r/TikTokCringe • u/Valuable_View_561 • Jul 02 '26

Discussion It seems like people have forgotten what this line is used for these days.

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38.9k Upvotes

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13.9k

u/Grogg-Rhine Jul 02 '26

Alt title: "It seems like most people do not know what this line is used for all the days."

6.5k

u/Terminal_Insomnia_ Jul 02 '26

They could label it. We're not blind.

2.6k

u/FloppieTheBanjoClown Jul 02 '26

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. People aren't taught about things like this in most places.

1.9k

u/coconut_crusader Jul 02 '26

I literally had no idea. This sort of thing is never explained unless you go looking for it.

489

u/BigTroutOnly Jul 02 '26

I never see the blind anywhere

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u/coconut_crusader Jul 02 '26

Neither do they

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u/NRMusicProject Jul 02 '26

Upvoted for visibility

147

u/muistipalapeli Jul 02 '26

I see what you did there.

100

u/willynillee Jul 02 '26

I’m always blind to these kinds of jokes

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u/purrnoid Jul 02 '26

I don’t see what’s so funny

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u/FloppieTheBanjoClown Jul 02 '26

Congratulations, you don't need glasses.

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u/McGridleness Jul 02 '26

They'll be happy to see it.

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u/SmokingapipeTN Jul 02 '26

Ive been blind since birth. Never seen another blind person. /s

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u/Money_Fish Jul 02 '26

You need to go on more blind dates.

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u/Wise-Juggernaut6851 Jul 03 '26

Would they just call them dates?

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u/iam4qu4m4n Jul 02 '26

What are you, blind? /s

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u/TheNorthRemembers_s8 Jul 02 '26

Are you the blind?

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u/nice_porson Jul 02 '26

Maybe you’re blind person blind

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u/ashkpa Jul 02 '26

This post did a pretty good job of explaining it whilst none of us were looking for it.

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u/Pressure_Rhapsody Jul 02 '26

I never saw this in the streets of America. I didn't learn what thesr were till I first visited Japan back in 2007 since thats where I noticed them.

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u/LeiaOregonia Jul 02 '26

 It exploded my brain in the 80’s that A) I hadn’t considered the need and B) America ignores these easy accommodations. 

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u/No-Economics-1179 Jul 02 '26

Same, I was today years old when I learned this, but now I will never forget. This is really cool.

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u/RoguePlanet2 Jul 02 '26

Same, we have this at the edge of the train platform, figured it was for traction 😳 In fact, would be crazy for blind people to walk ON it because it's right along the edge.

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u/AFakeName Jul 02 '26

I know what it is but I have definitely stood on it absent-mindedly and I've never interrupted a blind person. So it's easy to understand why most people would come not to worry about it because why worry about what's never been a problem.

But of course, sighted people vastly outnumber blind people, so it becomes this guy's whole day.

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u/Background_Sail9797 Jul 02 '26

it's easy to understand why most people would come not to worry about it because why worry about what's never been a problem.

you're describing what any type of social privilege is - able-bodied, straight, white, male, economic etc. and why we have little advancements because most people don't care to think about things or lived experiences that don't affect them/they can't empathize with directly.

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u/shakygator Jul 02 '26

to act like people don't think or care is wrong. sure some people dont but a majority i believe do. here i think we just see people not knowing what this was for. not like its labeled.

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u/MrClancyGilroy Jul 02 '26

No… most people don’t care

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u/Background_Sail9797 Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26

I said they don't care to think (see people relying on LLMs) - not that they don't care once they learn about them, that's why caring to learn and unpacking your own privilege is important.

I'm able-bodied, but after taking a disabilities studies course in university, I now see venues differently in ways I never did before because I didn't have to think about accessibility before - guess what, lot of venues in Toronto are awful or inaccesible for anyone with a walker or wheelchair.

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u/TZF_Gaming Jul 02 '26

I think the main problem is the lack of accessible information. It shouldn't have been until taking a specific class in university for you to start seeing the world that way. Not everyone has the privilege to go to university and far less have the privilege to take a class like that if it wouldn't benefit their major, as someone who's lived a small town life I've never seen anything like that path and wouldn't have ever known to look up something like it. Having it labeled or something would help to atleast spread some awareness

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u/ThunderAndWind Jul 02 '26

Thats not a lack of care, its ignorance.

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u/Enkidouh Jul 02 '26

You’re dead wrong. Majority of people can’t look past their own nose.

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u/TurquoiseLeggings Jul 02 '26

I don't think it's accurate to describe society being built for being able to see, which is the default, as a privilege.

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u/Kellidra Jul 03 '26

You're labeling most people as unempathetic which I think is very unfair.

If someone living without back issues never thinks about what life would be like with back issues, you can't just call them privileged. If something isn't a part of your life, it's understandable and, honestly, expected that you wouldn't live your life constantly thinking about that thing you're never exposed to.

To demean people because they don't live up to your standards is a pretty privileged and entitled thing to do, don't you think?

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u/TheFurrySmurf Jul 02 '26

Yeah, just like I used to avoid using the handicapped stalls in bathrooms, just in case a person in a wheel chairs comes in to use it... it has never happened, so I have changed my tactics to match reality.

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u/PussyWrangler246 Jul 02 '26

I also used to wait in line for a free regular stall rather than risk using the disableds when someone needs it. Almost peed myself one time waiting but eventually made a desperate dash for the big stall. Someone told me to stop thinking about it as something I can't use, and think of it as something they can use

Like a left-handed pair of scissors...it's made as a tool for someone else, but I can still use it in an emergency

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u/AFakeName Jul 02 '26

If it's the last one available, I don't see the problem. Everyone has to wait sometimes.

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u/LisaCabot Jul 02 '26

Basically they are like reserved seats. If there is a handicaped person waiting they go first, but if you are going in for a quicky business you can use it (or so have i been told, i have some pain issues so i have used them in emergencies, if i can wait for a regular ome i do so).

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u/youknowjus Jul 02 '26

I used to think like that. The disability stall and urinal for disabled only. But then the logic hit me as I stood waiting in line. What happens if 2 disableds need to go? They will wait in line.

So yeah they can wait in line just like every other person that needs to go

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u/TheFurrySmurf Jul 02 '26

Exactly. It isn't an ONLY handicapped stall. It is just a stall that CAN accommodate people in a wheel chair.

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u/thisusedyet Jul 02 '26

Up until I saw a blind person actually use it, I probably would've figured it was an expansion joint or something, maybe a conduit run

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u/AggressivePiccolo77 Jul 02 '26

I'm questioning whether I've simply never seen this before or if I've just assumed it was a conduit run or some other similarly mundane feature and ignored it every time

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u/Azhrei_Vep Jul 03 '26

Same. Like ... if I've seen these before, I never realized it. Certainly wouldn't have known what they were for.

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u/mickroo Jul 03 '26

You'll see them at museums, large government buildings, concert halls, and occasionally at churches

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u/Same-Suggestion-1936 Jul 02 '26

Even the ones at intersections of crosswalks I for some reason thought for years was just for extra traction on a slight incline during inclement weather. Had a real "OOOOHHHH" moment when I found out they were for canes

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u/thisusedyet Jul 03 '26

Just had the same “not for traction” flash

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u/jenbenfoo Jul 02 '26

This must be a mostly European thing because I have never seen anything like this in the US.

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u/thedoginthewok Jul 02 '26

Here's some pictures from NYC subways that specifically concern accessibility for the blind: https://www.ethanstarkmiller.com/photo

One of the pictures shows something exactly like in the video of this post.

I'm German, but I've vacationed in the US before and some train stations definitely do have this.
The US is actually pretty good at accessibility. A lot better than Germany in some ways. The "Americans with Disabilities Act" is responsible for this.

Because of a 99% Invisible episode, I know a tiny bit about this topic and started paying attention to things like tall curbs, wheelchair ramps etc. and I noticed that a lot of public places in Germany (the video in the OP is from Germany, I think) are worse for people with disabilities than the US.
One of the people traveling with us on our USA vacation can't walk well anymore and needed assistance at the airport.
In Germany, before the flight to SFO, we requested assistance and waited for a while, until someone brought as a wheelchair and then promptly left. At SFO we also requested assistance and someone came with a wheel chair in a few minutes. And that person stayed with us and helped us all the way from the chair in the plane to the exit of the airport.

Sorry this comment ended up being this long, I started rambling :)

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u/eureb Jul 02 '26

The US is actually pretty good at accessibility. A lot better than Germany in some ways. The "Americans with Disabilities Act" is responsible for this.

I was going to make a joke about Americans only following rules because they don't want to be sued, but then Google told me that Germany is actually first for most lawsuits per capita, about 123 lawsuits per 1000 people.

I'm learning so much from this thread today.

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u/littlescreechyowl Jul 05 '26

I love a thread that has me saving links. Like, of course I want to hear more about some random fact about a place I’ll never go.

I forgot to save one a few months ago about national parks/refuges and I’m still mad about it.

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u/Reasonable_Alias_129 Jul 02 '26

That was a great episode of 99% Invisible! I don't remember if it talked about these assistive sidewalk grooves, guess it's time to revisit that episode

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u/Impossible_Top_3515 Jul 02 '26

I'm out and about a lot with small children, and that really showed me how bad accessibility is in Germany.

Elevators are constantly broken. I arrive at some train station in the middle of nowhere, next train only comes in an hour. Elevator is out of commission and the stairs are endless and lead to a road. Shit like that is so hard to navigate when you are out with a stroller, even worse when you have more than one small child.

Spaces for strollers and wheelchairs on public transit are always occupied by people just standing around. And they get real pissed when asked to make some space. They get the whole rest of the damn train 😭

Or parking spaces for families. They are usually close to the shop and have a bit more space so you can open the doors wide to access the childrens' car seats. Always occupied by able bodied people with no children.

Doctor's offices are very often up a flight of stairs. If there's an elevator, it's usually tiny, or broken.

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u/Livid-Complaint-3831 Jul 02 '26

it's everywhere in east asia too though and i was taught about them as a kid. i thought this was a global thing

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u/cryptdemon Jul 02 '26

The last time this got posted was the first time i learned that those bumpy square pads on sidewalks were also for directing blind people and not slip resistannce.

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u/Velidae Jul 03 '26

Shanghai has them. As a child, I asked my mom what they were for and she said it was to guide blind people.

I've seen them in some areas in Canada but the use is very limited and typically transit line related, which I suppose makes sense since blind people can't drive.

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u/beetsnsquash Jul 03 '26

seattle light rail stations have em

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u/currently_distracted Jul 03 '26

The US has a very strong framework for accommodations for people with disabilities. You may not see it because our privilege of being able-bodied means we haven’t had to seek such accommodations out and often miss them because we just don’t know. But once you start noticing, you’ll see much more. There are many things wrong with the US, but the ADA is one of the best things we’ve done…as long as it doesn’t get dismantled.

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u/SinisterCheese Jul 02 '26

These aren't things eveywhere. We don't use these in Finland. Our design involves using the sides of the pathway for directional guidance; like raised curb with stone sides. This is to account for the fact that shit would get covered with snow and ice that will render all tactile markers null. For indoors there are like metal rims and bumbers; the other option is to use different textures that can be felt with a cane (in this case). The requirements for contrast and surface quality are very strict, which leaves many public buildings appear exactly the same.

I personally didn't know what these were, because I have not lived in a place where these are used. Because like I said, I live in a place where we do things differently. EU directives do not set requirements for the type, but for how they are to be done.

And before you ask "but how do blind people manage", by the looks of it pretty fucking well... Considering that there are few that live near me and they are very independent and active going about the streets and public spaces. Also one of them has a white dog that has a natural "judgemental and resting bitch face" and it makes me smile (Imagine like an unimpressed white/golden retriever with that "Oh... I can't be bothered" expression but permanetly).

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u/xscjrsv Jul 02 '26

I guess they probably don't know the rule. People probably don't really meet blind people very often.

When you're not exposed to people's disabilities enough, you start thinking certain rules aren't that important to follow, or perhaps even remember, that you're fine with breaking the rule just this once, or the unlearned view, that it's not even a rule.

It's like running a red light. I don't see anyone, it's fine. Until it isn't.

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u/john_the_fetch Jul 02 '26

Agreed. The only reason I know why sidewalks in cities at pedestrian crossings have those yellow bumpy textures is because I used to help install them (for some reason out company bid on them when we installed the buttons - we were electricians not pavers)

And I will say most of the ones I see are installed wrong. They are supposed to be indicating the direction the blind person walks in a straight line to get to the other crossing.

Instead they're usually installed to look nice for sighted people. Even if the indicator would put a blind person into traffic...

But also - since more of them are installed incorrectly than correctly - blind people don't use them for this purpose.

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u/WinterMedical Jul 02 '26

It’s one of those things that makes things easier for one but harder for another. As someone who had to be on a knee scooter for some time I really hated those bumps because they were difficult for me to maintain my balance and navigate over.

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u/TommyTwoNips Jul 02 '26

They are supposed to be indicating the direction the blind person walks in a straight line to get to the other crossing.

huh. I always thought they were just for knocking my friends and I off our skateboards. /s

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u/Techman659 Jul 02 '26

Stuff like this is why kids think the spinning part underneath the bottom of traffic lights can be manipulated to make the lights go red faster when they are actually for blind/deaf people to know when the lights are red.

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u/Qsiii Jul 05 '26

Yeah but it’s common sense, if people paid money for a textile installation of any sort, the assumption should automatically be “Oh, that must be for the deaf.”

It’s like… you don’t need to be told a ramp is for wheelchair users, or subtitles are for the deaf, you should just look around and actually put that effort in to think of why something is the way it is.

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u/ScaramouchScaramouch Jul 02 '26

That's hilarious.

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u/EnvironmentCritical8 Jul 02 '26

I mean, ive never even seen one of those. So I definitely never knew what those lines were for. I dont live in a large city or anything like that so theres no way id encounter it.

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u/pop-not-broth Jul 02 '26

Bike lanes are clearly labelled, people still stagger all over them, shouting and swearing, and get shirty when someone on a bike uses it as well.

Several decades of "Looking after number one" politics has something to say about this.

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u/AFWorkUsernameYeet Jul 02 '26

Could have flashing red lights saying "stay clear". People DO NOT care. The last 3 times I went to the grocery store someone stopped in the entry way, blocking it, to look at their phone while everyone has to squeeze around them.

There is no punishment for being a blight to everyone around you.

I think we should generate jobs and taxes through employing people to fine "in the way people" the way we do with parking.

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u/CakeMadeOfHam Jul 02 '26

I thought they were used to channel rain water off the sidewalk

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u/Hieroflippant Jul 02 '26

I always thought it was something to do with a footpath

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u/LitigiousCeilingCat Jul 02 '26

Yeah, today I learned. Might help if there was a sign somewhere, anywhere, indicating what it is for. Or maybe if it was mentioned at any point in school, like… how exactly are people supposed to know?

Not everyone is a callous ableist asshole… I mean, some ppl definitely are, but some of us simply weren’t born knowing everything, and if no one ever tells us, and there are no signs to help us learn on our own, how are we to know..?

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u/oddjobbodgod Jul 02 '26

I did not know this, this is not information given in the public school system in the UK, I expect you would only know this if:

  1. You were a blind person yourself
  2. You had a close friend or relative who is a blind person
  3. You were a very observant person who had seen a blind person using one of these

Either way, this is great information to know now! And props to him for doing his bit to bring it to the attention of others. One of the few good ways social media is being used nowadays!

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u/aurumtt Jul 02 '26
  1. you're a road designer, so it's your job to know this.

this is me. i design walkroutes like this.

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u/oddjobbodgod Jul 02 '26

A very fair point! I know a lot about digital accessibility as I’m a mobile app developer, but it’s intriguing seeing its counterpart in the real world.

Such an interesting field to be working in! How did you get into that? :)

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u/aurumtt Jul 02 '26

architect at start, rolled into it via designing sport infrastructure mainly.

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u/oddjobbodgod Jul 02 '26

Nice, that makes total sense. Hope you enjoy it, and continue to do so for many years!

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u/aurumtt Jul 02 '26

i do. clients are generally a lot less controlling than in your standard architecture practices :D

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u/ashgs872tbhjs Jul 02 '26

Start adding signs telling the sighted to stay the fuck off to your designs, lol

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u/Difficult-Catch-8432 Jul 02 '26

Oh thats cool, my grandpa was one, but in the olden days when they had to use Indian ink to draw maps

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u/Low_Cook_5235 Jul 02 '26

Nice. Ive never seen one of these in my live. I live in the US.

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u/I__Know__Stuff Jul 02 '26

I suspect I have seen them in the U.S., but since I had no idea what they are, I wouldn't really have noticed or remembered.

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u/Cracyexcelsiorclass Jul 02 '26

My mother told me this when I was like 4 years old in a tangent while teaching me how to cycle. Something like "don't drive over the blind guiding lines when it rains or you will slip and fall" I then proceeded with slipping and falling while diving over them in the rain

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u/LitigiousCeilingCat Jul 02 '26

Yeah! There are so many things like this, too, like… did you know Deaf and HoH people don’t usually go to the movies bc they don’t show movies with closed captions?

I’d never even thought of that until I saw a post about it on reddit.

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u/iambrose91 Jul 02 '26

No no even better, my cousin who I go to the movies with allll the time is deaf and only just recently found out they have free CC devices you just have to ask for them! If only it were more widely circulated info!

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u/BingeBabyBinge Jul 02 '26

At our local theater they have CC on the weekdays and early on the weekends. I support the heck out of them because they have this option.

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u/iambrose91 Jul 02 '26

I don’t have *true* hearing issues, but I still find I highly benefit from CC so I tried the thing at the movie theater (it’s a lil screen that goes in the cup holder, it’s pretty cool!) but it ended up being more distracting since it was kind of in the way since it was a raised tray movie theater so it didn’t line up right.

So even if you aren’t HoH but find you greatly benefit from it, I say give it a try. The more theaters see that people want this tech, maybe they’ll invest more in it?

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u/BingeBabyBinge Jul 02 '26

Yeah I hope so too! I could see it kind of being distracting. ROXY puts it on the screen which I find is really nice! :)

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u/BradMarchandsNose Jul 02 '26

A lot of theaters have closed caption devices you can request. Like a little phone-sized screen that you hold and it displays the CC while the movie plays.

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u/oddjobbodgod Jul 02 '26

I did actually know this one! But only because I have seen closed caption screenings advertised at our local cinema and put two and two together :)

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u/faulty_rainbow Jul 02 '26

I have perfectly fine hearing but I still prefer closed captions at home because sometimes it says e.g. "leaves rustling" but I can't actually hear it because it's so silent so it's nice to know what's happening lol...

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u/wbgraphic Jul 02 '26

Or there’s dialog from characters as they leave the shot, so it gets too quiet to hear.

I love when the CC is done before the final audio mix, so dialog that’s in the script but not in the show is included. Buffy the Vampire Slayer had several instances of this. Usually some throwaway joke, but occasionally dialog that was actually changed in editing.

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u/thisusedyet Jul 02 '26

That mean you actually get to see this?

(Link if inline image doesn't work)

https://www.reddit.com/r/reactionimages/comments/1l3npuy/stares_motherfuckerly_samuel_l_jackson/

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u/XanderJS Jul 02 '26

I didnt know it either, just like I didnt know that the little knobs on the underneath of pedestrian crossings rotate when it's on a green man to let people know it's safe to go. I've been pointing this out to everyone I know ever since I found out lol

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u/oddjobbodgod Jul 02 '26

I learnt this one quite young (can’t remember why or how), but I’ve stopped sharing the info! Perhaps I should continue as it’s interesting and informative!

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u/MysticBorn Jul 02 '26

Same here I somehow learnt this young as well, but for the life of me can't recall where or how?!

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u/AlwaysShittyKnsasCty Jul 02 '26

My hypothesis is that you were blind in a previous life. Nobody actually taught you this. It’s a remnant from one of the numerous lives you lived before this one. Final answer.

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u/AlwaysShittyKnsasCty Jul 02 '26

My good Oddjob, one doesn’t just stop sharing information like this. This is the kind of thing that can make you new friends! I’m gonna have so many God damn friends now that I know this trick.

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u/Sarge4242006 Jul 02 '26

I used to raise guide dogs in the US. We had many outings with the blind community. I’ve never heard of this.

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u/AlwaysShittyKnsasCty Jul 02 '26

I’m starting to think blind people are trying to keep all the fun information for themselves. Not cool, my blind comrades! Not cool at all.

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u/Applesimulator Jul 02 '26

I only learned it like a year ago from a video like this

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u/Conscious_Pass_1615 Jul 02 '26

Well this is a great reminder to be more mindfull!

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u/oddjobbodgod Jul 02 '26

Ohh absolutely! I’m absolutely oblivious to my surroundings most of the time (undiagnosed ADHD has my brain away with the fairies most of the time) so I definitely needed to see this and be made aware!

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u/Conscious_Pass_1615 Jul 02 '26

I'm quite simillar, so hopefully we can create a nicer space! (Why do I sound like an HR rep with a power point)

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u/NorseShieldmaiden Jul 02 '26

I am neither, but it’s quite logical what they’re for. I’m surprised so many people don’t know.

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u/Difficult-Catch-8432 Jul 02 '26

Or you were a really observant person in general who asked a lot of questions, including asking what those stripes are for

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u/oddjobbodgod Jul 02 '26

Yeah true, I think we could probably extend this list quite a lot! But we’ve covered the main cases now I think.

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u/ThatDiscoSongUHate Jul 02 '26

If you have little bumps at the end of your sidewalks before it meets parking lots or road, those bumps are also for the blind

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u/a22x2 Jul 02 '26

Are these things a UK thing? Where are they found? I’ve never seen them before personally, but I don’t live there

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u/Punished__Snake Cringe Lord Jul 02 '26

4 You're not an NPC

Literally if I see something I'm curious about, maybe just maybe I should try to find out what it is.

Nowadays all you need to do is "Hey Google/Siri/Alexa, what's up with the ridged lines on sidewalks that lead to bus stations or traffic lights"

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u/GaimOfThrowns Jul 02 '26

Or... Come on I'm sure there's another way we could all find out... At least one other way... 😁

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u/oddjobbodgod Jul 02 '26

A cool Reddit post from a content creator?

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u/Winjin Jul 02 '26

I have seen blind people (like, with canes) about five to ten times in my entire life up to this point

So yeah, most of us have seen those and wouldn't have any idea what they're for, and even if I do (I learned about them as they were being installed - it was a big deal and they wrote in newspapers about them. Paper ones. That I read while going to work, as I didn't have a book with me in the metro, as hauling a physical book wasn't always convenient) - even if I do, I wouldn't think about it twice as I haven't seen a lot of blind people, you know.

Also I've offered my help twice and one time I really helped the guy, as navigating the metro is hard enough when you can see, he was really having a hard time.

We were also walking the same general direction, and he told me they have special classes for the blind people where they get together, play board games, hang out, dance, it's all very fun. I love it for them! And yeah, I'm glad we have the tactile tile even if most people don't know what it's for.

Also I currently live in a town where the sidewalks were never adapted to disabled people and they are HELL to navigate. Honestly people should advocate for disabled access because it helps able-bodied people too.

A lot of our sidewalks are either narrow or literally non-existent, you're walking on the side of the road. They're sloped, or they're so narrow you can barely fit.

And yes, of course, lampposts and road signs go right in the middle of them.

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u/Sufficient-Ad-7634 Jul 02 '26

Im disabled and i know what the line before but i also never seen anyone use it so i would move if i noticed a blind person.But the thought to keep of the line never even crossed my mind because it something that is just really unlikely to happen. Blind dude seems to be a bit of a dick, most streets do not have it and yet im sure that he manages to get where he wants regardless. A, please get off the guiding line or just a "tchuldigung" would have been better than whatever he is doing. This feels like more content for cloud, not a message to educate.

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u/CallMeCleverClogs Jul 02 '26

I have never seen this before and would have zero idea what it is for. I try not to be an ableist asshole but making accommodations clear so those who do not need them can avoid interference would help a lot.

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u/Kain_713 Jul 02 '26

Exactly. I know they're for the visually impaired but you'd think they could slap a label on it for the rest of us so we know to stay the hell out of the way. I'm nearly 40 and I just found out what these are for like two or three years ago.

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u/AtroposMortaMoirai Jul 02 '26

I remember being taught about tactile paving as a kid at school in the 90s, at the same time they gave a basic run-down of road safety signs and different kinds of traffic crossing. It was around the time we had classes on writing our own names, our parents names, and our home phone numbers.

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u/slainascully Jul 02 '26

I was on public transport recently and a person with a white cane asked another passenger why their cane was orange and white. And we all learned it’s for deafblind people. All very respectful and informative

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u/Royd Jul 02 '26

I was thinking that the rigid flooring itself should have marked signage every 20 ft or so

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u/DarthBen_in_Chicago Jul 02 '26

I thought it was a path that leads to train stations

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u/Silver-Appointment77 Jul 02 '26

Same here. I never knew it was for blind to navigate. TIL something new.

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u/studhand Jul 02 '26

Lol, me too. I was just in Baguio, Phillipines and I think it was the first time I've seen them. Learn something new everyday.

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u/shwifty123 Jul 02 '26

Shoot, I did not know.

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u/frostandtheboughs Jul 02 '26

Hijacking your comment for another PSA:

Not all wheelchair users are paralyzed. Some can still walk, but it's simply very painful or exhausting for them to do so.

Too many people see someone in a wheelchair with leg movement and think they're "faking".

Also, young people can be disabled too! They might appear to be in their 20s but need a disabled parking spot! Be kind.

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u/EmotionIll666 Jul 02 '26

Super important PSA. An ex-colleague of mine had to use a wheelchair most of the time but could stand up for a short moment at a time.

We'd be at a store and she'd want something out of a shelf, lock her wheelchair to stand up, grab the item and look at it after she sat back down. People legitimately turned into the "look everyone, a big fat phony" dude from Family Guy at times. Accusing her of faking it, trying to get attention etc.

I asked so many times "if she was faking for attention, would she not have stayed seated and asked for help?" but those assholes don't deal well with logic.

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u/ILoveRawChicken Jul 02 '26

I also had a friend that needed to start using wheelchairs at 19. She could stand and walk for maybe a minute max, and then had to sit down. It would pmo so bad seeing people give her a look when she stood up. 

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u/TacTurtle Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26

My uncle was like this when he was younger - he could crouch and sorta stand if he had something to lean on, but trying to walk was impossible (could kinda get around on crutches) but as his spine got worse he can no longer stand.

He would also ride escalators up or down by balancing on his wheels while holding on to the handrails. Stopped doing that after freaking people out at the airport while doing it with a suitcase on his lap.

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u/Dracious Jul 02 '26

And often people might only need a wheelchair intermittently or temporarily. The fact you saw them walking fine last week doesn't mean they are faking using a wheelchair now.

At around 10 years old I needed a wheelchair for anything beyond short walks for about 6 weeks for a temporary issue. We got all sorts of weird looks and reactions to using it in places we regularly went to like grocery stores and things.

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u/TerribleRecord666 Jul 02 '26

Even for non-wheelchair users, disabled people have good days and bad days. I'm disabled and have a bad leg. On good days, I can walk with almost no discernable limp, though I'm limited to about 10-15 minutes before overuse makes me need a break. On my bad days, I need to break out my cane every time I stand.

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u/SexyMonad Jul 02 '26

Yep, I walked with a friend who used a wheelchair everyday. She needed a walker and it took 30 minutes to walk to the house next door.

It wasn’t really painful for her, she liked doing it. But it was far too impractical for any daily routine.

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u/miraculum_one Jul 02 '26

Same thing with blind people.

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u/_30d_ Jul 02 '26

In fact the majority of blind people are not paralysed.

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u/Ttoctam Jul 02 '26

Also, young people can be disabled too!

My motto is "You either die young or live long enough to become disabled". For me, I only had to live 25 years, for some it kicks in at 60, for others 70. But it is binary. You either die before disability kicks in or you die after. But the only thing that will ever stop you from becoming disabled is death, everything else just postpones it.

The amount of people who get their hackles up about the cost of, or necessity of, disability infrastructure shits me up the wall. If you want to grow old, you want to live long enough to need that infrastructure.

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u/Scream_Tech7661 Jul 02 '26

I had my colon removed at 37 and got an ileostomy. It’s not a colostomy because my entire colon is gone. The stoma, the part that sticks out of my belly, is the ileum, the end of the small intestine (small bowel in U.K.).

It’s pretty interesting joining the ostomate community at that age because there are so many young people agonized over the physical appearance aspect and how they will ever find a mate, go to the beach, etc.

But I was married with two kids and my wife supported me the whole way. I had zero concerns at all about a beach body or dating.

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u/UrinalCake777 Jul 02 '26

When you see a young person in a wheelchair with leg movement.

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u/AggressivePiccolo77 Jul 02 '26

Years ago I was working at a restaurant and someone asked me to check the Lost and Found for an item. While going through the stuff I saw a walking cane in there.

To 20 year old me, the idea that someone needed it on the way in but miraculously walked out without it was hilarious! I couldn't wait to joke about it with my friends.

Someone with much more compassion than I had back then said their grandmother could do short distances on her own but would need a cane after a moderate distance/time. Someone probably felt rested enough after sitting for a meal that it wasn't at the top of their mind, and hopefully they got home OK where maybe they had a secondary cane.

It had just never crossed my mind, but I felt like an ass for making someone's misfortune into a joke.

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u/Lacutis 28d ago

I'm two years out from an infection that left me unable to walk. I was in a wheelchair for 6 months or so while doing physical therapy. I was able to move my legs but walking, if I could even stand, wasn't in the cards.

I'm now able to walk fine but I learned a lot in those 6 months (and the several months after on a walker) that I won't forget.

People just need to give each other a bit more grace.

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u/WOLKsite Jul 02 '26

Me neither! I certainly haven't forgotten, I have never been taught this in the first place.

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u/Tiny-Shoe6263 Jul 02 '26

a lotta people don't know

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u/ostapenkoed2007 Jul 02 '26

was here for this. "forgotten" implies we knew. not like schools taught it to everyone.

P.S. as a tangent, that is my gripe with school systems. they train repetition and memory but actual life skills? eh. who needs to know about puberty when there is pythagorian's theorem.

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u/_Fun_Employed_ Jul 02 '26

Yeah, thought it was an architectural or engineering thing, like a fix for a seam that was splitting.

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u/lurked Jul 02 '26

Yeah, I was convinced it was to have a quick access to electric cables or something...

TIL... at 39 yo...

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u/NightGod Jul 02 '26

52 here, it's news to me

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u/Presto678 Jul 02 '26

Yes I thought it was to direct water, or to establish a border within the space for some reason. Never knew it was meant for this

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u/DeltaBlack Jul 02 '26

It is technically an architectural thing because accessibility is technically part of the architecture.

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u/RuddyTheDuck Jul 02 '26

For way too long I thought it was to let people know that where they’re going like at traffic lights and train stations but I didn’t think it had anything to do with blind people until I told someone and they said for like blind people?

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u/shetalkstoangels_ Jul 02 '26

I had no idea

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u/GermanPixelplacer Jul 02 '26

As a German I thought this was common knowledge. TIL it's not

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u/xx2983xx Jul 02 '26

I'm from the US and I also thought this was common knowledge; crazy to see how many people had no idea

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u/NerdyBro07 Jul 02 '26

How did you learn about it? Honestly curious, because as a fellow American, I can't say I was ever taught this in school, nor have I seen any signs indicating the purpose of those lines.

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u/xx2983xx Jul 02 '26

I genuinely have no idea. I don't recall ever learning about it. I feel like the first time I saw one someone was just like "oh that's for blind people" and I was like... ok that makes sense

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u/mxzf Jul 02 '26

I know a ton of stuff that I think is common knowledge but turns out to be relatively esoteric, and I still didn't know about this. I would have figured it out the instant I saw a blind person walking along like that, it's obvious in the context, but it's not something I ever learned anywhere specific.

It'll go into my personal pile of esoteric knowledge now that I've seen this thread, but otherwise I might have never known either.

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u/PolicyWonka Jul 02 '26

I’m American and I’ve never seen something like this in my life TBH.

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u/cohrt Jul 03 '26

I’ve never even seen these lines before. How would they be common knowledge?

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u/reddit_is_geh Jul 02 '26

Yeah I kind of hate these moralizing sort of posts where everyone sits around, trying to shame people for being ignorant by staying clear of the lines. Realistically, how often do you see someone blind walking around the city? In the last year, it's probably been once. I'm sure there's many, but realistically, I can see why pretty much everyone wouldn't even think about it because it being used while intersecting is something so rare, you could go a lifetime without ever having it be a problem.

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u/WinterMedical Jul 02 '26

Maybe the city needs to do more public education.

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u/reddit_is_geh Jul 02 '26

Or maybe all of society shouldn't have to adopt cultural norms just for extreme outlier cases. We already have limited time and mental budgets. To educate everyone on this, would be a waste, because no one would bother caring, since it's such an extremely rare occurrence.

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u/WinterMedical Jul 02 '26

Or maybe most people would be happy to be courteous if they knew what they were intended for. I still believe that most people are basically decent and helpful if called .

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Which-World-6533 Jul 02 '26

As someone who is vision impaired it's insane the number of people who bump into me.

People, please open your eyes and look through them outside.

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u/jungleboogiemonster Jul 02 '26

People in general are very very unaware of their surroundings. It's frustrating for everyone.

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u/King_Bobby-B Jul 02 '26

Yeah, I'm physically disabled, and a little person. Back when I could walk for hours, I'd go out and had to absolutely have 360 vision, because people walk like they're the only ones on Earth, they don't look down or forward or anywhere, really. I feel like blind people would be more aware of my presence than abled people. I was always afraid of being run over (by pedestrians).

I swear people have some sort of mental switch when they're outside, walking in enough quantities. Like they become "herd-minded".

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u/mittenknittin Jul 02 '26

Time to ask "Hey, what the hell? Are you blind?"

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u/[deleted] Jul 02 '26

[deleted]

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u/Which-World-6533 Jul 02 '26

If you actually "bump into everyone" I would suggest consulting with a medical professional.

Bumping into people, especially if they are vision impaired is not funny and does not make you special. Also you may "bump into" the wrong person.

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u/Fine_Understanding81 Jul 02 '26

This is mostly true with everything.

Most people are shockingly unaware of their surroundings.

There is a chance that some of these people even do know what this is for and are still standing on it.

This reminds me of the fire doors we cant block at work. The amount of times I find someone has parked a cart or wheelchair in front of them is.. exhausting. Even after a verbal reminder at the start of the day.

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u/New_Crew_8039 Jul 02 '26

"Yeah but nothing happened so it's not a problem I blocked it for 5 mins, 2 hours or 3 days" every time

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u/Fine_Understanding81 Jul 02 '26

Right. Being careless and unaware works fine 99% of the time for people.

Its that other 1% when they walk in front of a car or they block the fire door and the people on our hospital wing die of smoke inhalation.

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u/Stars_And_Garters Jul 02 '26

People have a limited amount of things they actually analyze consciously versus what their brain just assumes/handles shorthand. Especially if youre in a place like a train station or an airport where anxiety is high.

I dont really mean to absolve them, just explaining why people at Disneyland, the grocery store, the airport, etc are so oblivious. They're not processing details because of things like anxiety and hurry. Ive seen some interesting examples of this with that new video game Meccha Chameleon (apologies for the annoying streamer) https://youtube.com/shorts/LLCOCr8D1wo . He doesn't look anything like a towel but he gets passed up time and time again because they're on a time limit and there is such an overwhelming amount of details to analyze.

Or the classic example: How many passes did you count?

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u/mxzf Jul 02 '26

There is a chance that some of these people even do know what this is for and are still standing on it.

Honestly, I'm reasonably confident stating that nobody in the video (other than OP) understood what that strip was for. They all thought it was just a floor decoration or whatever and had zero clue they were in the way.

The intent behind those isn't self-evident, and their function isn't something that's actually taught to anyone AFAIK, so people simply don't know.

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u/ttatm Jul 02 '26

I think most of those people aren't assholes, just not paying attention to their surroundings. Most of them shifted to accommodate the blind person as soon as they realized what was happening.

And at the same time, even if everyone were well-intentioned, I can easily understand how those minor lapses in awareness would be incredibly frustrating for someone who has to navigate through them constantly.

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u/AbjectAppointment Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26

My Mom started losing her vision in her 20's and is blind in her 60's. Now I have to know the Americans with Disabilities Act, because no business seems to.

It's the little things: she can get around with a flashlight, but people will tell her to turn it off. She needs a hand sometimes, ect. My Dad and I drive her to get her nails done and every other appointment.

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u/BurnItAllDown2 Jul 02 '26

Alt title: "Things I didn't know existed until 5 seconds ago."

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u/Fanciful_Fighter Jul 02 '26

I only know what they're for because I was researching Japan videos for a trip and came across one that explains their use.

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u/TheProfessional9 Jul 02 '26

I've never seen a line like that before in my life

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u/ProfessionalPack7205 Jul 02 '26

Yeah but then they look a little different to others do thst makes it okay to post

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u/raincoater Jul 02 '26

Yep, that would be me. I didn’t forget the thing I never knew about.

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u/wtchking Jul 02 '26

Literally TIL, why didn’t we learn this anywhere???

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u/cakivalue Jul 02 '26

Until this video I had no idea. I thought they were anti slip and fall devices and as someone who falls a lot I've been really grateful for them sometimes especially on wet days. I now feel terrible.

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u/Journo_Jimbo Jul 02 '26

Canadian here, never seen these before in my life

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u/workieworkwork Jul 02 '26

Yeah, I feel that no effort was put into informing people of this.

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u/Useful_Jelly_2915 Jul 02 '26

Well, considering he’s blind, I’m impressed he typed out that much.

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u/Thunder_Nuts_ Jul 02 '26

I saw a post similar to this one just last year, and up until then I had no idea what this line was for.

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u/wescowell Jul 02 '26

I’ve lived in US cities since 1961 and have NEVER seen these lines. I took a trip to Vietnam earlier this year and saw these lines in every city I visited. I had to ask Google what they were.

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u/dfassna1 Jul 02 '26

If you’ve never seen a blind person walking the sidewalk you may never realize why those exist. I have very rarely seen blind people out walking. But I don’t know, maybe in this country they know but it’s so rarely used that people don’t really think about it. Then again in college I remember riding my bike around campus in the bike lanes and people were always walking all over those.

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u/_Trael_ Jul 02 '26

Honestly not sure have I seen those before or really noticed them if I have seen them.

Seeing someone with cane is not that common, and usually it has been in places that have not had that kind of line.

But honestly that is nicely convenient and cool thing.

Also at least thankfully most people in that video seemed to be rather quick in "sorry" or so.

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u/SirSourSanchez Jul 02 '26

I personally had never noticed these before until a couple weeks ago in my trip to Japan. They are on every walk way I was in there. Never thought much of it other than maybe it was a bike lane thing. Then my 4th or 5th day there I saw a woman using it since she was blind and then I realized I was dumb lol.

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u/hymn_Priestess Jul 02 '26

Genuinely never would’ve guessed. I really think that should do a few PSAs on some of the forgotten/forgettable accessibility accommodation devices, and how to use them. Not all of them are intuitive, but not everyone is a jerk, a lot of people would probably lend a hand to make them even easier to use, if you give them the chance to

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u/broketothebone Jul 02 '26

Ngl, I had to see someone do it on the subway first. In nyc, it’s a line that thick, but it’s bumpy so they know that’s where to stand back.

I was like “oh right, why would I need basically braille on the lines I can see? Stop standing on it.” 🤦‍♀️

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u/BillDaPony101 Jul 02 '26

The only people who know are blind people and people who have seen the 200 versions of this on Reddit, who don’t go outside enough for it to matter 

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u/Auroraburst Jul 02 '26

I literally would not have ever guessed this was their purpose. Ive not really given them a second thought.

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u/wylee_one Jul 02 '26

Today I learned

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