sometimes I do, sometimes I don't but it's a holdover from being an aerobics instructor. I have pretty good posture thanks to years of dance lessons although it's not as good as it used to be due to age. I like to stand with my hands at my sides, or hands on hips à la Captain Janeway, or my arms crossed. Unless it's raining I always wear sunglasses. Raybans, thank you very much.

I go if the street is clear and it's not a busy area.

 

[EditorOne]

I've learned to walk like I own the place. My walk, I'm told, reflects confidence, ease, and a sense that I'm where I belong and happy with it.

However I've also learned to stand in a corner, in front of a tree, with my back to a wall, facing the door, etc. And I can pretty much disappear by doing that.

Contradictory, huh?

 

[Architect]

Usually like I'm not sure where I'm headed. My standing posture is often slouched and distracted.

 

[Hadoblado]

I am flat-footed so I tend to walk a little peculiarly. I used to walk with my head down, but realised after some time that this comminicated a lack of confidence. I now make a point of touching the back of my head to the collar of my jacket, ensuring I'm looking up at people and at least conveying the remote possibility I know what I'm doing.

 

[Dapper Dan]

I walk head down, lost in my thoughts a lot. In school, people would greet me as we passed in the hallway, and I wouldn't even know who it was until we were well past each other. It happens less at work since there's less mindless walking.

My posture in general is pretty slouched. Hands often in pockets. When standing, I tend to shift all my weight to one leg. When sitting, I tend to slouch way back or way forward. (I can partially attribute this to being tall and slender. Also, most chairs suck.)

 

[Brontosaurie]

like I wanna go to bed

 

[doncarlzone]

Usually like I'm not sure where I'm headed. My standing posture is often slouched and distracted.

Ah relieved, was afraid this thread would turn into a thread about how masculine and cool we all walk.

I walk really fast like I am always in a rush while often being self-conscious about my facial expression. This often turns out with me looking arrogant but I am trying to smile once in a while to change that.

"You always look so serious!" I get that a lot.

 

[Fukyo]

I walk fast, usually with large steps, a lot of the time I exhaust myself inadvertently, and the people tend to complain about my pace. :/

I have semi flat soles so I walk a bit oddly by the standards of most people, who direct their feat 'outside', I tend to put my pressure on the inside of my foot, I don't walk in the "heel-toes" manner () which I'm told that is the correct way of walking...but rather toes-heel.

My overall gait tends to be slouched and relaxed.

 

[The Gopher]

Well I came back to this thread because I just got told I walk "Like an assassin" While I am sure this is not the case it amused me.

Anyway, It depends what I am doing if I have a direction I walk really fast and with confidence. If not I walk casualy and float around. I also bounce a lot depending on my mood.

 

[Cheeseumpuffs]

Hands in pockets, usually zoning out or staring at something unless there's another pedestrian nearby in which case I watch them suspiciously but I do my best to avoid looking like I'm watching them. I always have my iPod in when I walk places which usually discourages others from talking to me but I'll always turn the volume down (taking advantage of the fact that my hand is already concealed in my pocket) whenever I get near someone else on the off chance they try to get my attention. I stand more or less the way I walk - slouched, hands in pockets, head down but I apparently look more like I'm comfortable and whatnot rather than nervous and shy.

 

[Cognisant]

It always comes back to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhlQfXUk7w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[H1N1]

I run with proper running form.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I've learned to walk like I own the place. My walk, I'm told, reflects confidence, ease, and a sense that I'm where I belong and happy with it.

In several of my occupations, I have found this to be a useful trait. On the first day of class, for instance, I always wear a jacket and tie (and I maintain this for most of the semester, if not all of the semester). Not only does it set the tone for the classroom, but, wearing a jacket and tie in the SJ world allows me to move about relatively invisibly. There are a great many places I can walk through, when dressed in business attire, where no one will ask any questions about my presence. It's not just the walk, of course, but the walk helps.

However I've also learned to stand in a corner, in front of a tree, with my back to a wall, facing the door, etc. And I can pretty much disappear by doing that.

Ditto.

Contradictory, huh?

Yep. Very useful.

Dave

 

[Swole Silent Guy]

I've been told I walk strangely, at least in comparison to other high school/ college students, because I straighten my back and don't lean with my steps. My arms swing when I walk. Hands in my pockets when I'm stationary.

I stand with my feet a little less than shoulder length apart, or with one foot crossed over the other, resting on my toes. I lean against something if I can, my hands between the back of my waist and the wall.

Despite my size, I make little noise when I walk, and fade into the background whether I'm moving or stationary.

 

[citrusbreath95]

People have told me that I walk as if I’m on the runway (actually, somewhat unsettling, I’ve been told people have literally –watched- me from their buses just because of how I walk. )
So, usually quick paced, head up, looking around to gain an idea of my surroundings, arms rather loose, very pronounced hip movements (the seduction begins). I suppose in this mode of walking (usually at work or school, I portray the “man on a mission, er woman in this case.)

If I’m freelancing, I have a slower pace, and this is where I usually feel very awkward about where to put my arms and will spend considerable time thinking what an appropriate stance would be for my mentality of the moment. Usually people tell me I always look “lost” in this state. In fact, this is when the Christian witnesses pass out Bibles to me. But this mode is when I’m truly lost in thought, and absolutely oblivious to my surroundings (occurs in less threatening areas where I don’t feel as if I have to be on alert.)

Standing, I usually have my arms crossed and legs spread a bit (not too much though; I try to gain a confident stance but not too territorial or abrasive.)

I suppose in essence I either look overly confident and intimidating or lost, distant, and aloof.
It truly just depends on my mood, environment, and quick evaluation of the situation presented.

 

[Delta_AI]

I usually walk fairly briskly, barely slouched, with my arms swinging about 30-45 degrees all told. My gaze usually occupies the sort of middle-ground, not quite eye level but not quite the floor (I'm working my way up, I swear).

My stance is usually with my arms folded behind my back (think parade rest for military, or so I've been told). Unless of course I'm holding something.

 

[Dove]

I try to keep my head down, otherwise I look like a crackhead looking everywhich way trying to get enough details as possible, eyes constantly shifting. Other times I walk with my head up jist completely zoned out, I feel like I look like I am stoned.

My standing is making what I feel are constant facial expressions related to my inner thoughts and the ocasional chuckle. I also don't think I can stop moving. Example, I am standing right now and keep moving my feet to rest on the other, or leaning to the other side...

 

[Solitaire U.]

I walk fast, too fast if you ask the wife and kids who sometimes walk with me. I have an exceptionally long stride, so sometimes I don't even realize others are jogging to keep up with me until they tell me to slow the fuck down.

When I walk alone, I usually only view other people as obstacles. I rarely look anyone in the eye, not that they would know since I always wear sunglasses during daylight hours. It has nothing to do with the social things intpz mentioned though....I'm just too busy keeping an eye out for holes in the sidewalk, low-hanging awnings, rusty nails jutting out from poles and walls, and pedestrian-blind drivers, to pay attention to people.

If I'm standing, it means I'm not getting nearer to my destination, so I rarely do so unless I'm waiting for a break in traffic to cross the street.

 

[Duxwing]

My mom corrected my posture years ago. While at first I found it silly, I soon realized that anatomy predicated posture; walking with head up, shoulders back, and arms either swinging or in pockets is actually the correct way to do it. In only a few days, my costal muscles retrained themselves to fit the new posture, and now I walk like this naturally.

As for the specifics, I walk as mentioned above with a medium stride at a slow pace. However, my hindbrain has gotten wise to my forebrain's desire for quiet solitude, and as such I usually walk so as to avoid the group with which I go. However, being lost in my own thoughts also causes me to hang my head approximately ten degrees below horizontal.

In summary, I'd wager that my gait serves its purpose. I move from place to place, thinking as I go.

-Duxwing

 

[TriflinThomas]

I walk with my head up, or looking at my phone. I used to walk with my head down, then one day I decided that I should probably walk with my head up and that's how that happened... My friends tell me that I look angry when I walk. I usually just let my arms do whatever when I'm walking or I hold my phone.

 

[eagor]

do you really want to know?

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otCpCn0l4Wo

...it's true

 

[VII]

I walk fast, head usually down, avoiding eye contact with strangers but watching them all like a hawk from under my long (needing a cut) fringe. I will watch passers intently using a mixture of this method or peripheral vision.
Slightly slouch posture.
Stand with either hands in pockets, holding something or one arm across my body and the other raised to chin height.

In terms of interacting with others I tend to move my fringe out of my eyes when talking to people and adopt a more confidant stance. I often find myself copying the body language of the person I'm interacting with. When involved in a group I remain either completely unattached and adopt the more reserved body language once more. Often I begin chuckling to myself at this point and observe my surrounding. But if I become more involved in the happening of the group I stand tall, make eye contact etc...

 

[Intellect]

My stance is generally very open (like this). I used to keep my arms crossed or in my pockets, but I stopped once I realized it's very limiting socially.

Same goes for my walk: used to keep my head down and hands in my pockets or barely moving. I still have to consciously remind myself to keep my head up, but the rest of my walk is much better than it used to be.

Friends have always told me I have a very distinct walk.

 

[Crocket]

Head up, shoulders back, and walk like you're the shit. And I also remind myself to keep my stance as open as possible. Not my natural way mind you, but I remind myself to project as much confidence as I can muster.

 

[birdsnestfern]

Keeping feet straight ahead, as little hip sway as possible, knees slightly bent, used to walk briskly with a mindset of getting there in the fastest way possible. Mindset to be dynamic and interactive in short bursts, then get out of dodge. Imaginary sky hook top back of head. Sometimes, imagine feet to have expansive feel, or rooted to earth energy. Mindset to be extraordinarily observant in order to counteract my anxiety, I try to notice as many details and absorb things in to occupy my minds need to constantly stay aware. So I study outer world details so that I can make mental pictures of things of where I've been. I have wider than usual shoulders so my arms swing differently than most, so I have to make an effort to keep my outline inwards, ie, imagine a tight leotard on that pulls my energy in. I play with light energy sometimes. Different colored auric fields, how different colors affect things. If there is a baby crying, imagine purple light surrounding them, comforting them. Its fun to play with light, with energy. Sometimes, I take my hand and arms like magic wands to clear a space before I enter. Sometimes I do things like swing arms in gigantic motions, in order to get rid of the fear of what I look like. I try different things. Modeling class teaches to glide, its classier NOT to move the hips a lot - straight without sway is the goal.

P.S. Do you wait for green light, or you go if the street's empty/car's far away?
If there are possible cameras, I wait. If nobody is there, I go. If nobody is on the road, I also have fun straddling the double yellow lines and take up the whole road, but that has only happened once or twice, as the road is not often empty. And, if the road is empty, at 3am, dare ye run naked thru the streets? Lol.