Pitting the idiot taxi driver from last night.

[Lobsang]

Last night I witnessed the most brain-dead stupid thoughtless mental insanely fucked thing.

Being the impatient sod that most taxi drivers seem to be, this one decided to do a u-turn. He decided to do it while there was traffic going the other way. At the front of the trafic, the first thing that had to break to let dick-brain do his u-turn, was a double-decker bus, full of people sat on seats without seatbelts.

[hybrid_dogfish]

You have taxis on the Isle of Man? an I thought it was so small everybody walked everywhere. :D

Seriously though, taxi drivers routinely piss me off with their blatant disregard for road traffic laws, both as a passenger, and when I have the misfortune to come across one when I am driving. The worst example I can think of is one I was lucky enough to com across who was watching a fucking film on the DVD player in his car.

I probably shoulda got out, but I was drunk at the time, and the realisation didnt kick in till the following morning.

[hybrid_dogfish]

You wouldn't believe I previewed that 3 times, wouldya? :smack:

[Lobsang]

(We have electricity too)


Can someone explain to me the habit they have of leaving their engines on when waiting at the taxi rank. Is there some benefit to the engine if it doesn't get started and stopped all day?

It bugs me. They sit their reading their newspapers, 7 of them, all with their engines trundling away, filling the air with noxious fumes.

[county]

About the OP, they are like Steve Irwin, professionals at what they do. Amateurs probably shouldn't criticize.

[Lobsang]

Originally posted by county
About the OP, they are like Steve Irwin, professionals at what they do. Amateurs probably shouldn't criticize.

The guys at chernobyl probably called themselves professionals.

I don't care if the guy in the taxi was the world's leading driving expert, swerving infront of a bus full of unrestrained passengers is stupid and irresponsible. If the taxi driver is a 'professional' then why did the bus driver have to break?

[bannerrefugee]

Originally posted by county
About the OP, they are like Steve Irwin, professionals at what they do. Amateurs probably shouldn't criticize.
Yeah dorks like county who are to stupid to drive a taxi might not criticize either.

[Ilsa_Lund]

You talkin' to him? YOU TALKIN' TO [I]HIM?

[London_Calling]

Originally posted by Lobsang
Can someone explain to me the habit they have of leaving their engines on when waiting at the taxi rank. Is there some benefit to the engine if it doesn't get started and stopped all day?

It's winter ?


How many horses were pulling this bus down the track ?

[Ilsa_Lund]

If the taxi driver is a 'professional' then why did the bus driver have to break?

Or Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo?

Did he brake, too?

[Soul Brother Number Two]

county, must you ALWAYS be such a sanctimonious twat?

[Gadfly]

Originally posted by county
About the OP, they are like Steve Irwin, professionals at what they do. Amateurs probably shouldn't criticize.

Says the man who parks in fucking fire lanes.

[Nametag]

Originally posted by essvee
county, must you ALWAYS be such a sanctimonious twat? Not at all; most of the time, he's an amoral twat.

FWIW, taxi drivers are NOT professionals; being paid for driving does not make it a profession, it just makes it a job. Most taxi drivers are not even particularly skilled -- taxi owners will usually lease to any driver with a reasonably clean record. Compare this to true professional drivers, such as truckers, race drivers, ambulance drivers, and delivery drivers, who need to demonstrate their skills to vehicle owners with a lot more to lose. Truckers and ambulance drivers are also subject to government regulations, and need to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills to the state.

[bannerrefugee]

County
What you do is, you drop back about 50 yards behind t(s) and then you drop your car down 1 gear and give it wide open throttle, while turning on your bright headlights an vigorously honking your horn

Then we would know he was a commin!!:wally

[Helen's Eidolon]

My favourite story was how once a cab driver stopped at a deserted red light, thought for a bit, then just went on through.

[county]

Shit, did the fucking bus hit the cab? Did the bus careen out of control? Were any bus passengers injured and taken to the hospital due to the braking and evasive manuevering if the bus?

Cause if any of that happened, I must have missed it in the OP.

I think I have to stand by my post unless there is additional evidence.

Some of you people are kind of assholes.

[county]

Shit, did the fucking bus hit the cab? Did the bus careen out of control? Were any bus passengers injured and taken to the hospital due to the braking and evasive manuevering of the bus?

Cause if any of that happened, I must have missed it in the OP.

I think I have to stand by my post unless there is additional evidence.

Some of you people are kind of assholes.

[Lobsang]

county are you trying to be hated?

[Lobsang]

Let's just assume county is being serious for a moment (I think he is just trolling, no-one can be that fucked in the head, can they?)

What if the taxi had broken down pulling off this move - WHAM! 50 people injured or dead.

what if people were walking about on the bus - Injuries from falling.

What if the bus had lost control due to the surprise of the idiot

[carrot]

So, county, evidence of physical harm must be shown for the charge of irresponsibility to stand?

As for the asshole comment, I guess it takes one to know one.

[Doomtrain]

Originally posted by LaurAnge
My favourite story was how once a cab driver stopped at a deserted red light, thought for a bit, then just went on through.

Shit, when we used to take a cab to work at 4am, the taxi driver would blow straight through all the red lights. I don't think we dropped below 50 for the whole trip.

[Ennui]

While I largely agree with Nametag's comment about professionalism regarding drivers I will point out that there are many cabbies who comport themselves with a degree of class and ability that they can rightfully be called professionals.

That being said I spent 8 years in a cab myself and have seen some major idiots in the trade. For the last few years I was driving I served as one of the trainers, I'd take a new driver around for a few hours and show them how everything worked. On the lease form you filled out each day there was a spot where you filled in the last three digits of the cars odometer at the beginning of your shift and then in the spot right above that you'd do the same at the end of the shift, from there you subtract to find the total number of miles driven in that shift, I'm not going too fast for any of you am I? Well, on not one but two occasions I'm helping the trainee through the paper work and the starting miles were something like 945 and the finish miles were like 032. Yup, you guessed it, I had to explain to an adult how to subtract 9 from 0. I always wonder what these two would do if someone asked them what 15% of their fare was.

[county]

Originally posted by Lobsang
Let's just assume county is being serious for a moment (I think he is just trolling, no-one can be that fucked in the head, can they?)

What if the taxi had broken down pulling off this move - WHAM! 50 people injured or dead.

what if people were walking about on the bus - Injuries from falling.

What if the bus had lost control due to the surprise of the idiot


Well, I have driven automobiles for a long time in a lot of different locations and I have had occasion to intentionally execute traffic manuevers that required other drivers to slow down (brake). I have witnessed countless cabs (In which I was a passenger) execute similar manuevers. Some areas are so congested that without exeecuting manuevers that require other drivers to brake, you won't go anywhere. Sometimes athe horn is used, sometimes not.

Sure there are a lot of "what if's" - hell, I wasn't there, what if I am wrong and it was a poorly executed manuever? You posted an OP, I provided feedback.


If that engenders "hate" - well, they can bite me.

[Lobsang]

Originally posted by county
Well, I have driven automobiles for a long time in a lot of different locations and I have had occasion to intentionally execute traffic manuevers that required other drivers to slow down (brake). I have witnessed countless cabs (In which I was a passenger) execute similar manuevers. Some areas are so congested that without exeecuting manuevers that require other drivers to brake, you won't go anywhere. Sometimes athe horn is used, sometimes not.

Sure there are a lot of "what if's" - hell, I wasn't there, what if I am wrong and it was a poorly executed manuever? You posted an OP, I provided feedback.


If that engenders "hate" - well, they can bite me.

My driving instructor taught me - If anyone has to apply their brakes because of you then you are doing something wrong.

(slowing down because of traffic doesn't count, that's not strictly anyone's fault)

county you provided feedback and we are responding to that feedback. We happened to think it was a sign of inconsiderate and misguided behaviour. Your belief that as long as no-one is harmed then anyone can behave in a dangerous and thoughtless way. Behaving dangerously is one thing. Believing it is justified is, just, fucked up.

[Lobsang]

To add. You defend the actions of a person who dangled an infant in front of an aligator (or crocodile), and (if what I hear is to be believed) you intentionally park in fire lanes.

How therefore would telling me that you execute similar manouvers to the taxi driver possibly justify the behaviour and make me or anyone think "oh, county does it, it MUST be ok then"

I'm going to keep an eye on you in future. You might prove to be a fun idiot to flame.

[county]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lobsang

How therefore would telling me that you execute similar manouvers to the taxi driver possibly justify the behaviour and make me or anyone think "oh, county does it, it MUST be ok then"


No, my executing the manuver does not justify it. Thousands of people in congested areas all over the world does. Your driving instructor was probably right as far as his experience was concerned but that doesn't mean that people don't legitimately do that manuver on a regular basis.

I suppose I could go do forum searches and find other things I disagree with you about but I am pretty much restricting myself to the OP.

What you do and how you do it is up to you.

[Michael Ellis]

Originally posted by county
Well, I have driven automobiles for a long time in a lot of different locations and I have had occasion to intentionally execute traffic manuevers that required other drivers to slow down (brake).

Yeah, like parking in fire lanes.

[county]

Originally posted by Michael Ellis
Yeah, like parking in fire lanes.

You seem to be having trouble grasping the topic, here's an idea, bite me.

[Michael Ellis]

The topic is bad driving. Parking in fire lanes is bad driving behavior.

[bannerrefugee]

Well county does seem to be an expert on the bad driving topic. It sounds like he/she has been driving badly for entirely to long.

[World Eater]

God you're a fucking idiot County.

The moron cab driver pulled a stupid manuver. It is probably blind luck that some horrific accident didn't ensue. If the idiot keeps driving in the same manner, chances are he'll end up killing someone.

Got it?

[duffer]

Not sure if defending county on this will hurt me more than him, BUT, where the hell is the Irwin argument coming from? This guy has forgotten more about crocs than any of us will ever learn. County parks in fire lanes (?), so what? As long as there's no fire.... (I could be way off base, and i'm sure someone will tell me so if I am). I just love living in a part of the world where we have no need for cabs. We haul our asses about on our own accord.

(slight rant, gimme a break)

[Sweetums]

Of course County's argument is invalid. Bad driving is bad driving. It dosn't take a "professional" to recognize that. I am not a professional football player, but I recognize that the Steeler's offensive line needs work. The idea that the diver is a "professional" and this somehow means that the cabdriver is therefore infalable, and all actions on the road are justified, is simply trolling.

Anyone who seriously holds County's opinion should talk to a REAL professional. Ask any big city cop about how often they issue tickets to County's heros, the cab drivers.

Oh and I probably shouldn't criticize County for trolling, after all, I am not a "professional".

[duffer]

Point taken Sweet, maybe I'm just not used to big city cabbies and the habits they have

[county]

Originally posted by World Eater
God you're a fucking idiot County.

The moron cab driver pulled a stupid manuver. It is probably blind luck that some horrific accident didn't ensue. If the idiot keeps driving in the same manner, chances are he'll end up killing someone.

Got it?


Well, I slow down and even occasionally brake because another vehicle needs/takes the right of way. Sometimes it is a stupid manuver on their part and sometimes it is a necessary manuver due to circumstances. That is driving in the real world.

I think a few (not many) people on this board are taking things a little personally. Perhaps being overly sensitive.

As far as "Got it" is concerned; well yes, I got it, hanging. And if you want to, well...you know.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Originally posted by hybrid_dogfish
Seriously though, taxi drivers routinely piss me off with their blatant disregard for road traffic laws, both as a passenger, and when I have the misfortune to come across one when I am driving. The worst example I can think of is one I was lucky enough to com across who was watching a fucking film on the DVD player in his car. Reminds me of the cabbie (NYC, IIRC) who has a DVD player an a collection of porno movies for his fares to watch.Originally posted by duffer
Not sure if defending county on this will hurt me more than him, BUT, where the hell is the Irwin argument coming from?Seems that county equates dangerous taxi driving to feeding a croc with one hand and holding a baby in the other (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8307894%255E662,00.html).

[purgepro]

its people like the aforementioned cabbie that allow the rest of us to unload the verbal abuse we've been storing from a long day of work and the idiots there.

[World Eater]

Originally posted by county
Well, I slow down and even occasionally brake because another vehicle needs/takes the right of way. Sometimes it is a stupid maneuver on their part and sometimes it is a necessary maneuver due to circumstances. That is driving in the real world.

99.9% of the time there is a safe way to execute a "necessary" maneuver. I wasn't talking about braking anyway, just refuting your stupid notion that a maneuver is only reckless if it results in an accident.

I think a few (not many) people on this board are taking things a little personally. Perhaps being overly sensitive.

As far as "Got it" is concerned; well yes, I got it, hanging. And if you want to, well...you know.

Are we in the 3rd grade? Go fuck a vase of ground beef you twatscab.

[county]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by World Eater

[B] I wasn't talking about braking anyway, just refuting your stupid notion that a maneuver is only reckless if it results in an accident.
QUOTE]

Yes you were you dickhead, read the posts if you can't even remember what you were talking about.

That's the thing about these forums, you can't just pull shit out of your ass - it's there for all to see.

[TeaElle]

And we've been watching you executing that particular manuever for quite a while now, county. :rolleyes:

[Ilsa_Lund]

Ahem. county is a fucking idiot. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=229084&highlight=county)

[Ilsa_Lund]

county, we must understand, is a simple sort.

county doesn't realize that we civilized people have standards of behavior.

county can't quite comprehend this due to his lack of higher mental processes.

But it isn't really county's fault.

You see, when county's mother was busy ramming the smegma-encrusted cock of the braindead and paralyzed semen messenging goat into her Joan-Rivers-Strung-Out-On-Heroin-Body, she didn't realize that dropping psilocybin mushrooms was going to be a bad idea for the next nine months.


Thus, the asinine, fatuous, foolish, silly, simple; brute, brutish, dummel, lumbering, oafish, slow, slow-witted, sluggish; half-assed; crass; backward, half-witted, retarded; idiotic, imbecilic moron we are burdened with, county, isn't really responsible for his actions.

Now, the great old flame goes "They say that a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters could, in a million years, churn out all of the great literary works; your post was a twenty minute, three monkey job." The problem with county is that his monkeys starved to death because he forgot to feed them, and their typewriters didn't have ribbons. Thus the blankness.


Well, I slow down and even occasionally brake because another vehicle needs/takes the right of way.

See? county's not a total loss after all!


So folks, next time you see his posts; bare, clear, stark, vacant, void and characterized by a lack of substance, thought, or intellectual content, remember that a struggling young haploid, county is in need of your love.

Don't be tempted to overreact to his driveling, flat, innocuous, jejune, milk-and-water, namby-pamby, sapless, vapid, wishy-washy and hollow comments, just smile and say "Well, I can be thankful that my brain cavity isn't filled with the remainder of the syphilitic ejaculate of some slovenly guy named Bill!"

Yes folks, county. It warms the heart and twists the gut. :)

[IWLN]

Ilsa_Lund
I don't suppose by any stretch of the imagination you could be over-reacting just a tiny bit. I will admit that I haven't followed the infamous county with quite the dedication and vigilance you seem to have shown, but I can't see where this kind of reaction is coming from. If it turns out I'm wrong, I apologize. But unless county has actually come over to your house and:

1. Did an illegal u-turn on your street, in front of a bus, causing it to have an accident, possibly at least side-swiping your car.

2. Pulled up and parked in a firelane, making it difficult for the ambulances and firetrucks responding to the bus accident,to find a place to park, thereby making it necessary that they park on your new lawn.

3. Comes in knocks your kid around, oh.... and won't let him vote.

4. And beats your wife with an axe-handle because she's a known scab.

5. There are no crocodiles readily available, so I guess he can dangle your infant in front of a rotweiler, if you'll accept the poetic license.

If he has NOT done at least two of these things to you personally, then you probably have your own separate issues. My only real reason for saying this is attacking someone's mom is uh...kind of weird, demented. Just IMHO though.

Oh, about the OP, yep cab drivers can be idiots, bus drivers too.

[Ilsa_Lund]

Originally posted by IWLN
Ilsa_Lund
I don't suppose by any stretch of the imagination you could be over-reacting just a tiny bit. I will admit that I haven't followed the infamous county with quite the dedication and vigilance you seem to have shown, but I can't see where this kind of reaction is coming from. If it turns out I'm wrong, I apologize. But unless county has actually come over to your house and:

1. Did an illegal u-turn on your street, in front of a bus, causing it to have an accident, possibly at least side-swiping your car.

2. Pulled up and parked in a firelane, making it difficult for the ambulances and firetrucks responding to the bus accident,to find a place to park, thereby making it necessary that they park on your new lawn.

3. Comes in knocks your kid around, oh.... and won't let him vote.

4. And beats your wife with an axe-handle because she's a known scab.

5. There are no crocodiles readily available, so I guess he can dangle your infant in front of a rotweiler, if you'll accept the poetic license.

If he has NOT done at least two of these things to you personally, then you probably have your own separate issues. My only real reason for saying this is attacking someone's mom is uh...kind of weird, demented. Just IMHO though.

Oh, about the OP, yep cab drivers can be idiots, bus drivers too.


There's a history, the rant was pretty mild, really and you have to remember that there is always a bit of exaggeration. Mother insults are fairly common. I don't think a rant has ever been written wherein a poster really was filled to the brim with the seething rage that the post indicates. Ranting is an art, I am a student, county is redundancy incarnate.

[Jackmannii]

Originally posted by Ilsa_Lund
There's a history, the rant was pretty mild, really and you have to remember that there is always a bit of exaggeration.
Plus improper use of semicolons. I think you can get a ticket for that. :confused:

[county]

Originally posted by Ilsa_Lund
[B]There's a history, ]

The only history we have is that moronic pitting you did a little while back. Although it appears that you are trying to develop some sort of "history." And there are rules against that sort of thing, you moronic little twerp. Don't get yourself banned again.

[Ilsa_Lund]

Originally posted by county
The only history we have is that moronic pitting you did a little while back. Although it appears that you are trying to develop some sort of "history." And there are rules against that sort of thing, you moronic little twerp. Don't get yourself banned again.

:D

Not a history between us, a history of you being a moronic asshole. What rules do you refer to exactly?:smack: