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When I was talking to the officer in the story I mentioned above, she said people should be allowed to shoot it out with roadragers. She said this road rage ________ would end in a week! I was laughing my butt off!!
Maybe! Out of control drivers often get a green light from the rest of us to push their way around in traffic, so when they run across someone who doesn’t bow to their demands, what’s their solution? The only weapon they have to wield: more rage. Good way to solve your problems. If they knew the person they were about to attack would attack them back with equal force, I bet they would think twice and maybe figure out a different method of coping. When all you do is waffle, you’re sending them the message that what they did was ok. It’s not. Stand up for yourself.
One of the other more popular versions of this is when the nice guy has finally had it up to here with getting the short end of the stick, and finally loses it himself. The abused becomes the abuser, so to speak. Not any more helpful to blow things out of proportion here though either. Would it really be worth it to face criminal charges or rack up a huge bill for damages because it took you 20 seconds longer to get where you’re going? It may or may not, but it’s not a very smart move in most cases I think (thinking of the scene from Fried Green Tomatoes, lol). People don’t usually make the best decisions when they’re angry. However, I don’t think it’s inappropriate to let people know when they’re doing something wrong. It’s HOW you let them know that takes a little tact.
Teen driver does something dumb? They’re learning how to drive, cut them a little slack. However, you’re not doing either of you a favor if you just let them putt along in blissful ignorance. A quick honk and maybe an indication that they did something they ought not to have would be appropriate I think. You have to give them SOME feedback, or else how are they going to learn? How are they going to know they did anything wrong at all?
An elderly lady? Same thing, except you’re not teaching them the rules of the road, you’re giving them feedback regarding their limitations. If they look a little lost, maybe just a gentle honk or maybe a concerned look. They probably know they did something wrong, and if some douchebag lays on his horn and yells at her, she’s probably going to go home and cry. If, however, I see one of them peering over the steering wheel driving like they’re drunk, I will lay it on thick. Every now and again, you hear stories about old people driving their cars into crowds of people or a storefront because they got “confused”. They need to have plenty of people telling them they’re “confused” long before that happens. Some people are smart enough to figure out when it’s time to quit, some people are just stubborn, and some are possibly just so unaware that they need a little help.
Sometimes people just make honest mistakes. So do you, so get over it.
Stupid punk who wants to cut out in front of everyone? Lots of feedback for this guy. If he’s wanting me to move for him, I’ll just stare him down. Might tell him to go ________ himself too. (Unless he looks like he just escaped from the state prison, then I might think twice. Maybe not though, depends on what kind of mood I’m in.) Idiots like this need to get the message loud and clear that they aren’t the only ones on the road. 99.9999999% of the time, bashing someone’s windshield in does not make it any more clear that they just offended you and the other drivers and aren’t going to get away with it than if you give them a dirty look, laid on your horn, and stood your ground. Actually, it kind of works in reverse. For one, the focus in their mind completely shifts away from their poor driving when someone is trying to attack them. I can guarantee you the last thing on their mind is how much they need to improve their driving skills when someone is rushing at them in a violent rage. Pulling a stunt like this generally just advertises to the world the lack of control you possess over yourself, and the lack of skill you display in making judgments. And another thing: if you give someone the maximum level of punishment or reinforcement no matter what they do, controlling their behavior cannot be focused around a specific act. The punishment and reinforcement has to occur on a gradient.
For example... subconscious mind of idiot driver:
1) “Hmmm, when I wait an extra 3 seconds at a green light by mistake, a crazy lady lays on her horn and yells obscenities at me”.
2) “When I cut across 3 lanes of traffic because I need to turn sooner than I thought, a crazy lady lays on her horn and yells obscenities at me”.
3)
4)
5) “Waiting an extra 3 seconds at a green light by mistake is as bad as cutting across 3 lanes of traffic!”
Maybe a little too simplistic, but hopefully you get (or already got) the point. From here, it’s likely that the person is going to want/need to see themselves as mostly correct or superior, so if they don’t just blow everyone off altogether, the choice between whether or not they de-emphasize the seriousness of the 3 lane switcharoo or upgrade the seriousness of the slow start on green is not a hard one to make. They want the one that results in the least amount of blame directed at themselves. Think this is all way too basic? Think any person controlling 3,000+ lbs of steel should be able to judge a behavior based on its own merit? Think again, especially if these people are dumb as a box of rocks and/or distracted half the time they’re driving anyway. Too many of these people on the road.
Getting dark, time for booze and candy.
Happy Halloween errbody!
“Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac.” – George Carlin
