For those of you who may not be familiar with Mr. Magoo, please allow me to provide a brief overview.
Mr. Magoo is a cartoon character created for television in the 1940s. He’s an elderly guy who is nearly blind. He stumbles into dangerous situations because of his severe near-sightedness. Mr. Magoo is ignorant of his visual challenges, and always miraculously escapes harm after each zany skit.
I have become acquainted with my share of Mr. Magoos in our fair city. Perhaps he has crossed your path, too. The parking lot is one of Mr. Magoo’s favourite hangouts. He (or she, or a family with small children) doesn’t even look before crossing a lane. It’s as though the parking lot, with all of its cars hither and thither, has magically become a dewy meadow that transcends time.
Just last weekend, two Mr. Magoos flirted with a bicycling disaster. My wife and I were riding down the street, and no more than four metres away, a couple approached the curb. I give them credit – at least they glanced and saw us approach – but that’s where the credit ends. They stepped off the curb and began to cross the street. I kid you not. Instead of waiting about 1.5 seconds for us to pass, they pulled a Mr. Magoo. We had to veer around them. The absurdity was only evident to half of us.
About two weeks ago, I spotted a Mr. Magoo in top form. I was driving home and approaching Servus Place. There is a lit crosswalk that spans Corriveau Avenue. Thank goodness. It’s a busy road at peak times. As luck would have it, it was a peak time and traffic was zooming in both directions. I was no further than seven metres from the intersection, travelling 50 km/hr, when I saw a Mr. Magoo (she, this time), seemingly aspiring to know what life is like on the other side. Without lifting her head, she pressed the crosswalk sign in complete stride. Out into the busy street she went, as cars slammed on the brakes for lack of warning.
Sometimes a Mr. Magoo is wearing headphones and ambles along, ignorant of his or her surroundings. Sometimes a Mr. Magoo has his or her head down, taking great delight in the offerings of a mobile device, forsaking safety for self indulgence.
We are taught to observe the rules of the road. They include speed limits, signalling, obeying stop signs and traffic lights. We are also taught that pedestrians have the right-of-way. I couldn’t agree more, but don’t pedestrians have an obligation to ensure their own safety? Should they be able to do whatever they want, in isolation of their surroundings?
Some of us were taught the rules of the road as a pedestrian, too. "Look both ways before you cross the street," was a golden rule. "Watch out for cars," was another. What has changed?
One could point to headphones and mobile devices as distractions, but these Mr. Magoos appear time and again without technological fashion statements. There’s a definite air of entitlement that permeates society in general. The rights of the individual seem to trump the collective rights of society. We only need to look as far as the anti-mask, anti-lockdown rallies to see it in action.
It’s not just Mr. Magoo the pedestrian who is oblivious. Mr. Magoo has taken up driving, motorcycle riding, shopping, and cycling. Don’t get in his way – a lawsuit is pending if he gets hurt.
Brian Bachynski is the publisher of the St. Albert Gazette and the president of Great West Publishing.
