some thoughts on road rage.
you’re number one.
Why is it that whenever somebody does anything to piss you in traffic, its always a priority to catch up to them and look at their face
Maybe this just happens to me?
It’s not enough for them to exist in your imagination as the ass-clown driving the Honda Accord that doesn’t signal when changing lanes. One needs to know exactly what the colossal jackass looks like. When I do manage to pull along side someone who has slighted me, there is always a cold-blooded stare that must be thrown their way. Heaven forbid the mark is on their phone – then they are upgraded to a piece of well-delivered piece of profanity.
Not everybody in traffic will understand a request to “use your turn signal,” but you can be damn sure every last person on the road can lip read the phrase “MOTHER-FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE” with 100% accuracy.
The problem with acting out on the road is that eventually you will cross paths with someone just as confrontational as you are. I’m actually amazed that the whole time I spent stewing in Los Angeles traffic that nobody ever decided to get out of their car and share their thoughts about my foul-mouthed shenanigans. Sure, there were a couple of times where I cursed somebody out and they managed to return the favor a few blocks later. That sort of dedication to hostility is to be expected if not commended.
Still, nobody on the west coast (that I ran into, anyway) was bold enough to walk right up to my window and talk some shit. Within 5 months of being in Florida, this has already happened to me twice. Are people back east just more hostile? Is California’s much ballyhoo’d road rage phenomenon just hype? Am I the only person who spends any time in traffic thinking these thoughts?
Please discuss.
I don’t have a car yet……….but I do know that people here in South Florida drive like maniacs, they don’t care……….so it’s no surprise to me that people would cuss back at you……..that’s just the way people are down here I guess…………
I have a very good friend in Baltimore, Maryland (my home state) and she has told me numerous stories about her encounters with road rage………being cussed at, honked at, tailgated……..etcetera.
What she does, since she fears for her life, is the following: she slows down intentionally.
One of my co-workers says that he gets out of his car and walks over to someone engaging either in road rage or idiotic driving, and taps on their windshield. I’m not sure if that’s a bit of an exaggeration or not, but knowing him I wouldn’t be surprised.
Very interesting topic……..unfortunate that it happens, but interesting nonetheless.
I myself hate confrontation, so I’d just hope to have a larger car……..maybe then I’d feel a bit braver. Alas, most of the larger cars are horrid gasguzzlers, and the ones that aren’t, are too expensive………….I couldn’t conscion asking my parents to spend that kind of money on me………..they already have for my education so far…………and more to go
The Integral and Ivan of athenivanidx
http://athenivanidx.wordpress.com
1. I catch up to cars to look at the face of the offending driver, so I can affirm my belief that all bad drivers are Asians.
2. People in Cali don’t walk up to windows and yell at folks because they’re afraid of getting shot. Or drug out of the car. It happens a lot. We respect people’s potential gangsta.
LMAO @ huck- We respect people’s potential gangsta
Lets not forget the recent rash of shootings on the freeway that have been gettin people killed in the last few weeks….. Shiiiiiiiiiit- this morning I read about a 19yr FEMALE who was shot to death on the 110 fwy off slauson *go figure*
Me personally- Im a big fan of cursing someone out as I pull alongside and give the that sideways, out the corner of my eyes stare. I do the neck snap thingy- * The fuck you gonna do BITCH??? – doesnt matter if its male or female. I share my rage equally.
If I’m really irritated, I pull up in front and slow down and not let them pass on either side. Yeah, Im asking for something to happen- I know. Here’s what I think… If you arent bold enough to flip someone off, give the evil eye or curse someone out as you drive- then you have no business on the streets of LA. Move to Idaho or some crap and get out my way.
We have our fair share of bad drivers over here in the UK too. They come in all sizes, races and sexes. While I understand the temptation to seek retribution but would counsel you take care. Chances are if someone is prepared to catch you up or is so dismissive of your own anger they are either much bigger than you, tooled up or a member of the special forces. Take care out there. You might enjoy these posts on a similar subject:
http://caughtinthemiddleman.wordpress.com/?s=close+call
http://caughtinthemiddleman.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/going-nowhere-fast/
http://caughtinthemiddleman.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/anarchy-in-the-uk/
Safe driving!
im generally the asshole but i agree, i think people in cali just don’t wanna fucken walk. i mean think about…this is car nation over here. they don’t wanna have to get out of the car, its too much! haha jk. i love cali but its true about it being the car centric state.
It’s LA- no one walks. Period. It seems like traffic is just so dreadful out here that shitty driving is simply considered to be ‘dynamic problem solving’. Mandatory to shout/honk/throw the bird, but anything else is too ambitious.
Like most people, I consider myself to be the good driver and everyone else is the asshole.