Why are people so oblivious to things around them?

It's not a perfect world. Taxis stopping in front of you to pick up a penger. Pedestrians who cross so slowly. The Subway lady talking too loud on her cellphone. The list is endless. We can't change the world but we can increase our patience. What I'm trying to do is using those situations to test me. Difficult? Oh yes, extremely. They say the true test of character is the street. I want to help me evolve by building my character each day.