The PUSHER!

[fathertime]

Brooster, GlideMaster, X-Man, LadyTime & I were at the Robotics Convention here in Chicago this past week and I had an interesting experience. Gliding around the show I came into contact with many curious engineers and show attendees. Most people were delighted to see the HT for the first time. As I glided into the show one man on a cell phone told his listener that he was just getting his first look at the Segway HT and was very excited about it. I was immediately surrounded by 30 people with the usual questions and almost lost my voice answering their queries over the next 2 days. LadyTime and I gave over 100 demos! Brooster,GlideMaster gave many more. X-Man was kind enough to lend his HT so that LadyTime could demo also (her HT arrived one day after the convention). It was great fun culminating in the first meeting with Dean...but I digress. This is a post about a PUSHER!
After being on the show floor for about 5 hours a man came up to me and said "When I see you on that thing I just want to knock you off by pushing you over backwards!" I politely explained that if he pushed my HT, and I was not aware that he was going to do it, that the machine would just glide away from him. I also told him that if I was alerted to the fact that he was going to do something that I thought it would be very difficult for him to upset me.
Without warning this guy lunged at me and PUSHED the shaft as hard as he could. I just caught his body language before he lunged and was ready for him. The HT barely moved and the guy was stopped dead in his tracks. He came back for a second try before I could ask him to stop. Again I was ready and he couldn't move me AT ALL! I told him to stop and that if he did it again he would have a real problem with me. The look in my eye convinced him and he backed off and went away scratching his head unable to figure out why he couldn't topple me! Has anyone else had this experience?[:O]


JR

[GlideMaster]

<center>Yes I remember that incident, we should have pushed him on his ---.</center>

<center>The GlideMaster</center>
<center>http://www.geocities.co.jp/Athlete/1267/gif/segway.gif</center>
<center>If You’re Not Graceful In Your Glide, You Must Just Be Out For A Ride. </center>
<center>Looking To Provide A Glide To And For The Rest Of The World</center>
<center>Glide On</center>

[toybuilder]

I had a guy that was really curious about the very same issue. He didn't acts out so blatantly as your situation though. He just first grabbed the handlebar and wiggled me a couple times until I asked him to stop. We just ended up talking about the dynamics involved after I told him that shoving me would be a rude behavior on his part.


http://www.pasadenasegway.com/
A bicycle in 1897 cost $25 ($2,200 today adjusted for inflation).
A Ford Model-T cost $850 in 1908 ($75,000 today adjusted for inflation).

[pt]

&gt;&gt;When I see you on that thing I just want to knock you off by pushing you over backwards!!

wow, and then he -did- without asking? twice? i would have called the police or security.

when was it okay for someone to invade your personal space and try to do you harm.

sounds like you go the lasy laugh :-]

cheers,
pt



======================

segway ht journal:
http://www.bookofseg.com

other stuff:
http://www.flashenabled.com

[dhugger]

I haven't had anyone want to do that who didn't ask me first. Usually, people will say, "What happens if someone pushes you really hard? Won't it tip?" Then I say, "Try it." The three or four times this has happened to me, the people usually walk away a bit comfused, but also with that big HT grin.

-Derek Hugger-

[opti6600]

We've tried it at school before. The best way to do it, actually, is just to turn perpendicular to the Schmuck. Said Schmuck will then either a) trip on your wheel, or b) be pushing sideways and stop in realization that he's doing something REALLY stupid. Either way, a 90d QUICK turn and hard acceleration should clear you from something like that.

[ElectraGlide]

I dont look forward to the day that someone tries to knock me off my machine.......I didnt know anyone pulled that move on you Fathertime......was that on day one or on day two when I was up there ????

Steve

[Blinky]

quote:Originally posted by ElectraGlide

I dont look forward to the day that someone tries to knock me off my machine.......I didnt know anyone pulled that move on you Fathertime......was that on day one or on day two when I was up there ????

Steve

I don't look forward to the day, for the persons sake, when that person tries to knock me off of a Segway. Especially the way you described it.



http://www.bl.com/ben/gifs/Blinky.gif http://www.harpy.net/paul/blinky.jpg

[fathertime]

ElectraGlide,
I had put it out of my mind cause the guy was such a jerk and we were having a great time with Dean. It happened on day 2 just before meeting Dean. I only posted it so that others could be aware.

JR

[Brooster]

Slightly off-topic, but the thread title here reminded me of an "oldie but goodie."

Introducing Jeff Bezos as ... The Pusher.

http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyimages/437.gif

Brooster

[segwayowner]

whats weird is that he gave you a clue that he was goign to push you. was it our of greed, or rage, or what?

DES: Segway owner

[fathertime]

I think that he did it out of jealousy and stupidity. Jealousy because he didn't invent the technology and couldn't circumvent it, and stupidity to invade another persons space without permission. The guy was just a big jerk! All the monkeys aren't in the zoo, everyday you meet quite a few![}:)]

JR

[billc]

Fathertime,

I think you were incredibly composed.
I've had similiar experiences with displays, (nothing to do with Segways). If you say that this item is designed not to bend, they will grab the longest lever arm, push their knee into it and try to bend it...as if that is the way a device will be used. You are very polite calling them monkeys!

Bill Contoyannis
Manager / Rehabilitation Engineer, REHAB Tech
Centre for Biomedical Engineering - Monash University

[PoloAk]

Broo! That's a nifty poster!!! *laughs* i'd pay to see the movie!!!

As for the pusher, i did have a friend push me. if you dont lean into the attacker, they can easily push you backwards.

Kelsey

[stevew]

I bet that poster is on Dean's wall of fame! As to 'the pusher', there's a jerk around every corner out to get to anyone having too good a time!