Why is one to two quick flashes considered so bad? It is the only way to request that a slower driver move to the right other than the horn. It use to be considered common courtesy to flash once or twice on a highway to avoid honking. Somewhere along the way, a light flash has been reinterpreted as fuck you. Why?
I was coming home from the Philly Dopefest and an old man in a large SUV was plodding along at 65 in the left lane of Route 195, which is a 65 Zone. I flashed him once and he slammed on his breaks. Therefore, his answer to a harmless light flash was a potential accident that could have killed a stranger and possibly himself or his wife. I could understand getting pissed off at someone who leaves the high Beams on or Honks continuously. But, why is 1-2 short flashes of the high beams such a huge offense?
So no, I do not agree and again I request that slower movers please keep to the right. BTW, I ended up passing this Bozo on the right, he easily could have moved over. There was plenty of room.
I’m not talking about one or two flashes to someone going the speed limit. I’m talking twenty to infinity flashes to someone going 20mph over the speed limit.
And for those of you who think that standing still on the escalator doesn’t take that long, try commuting in the Toronto Transit system, and standing sadly behind some stationary fool or another on the left side of the escalator, listening to the cheerful chime of the southbound train doors closing.
It feels like an eternity when you know you could have caught that train, and shaved 10 minutes off your commute time, had the Left-Stander just moved the hell over.
You also mentioned tailgaiting, which is an asshole move even without the flashing.
Jim, that’s proper use of the flash. I’ll assume that because you didn’t indicate smacking into the rear of the vehicle that you weren’t tailgaiting and had enough stopping distance. But now we’re moving into different (but similar) peeve area - the driver who blocks the left lane but only keeps pace with the right lane(s).
Because anybody who notices that they’re being flashed is already aware that you are there. Excepting the idiots who decide to sit in the fast lane even if the others are clear, you’re patronising the other driver.
I generally try to use stairs instead of escalator or elevator when only a couple of floors are involved, simply because it is an easy way to get a little bit of exercise into my generally sedentary days.
While I was out jogging over lunch, I thought about “On your left.” IME it is pretty common - nearly universal - among folks who bike or run recreational paths. The person who is moving at a faster pace simply calls out “On your left” to let folks ahead of them know they are coming up from behind, and the side on which they intend to pass. I do not know why anyone being notified and passed in such manner would be offended, or why they would refuse to make way in a public passage. (Note - the exception would be a biker or speedskater who rudely and dangerously barrels along a recreational path at excessive speeds during crowded periods.)
IME the folks who generally act the most surprised and offended in such situations tend to be the folk who are slowly strolling. Chances of them being offended is enhanced if two are walking abreast, they have a dog on a leash stretching across the path, or are wearing headphones.
As with the escalator standers, it struck me as curious that the folks who are moving the slowest are the ones who act as though they think everyone else should slow down to their pace.
Hakuna The “what’s your hurry” aspect certainly reminded me of my previous post re: the elevator. I really can’t think of any situation where I feel it appropriate to dictate someone elses pace - unless someone is driving too fast in a residential area, riding a bike or skateboard on a crowded sidewalk, etc.
Re: the flashing lights - I see no problem with that. But I don’t do it myself. If I am in the left lane and see someone coming up from behind - whatever my speed - I try to move to the right to let them pass. If I don’t happen to notice them for whatever reason, flashing their lights is an innocuous way to get my attention.
I know I speed a lot, but I usually give a quick flash as I am approaching a slow car in the Left lane. I will give a second one as I get closer and I am now slowing down. Most people will move over, and then there are the select groups of either the oblivious or the indignant.
This Bozo on Sunday was downright reckless. NJ clearly posts signs on most Highways that people should keep to the right except to pass. I wanted to pull him over and make a citizen arrest, but that was both silly and I really wanted to get home. This is why I was trying to move past him to start with. Therefore, cursing under my breath I sped off. BTW, Bozo tries to speed up clunky SUV as I pass him to keep me from passing. I had a clear road in both lanes and I said fuck it, slammed the pedal down, and shot off ahead of him.
Dumb ass move on my part, but at this point, I just wanted to get away from this psychotic moron.
Jim
On preview: GorillaMan, I mentioned in my example that the right lane was open. I do not think Mr. Bozo had any rights to slam on his brakes.
BTW, I didn’t mean to be down on panic attack sufferers: I get occasional panic attacks too - but they usually occur randomly. I do try to remain polite, but can indeed clam up until it’s passed.
Not trying to be combative, just wondering: why do you take escalators if they cause panic attacks? I get them too, but I try to avoid my triggers whenever possible, and in the case of an escalator it is almost always possible. Either there are stairs, or an elevator nearby for disabled folks. I know there are both static and moving stairs at the local T station. Malls usually have all three. I just don’t understand why someone would ride one if it made them uncomfortable and wasn’t necessary, when stairs are such good exercise besides.
And I find it hilarious that this thread is six pages long now. Unreal.
Sometimes I think I live in a different universe than some of the people here. Not that I think it doesn’t happen, but I’ve yet to see someone attacked by hippies over their SUV, or get all huffy about escalator etiquette and I live a state that’s sorta known for rudeness.
An escelator ride is only about 30 seconds in the mall. What do you save, 10 seconds if you storm down the steps? I’m a mall queen and it seems to me when the escelator isn’t crowded, people walk down and when it is people just stand there. I’ve never noticed people trying to pass unless it was a bunch of kids.
If I heard an ‘excuse me’ over my shoulder, I’d probably just move over.
As for the interstate, our interstates are three lanes and I usually drive in the middle lane because of all the mergers in the right lane. I’m not a super fast driver so if I see someone flashing I just move over if I can. Like What Exit? I don’t see anything wrong with it. It’s better to get a light flashed at you than drive in the right lane where people think merge means to barrel ahead without looking.
What does annoy me is when the light changes and I don’t move the exact second the light changes someone beeps their horn.
I must admit this isn’t something I’ve ever given a lot of thought to. It’s just part of the mall milieu. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been on an escalator and started walking only to end up behind someone stationary. I then proceed to do what I’ve always done and always will do: I stand still and wait. I really don’t think about it, get agitated, stare impatiently, or whatever the hell. It’s just not that important to me. I mean, what’s it to me, another ten seconds on the escalator, if that?
The only time I get a little hung up on this is if someone is in the turn lane, and due to their inattentiveness, they reduce the number of cars that will be able to make the turn on the light. It is one of those wierd things. If the 1st car doesn’t move as soon as the arrow lights and the intersection clears - how long are you to wait before getting their attention? You often have only a few seconds of arrow time.
I guess so. That being said, you’ve no idea if the guy at the mall is in a hurry for an equally valid reason. I’ve had to pick things up at the mall before going other places from time to time, haven’t you?
Anyway, as I said before, rudeness is unacceptable regardless of which person you are–the stander or the walker. If you’ve been asked politely to move over so someone can go by, there are better ways to deal with it than flaring up angrily because someone had the audacity to want to go a bit faster than you in a public area.
As far as I understood, the ire felt by the OP was more about the incredible rudeness of Nasty Stander Man, especially when put into the context that where he’s from, it’s standard etiquette to move to the side and let others by without being asked.
Sure, he got overly irate about it and ranted heavily about it here, but hey–this* is* the pit.
