Look before you leap

[Samurai_Jerk]

I find it really facinating the way the Japanese seem to pay no attention to what's going on around them. People will walk right into you without saying excuse me, step right into the street without looking both ways, and don't even get me started on the bike-riding obachan. Then there are all the seeminly unnecessary danger signs and safety guards that will stand in front of a newly walled off stairway to make sure you don't walk face first into the wall. And I bet if they weren't there someone would actually do it too.

Does anyone know of any academic studies that have been done on this? I'd love to read one.

[sublight]

I don't know, but I've often thought the best way to assassinate someone here would be to stand at the opposite end of a crosswalk from your target while the light is red, then take a step off the curb just as a car is coming on his side (make sure nothing's coming on your side, of course). The feeble little bundle of nerves at the back of his brainstem will detect motion, causing him to reflexively step off the curb the same time you do without checking the lights or cross traffic.

Untraceable kill.

[amdg]

The perfect crime.