Actually, she has decided to declare this blog a "No-Whine" zone as far as the weather is concerned. She will not complain about the weather anymore. Really.
Of course, without the weather to complain about, she has nothing else to blog about....
Well, that's not true. She could rant about something. Like the fact that humans seem to be less and less civil, at least in this neck of the woods. The Rancher told the Bag Lady that the company he works for is looking for a new driver for their low bed truck (the truck used to haul heavy equipment from job to job) because the last fellow is injured. And how was he injured, she asked. He was beaten up, replied the Rancher, in a road-rage incident. Not, fortunately, while he was driving the low bed truck, but while he was driving his own vehicle. The Rancher was unsure of all the details, but apparently there were insults hurled and single finger salutes exchanged. When the fellow pulled into a parking lot and got out of his vehicle, the two fellows from the other vehicle jumped out of their car and beat the crap out of him, breaking ribs and doing some serious bodily harm. What the hell is wrong with people?
The Bag Lady has had an occasional brush with an idiot or two on the road, and has even stooped to cussing at another driver (sometimes out loud), but to follow someone and wait until they exit their vehicle in order to beat them up? What could he possibly have done to warrant that kind of treatment? Cut the other vehicle off? Was he slow starting away from an intersection when the light changed to green?
What is it about driving a vehicle that makes people behave in such a ridiculous manner? The Bag Lady has had near-accidents that have made her angry, and she has occasionally been tempted to follow the person who almost hit her and confront them about their lack of caution, but she has never actually done so. What purpose would it serve? Would it make them pay more attention on the road? The Bag Lady thinks not. She also thinks that she prefers her ribs intact and unbruised, so she wouldn't go looking for a confrontation.
What about you? Have you ever suffered from road rage? Been a victim? Have you ever wanted to use your vehicle as a weapon?
31 comments:
Wow, that is horrible to say the least! The world is going to hell in a hand basket that's for sure.
I have gotten angry behind the wheel, but never enough to want to use my car as a weapon, or to follow someone and explain the facts of driving to them.
OMG! What a terrible incident! People are brutal!
I have been known on occasion to give the one finger salute, but the last was years ago and I'd like to think I have gotten wiser since :)
~rupal
In a restaurant, I sometimes (rarely) enjoy barbecue ribs, but I prefer my own ribs just the way they are, intact and unbroken.
WOW.
sometimes it seems as though people are just walking (driving) around RIGHT on the edge huh?
and me?no.
Im too nerdy and careful when I drive :)
WOw...I wish I could say that was hard to believe, but I jsut saw two people (with little kids in tow no less) screaming insults at each other in the grocery parking lot the other day. Apparently one stole the other one's spot..or something.
I can't believe beating someone up over something though.
When I get mad in the car, I've taken to smiling sweetly, giving them a big thums up and muttering "have a nice day you b*st*rd" under my breath".
I figure it's just not worth it to get all riled up about it. I have noticed that people seem to be driving worse than they used to (and worse than *me*!).
I have to say though, that I mostly take the bus so it's not so much of an issue. I tend to relax in the car...even if I'm stuck in traffic, I just make sure I have a good CD in the car...I'm a much happier person when I don't let that stuff get to me...otherwise it sticks with ma for ages and ruins my day.
So not worth it.
That's horrible.
I've definitely gotten angry. Fortunately I've never lost it to the point where anything like that's happened, possibly because I understand that people generally don't want a fight. And I won't start anything unless I hit my breaking point.
The worst was when I was trying to change lanes, and the car next to me wouldn't let me (he sped up when I did, and slowed down when I did). So I decided to keep slowing down, with my blinker on, until he passed. Unfortunately, the cars in the lane I wanted to be in decide to ignore me, except to honk when I tried to sneak in. And my lane stated honking at me.
Frustrated (it had been a long day and I wasn't entirely sure where I was, as my GPS was leading), I leaned on the horn and flipped on my high beams until someone let me in. Was I probably called a psycho by the other drivers? Yes. Did I get home safely because the very next car let me in? Yes.
I have screamed (to myself in my vehicle with windows closed)that a driver didn't belong on the road, or out in the world, or in the world at all. I have cussed and cursed and sworn as vehicle drivers did something stupid near or to me, but I have never wanted it to come to blows.
And in parking lots I am likely to give the oncoming vehicle the space and go find another one. Drivers never quite know what to do when faced with generosity.
That is scary! I do get angry (especially driving in D.C. traffic) but wouldn't in a million years take my anger out on someone. Of course with my luck I would insult a traffic court judge....
Geo - that is unbelievable! I don't understand having to have a certain parking spot....
Reb - it IS horrible. I'm almost afraid to go to town anymore!
Rupal - it really makes me wonder at the anger level out there.
Jim - I know exactly what you mean! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Miz - I, too, have turned into a careful and nerdy driver. (Not according to the Rancher, mind you...)
Geo - what an example to set for their children! Sheesh. Shades of the scene from "Fried Green Tomatoes" - "I'm older, and I have more insurance..."
Tricia - I hate it when that happens! I was surprised the other day when I was in town - parked on the busiest street in town, too close to the intersection. Someone actually waved me out of the spot and allowed me into traffic! And no-one else honked. Must have been an anomaly.
Leah - I have been known to cuss out other drivers, but never if they can hear me. And I will give up parking spots, too.
Missicat - I can only imagine what driving in D.C. is like! I would never be brave enough - aren't there a lot of guns in D.C.?
It reminds me of an incident that happened years ago when I was living in Raleigh NC. One of my co-workers' father and husband were driving home from work in their truck after dark one night, when another truck started following them. They only realized this when they turned onto their private road. They parked, and from the other truck came gun fire. The followers shot up the truck, hitting Patty's father in the arm (fortunately only with a .22) and then backed away and zoomed off. When the police got there, they asked if it could be a road rage incident, but they didn't think so. They'd never seen the men or the truck before, and from the shouting they heard could only guess they were Hispanic. The police decided it was mistaken identity, and since the license plate of the followers was never in view, could do nothing about it.
Mary Anne in Kentucky
Mary Anne in Kentucky - that is terrifying! Holy crap! So lucky they weren't killed.
I have to go to town tomorrow.... I don't wanna!!
Oh dear, am I going to have to let go of my idealization of Canadians as far more calm, rational, compassionate, and civilized than Americans?
Sounds like you've got some real *ssholes up there too.
I suspect we still have more of them though.
Crabby - I think there are asshats everywhere, it's just that our population is so much smaller than yours that our asshats are fewer. Maybe.
My husband says that the way I drive makes my vehicle a weapon! Luckily I don't drive very far or very much, so I don't see too much of this anymore. People are so frustrated and scared that they act out in the wrongest ways....
Marianne - I think that's true - they have other frustrations that they take out on total strangers. The world is in sorry shape.
My son experience this with an adult last week. The adult not only blocked my son in someones elses driveway, but followed him to school. He was kicked off campus and I had to call the police just in case this person took the road rage further. It's scary how people take it way too far. I told my son, next time dail 911. Thats why we bought him a cell phone. It was scary.
Hope you get some nice weather soon. {{hugs}}
I am so sorry for that man.... That's horrible, just horrible!
As for experience, one time, Greg was driving, we were minding our own business. The guy to the left of Greg, started swirving into our lane, so Greg honked the horn. The man gave us the finger and pulled out in front of us and then slowed down. Greg got around him and the man kept doing the same thing. When Greg slowed down, the man turned into a parking lot, guess he figured Greg was getting ready to do the same for a fight, but instead, we just went down a street and thankfully, the other person couldn't follow us. I think the guy was on drugs, he had a wild look in his eyes.
I consider myself so lucky that I don't have to drive very often any more. I get frustrated with people, but not to the degree I would want to cause them harm. I prefer to just get out of the way and keep on about my business and I wish more people felt the same.
Maggie - that IS really scary! I wouldn't want to be a young person just starting out driving nowadays!
Aleta - Thank goodness Greg kept going! That is one of the worst things nowadays - not knowing what kind of drugs people are taking! It is really scary.
BG - I so agree with you - just let me get on with my business and don't bother me... Wish I didn't have to drive places. On the other hand, I'm so glad I don't have to deal with a lot of humans every day. Hmmm, does that mean I'm anti-social?
There are idiots everywhere. They're just a lot scarier behind the wheel.
I had a moment of complete and utter panic just now.. until I noticed the "h" in your "No-Whine" zone. ;) (slurp!)
Hilary - Yes, they are scarier when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle that can do so much damage!
And I can totally understand your panic, but it was unfounded! *gulp*
No wine zone?? How awful!
Oh. Whine.
That is a terrible and frightening incident. I do get nervous if I think someone is following me and have been known to drive past my house if I think I am being followed.
I tend to drive a little under the speed limit when off the highway and I recently discovered (over at Gary Rith's blog) that this makes a lot of people mad. It's not that I am poking through town 5-10 mph below the speed limit, just one or two mph, to keep safe from the deputies that abound (and small town cops need to fulfill their duties to keep the tax coffers filled). But apparently? That infuriates other drivers.
After hearing so many road rage stories, I try to let other people by if they act like they want to pass me.
Way back when, as a much younger driver, I tailgated and flashed my brights at someone who was driving too slow ahead of me in the "fast" lane on the freeway. I was SO MAD that I failed to notice 2 miles later the left lane became exit only....until my own exit on the right hand side of the freeway was passing by...
I am now COMPLETELY ashamed of how I acted. It has totally changed my mindset when driving, and I now do my best to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Life is too short to cause an accident or heaven forbid, be on the victim end of a road rage incident like the one you described above.
I feel sorry for those who make it their business to spread anger around !!
Wishing Spring will find you FAST :)
kcinnova - I, too, have slowed down and become more considerate as I've gotten older. In the winter, I generally drive a little bit under the speed limit, especially if the roads are bad. Black ice can be a real problem, so I usually drive a little more slowly. (Don't ask about my driving habits in the summer....)
Annette - I feel sorry for those folks, too. And for the folks who end up on the receiving end of that anger!
What I would really like is a an electronic sign in my back window that would say, "Back off, asshole," to anybody that was tailgating me or honking or anything else obnoxious.
The drivers around here are totally insane. But I hear they're worse in Boston.
Sbanfnyc - I know what you mean! Better yet, the ability to throw down a spike belt - that would slow them down!! :)
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
a spike belt? Wow!
That's horrible! I can't believe people DO things like that. Grrr.
I tried to make my blog a whine-about-the-weather-free-zone. It didn't last very long.
Him - well, okay, a spike belt might be a little extreme... :)
Sagan - I've refrained all day from mentioning that it was 40 freakin' below this morning....I am NOT whining! See? This is me, not whining... :)
Today, i had to head into town. I had to do some errands near a popular grocery store. Upon noticing that a person was leaving the parking spot I was looking for, I, as usual, waited until this person was backing out of the spot so that I could proceed. As I was about to back up, this big expensive new car, ignoring my backup attempt, ripped right into my spot. I bit my lip, and proceeded in the store. She was a few ahead of me in the lineup at the till. When I got up to the till, I told the teller about the incident, and she asked who she was, then said that she wasn't surprised that she pulled into my spot even thoughshe knew that that was where I was headed. There are idiots all over, some of them rich bi-ches!
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