# "Get outa my way" or Why I am more important than you: **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 11, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280 "2010-07-11T05:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/181 "2010-07-17T14:18:03Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > No, the knowledge that it pisses off crotchmaggots like you is satisfaction enough. Crotchmaggots! My favorite kind! > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You are the one that said it was always illegal to impede traffic. I proved you wrong. No she didn’t. She said if you slow down to 10 mph in a 35 mph zone, and it impedes traffic, there laws against it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/182 "2010-07-17T14:18:07Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You are the one that said it was always illegal to impede traffic. I proved you wrong. You idiot. A legal turn is not considered impeding traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/183 "2010-07-17T14:23:21Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > You idiot. A legal turn is not considered impeding traffic. Why not? It does the same thing as me looking for an address, and you still won’t be able to do all your 101 errands you planned for your lunch break. Because of the nature of my job, I look for an address at least once per day, sometimes several times, for the eight years since 2002. I have never been cited for impeding traffic. Just lucky? Or do cops really not care? If they don’t, I am certainly not going to question their judgement. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/184 "2010-07-17T14:24:12Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > …No she didn’t… Not that it matters, but for clarity - He. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/185 "2010-07-17T14:26:17Z")
Nice try attempting to suck this into a hijack about why you don’t think laws against impeding traffic aren’t fair to inconsiderate assholes. “Why is there no law against left turns?!” What-the-fuck-ever. You were wrong about traffic laws, and you’re also a douche. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/186 "2010-07-17T14:27:32Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > You were wrong about traffic laws, and you’re also a douche. Flattery will not get me to flush out those crotchmaggots. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/187 "2010-07-17T14:30:54Z")
I’m rubber, you’re glue. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/188 "2010-07-17T14:31:42Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Why not? It does the same thing as me looking for an address, and you still won’t be able to do all your 101 errands you planned for your lunch break. > > Because of the nature of my job, I look for an address at least once per day, sometimes several times, for the eight years since 2002. I have never been cited for impeding traffic. Just lucky? Or do cops really not care? If they don’t, I am certainly not going to question their judgement. Just how far are you going to move the goal posts? Or are you just backpedaling since you know your argument is ridiculous. Little of both? And what 101 errands are you referring to? Got any more straw? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/189 "2010-07-17T14:36:35Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > And what 101 errands are you referring to? Got any more straw? You obviously dropped into this thread near the end. The fact that you can’t keep up is not surprising. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/190 "2010-07-17T14:40:32Z")
Oh yes, the completely fictional errands that dawdling assholes made up in order to justify their taking a nap in the checkout aisle. Yes, those. Do try to keep up, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/191 "2010-07-17T14:41:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You obviously dropped into this thread near the end. The fact that you can’t keep up is not surprising. Oh, I’ve been here since the beginning. Wasting other folks time and claiming that they are mad because they have ‘101 other errands to run’ is just another strawman to try to excuse poor behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/192 "2010-07-17T14:42:02Z")
Don’t make me get out my checkbook. Ooooh, a coupon! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/193 "2010-07-17T14:43:16Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Oh, I’ve been here since the beginning. Clearly, you have not. The “errands” popped up about four pages ago. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/194 "2010-07-17T14:51:18Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Clearly, you have not. The “errands” popped up about four pages ago. So what. What does 101 errands to run have to do with the **laws** against impeding traffic, and your propensity to move the goal posts, back peddle and throw straw around and change the subject? I’m out for a while. Lot’s to do on a Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/195 "2010-07-17T15:12:27Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I’ve been a SDMB member for 9 years. I visit, and watch a lot of contentious threads. In all that time, I do not believe I have ever seen a straw man as big as you created **Starving**. That’s quite a feat. > > I find it humorous that the OP is actually 180 degrees off. It stuns me that some people think that it is just fine to waste other people’s time. I thought the lack of such a simple grace would be met with apologies. After all it is just plain rude and thoughtless to do this. > > To try to put the blame on the person that has to wait because of their inconsideration and oblivion to their environment blows me away. We share ours spaces, resturants, roads, whatever with a wide variety of people. People’s needs and timing and awareness of others varies from person to person and from day to day for individuals. What we’re discussing in this thread “I’ve got a schedule you clueless bastard, get the fuck out of my way” and the “I’m taking my own sweet time and screw you” are two sides of the same selfish coin. IMO it’s foolish and unrealisitic and maybe a bit of hubris to think others should operate by our standard of priorities and what we personally think is right. IMO it has a lot to do with whether you are actually aware you are impeding someone’s progress. If I packed too many things into many things into my day, left a couple of minutes too late, or decided I really really wanted a big burger, and some random circumstance puts something in my way, it’s often not because someone else is stupid. It’s nice to be aware of the other people we share spaces with, but it’s also nice to not be quick to judge others and be tolerant of the basic differences in people and circumstance. There may be some general guidelines but there is no standard one way or the other. The OP isn’t wrong. It’s one facet of our interaction. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/196 "2010-07-17T16:09:33Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > IMO it has a lot to do with whether you are actually aware you are impeding someone’s progress. Yet you’re actually aware there’s a good chance of impeding someones progress, but you do it anyways. Tsk tsk. > [@cosmosdan](#): > > Occasionally as I’m pondering my groceries I may leave my cart in the midle too long and someone comes along. Rather than stare at me waiting for me to realize you’re there say , excuse me, I need to move your cart, and the problem is solved. Pick a side left or right. Everyones happy. It isn’t hard, really. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/197 "2010-07-17T16:20:29Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > See I have a problem with this. Evidently you’re aware that your cart may pose a as an obstacle to other shoppers and yet sometimes you “may” leave the cart in the middle of the isle while you ponder over elbow macaroni or shells. > > It would be awfully nice of you just get into the habit of stopping to the left or the right of the isle. > > If you have a hard time seeing the logic. Try this ,I assume you drove to the grocery story on a two lane road. Did you drive down the middle of the road on your way to the grocery store ? Not likely that would not only be dangerous but inconsiderate. Even though I don’t think it’s a really valid comparison I get your point. Sure it would be nice if I was never absent minded or preoccupied. How realistic is that among humans. IMO if you react to most of life’s inconvenient circumstances with the conclusion that some other human is stupid or selfish, maybe the problem isn’t all theirs. I try to be aware of others and stay polite and patient. I’m not blocking the aisles as a fuck you to anyone. I’m pointing out that humans in general can’t be expected to be robotically consistent. If I come down an empty aisle and stop to read some labels with nobody in sight I may not be aware that somebody has turned the corner and can’t get by. I won’t mind if they say excuse me or just move my cart. I’ll even say “Sorry” in acknowledgment of the ideal. If they give me that self righteous “what an inconsiderate asshole” look over such a minor human interaction I won’t feel worse about my actions. I’ll think worse about them. The fact that you encountered an unusually selfish crazy bitch doesn’t change the reality that most people would not react that way. If that experience makes you reluctant to say the proper and justified “excuse me” when the situation comes up again that’s all on you. I’ll apologize for being in your way, but I won’t feel bad if you’re too much of a pussy to say excuse me because some crazy lady traumatized you, and your own wussiness caused you to wait an extra 20 seconds. If I go into a store and need help I think it ideal if someone approaches me to try and help. However, life isn’t always ideal so rather than stand around being pissed about the fact and wasting my own time, I’ll go ask someone for help. Sometimes I’m in a strange neighborhood looking for an address and/or street. If the houses aren’t clearly numbered and the street signs are small and occasionally blocked by branches I have to go very slow to check them out. I honestly feel bad when someone comes up behind me in that situation. They are thinking “What’s wrong with this prick” and have their own schedule to keep. Still, it’s just the circumstances of the situation and their needs don’t automatically override mine. > [@](#): > > Thank you so much for thinking of others. My point is interaction is just that and thinking of others is a two way street. They don’t need to be inconsiderate and you don’t need to be impatient. What the parameters are varies a lot. It’s ironic for people to feel their personal standards of what is acceptable are the correct ones and those who don’t agree must be assholes, rude , or stupid. > [@](#): > > I had a run in with a lady in a grocery store who did just that. I waited behind her cart in the middle of the isle. I said " Excuse me?" > > She turned around looked at me and my cart and turned back to what she was looking at. I waited for 5 seconds while talking myself out of pushing her cart out of the way with mine, because that would be rude. I walked around took her cart and gave it a shove out of the way. > > She flipped out I ignored her and moved on. Yeah that’s messed up. Still, if the situation happens again with someone else say excuse me again. I’ll bet more often than not people will be polite. I live in an apartment and use the complex Laundromat next door. One night all the dryers were taken and there was an hour left before they locked it up. One dryer was stopped but I had no way of knowing if this person would be back in 2 minutes or 15. I carefully took their dry clothes and put them on the folding table and put my clothes in. It’s kinda the unwritten Laundromat rule. When I came back I found a rather long note taped to the front of the dryer telling me how very rude I was to touch their clothes. Evidently it didn’t occur to them that expecting your neighbors to wait until you felt like showing up might be considered rude as well. I threw it away but later wished I had written a polite response and taped them both to the bulletin board. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/198 "2010-07-17T16:28:54Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > Yet you’re actually aware there’s a good chance of impeding someones progress, but you do it anyways. Tsk tsk. > > Pick a side left or right. Everyones happy. It isn’t hard, really. I’m sorry that mean lady in the supermarket left such an emotional scar on you that you missed the point. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/199 "2010-07-17T16:44:34Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Impeding traffic does not only violate the social contract. It’s against the law. Those laws are not strictly enforced because often officers have common sense. I also reserve the right to slow down and look for an address. I’m sincerely sorry if it’s inconvenient for someone else but such is the stuff of life. Their needs and/or the speed limit {not minimum} sign do not automatically override my needs. In some situations driving too slow can be dangerous. I won’t crawl along a 50mph road looking. I will drive between 35 and 40 and if I miss my turn I’ll turn around rather than risk and accident. If I’m crawling in a 30 to 35 residential area then there’s little risk to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/200 "2010-07-17T17:25:06Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > I can drive slower, you know; just honk your horn to find out. Fear itself exhibits Road Rage while they are breaking the law. > [@Originally Posted by MeanOldLady\[/quote](#): > > Okay, I just spent twenty seconds searching for found AZ and CA have laws against driving too slow. That’s all I bothered to click on; I’m sure you can do the rest of your homework yourself, and find that we are not, in fact, making this up as we go along. Wanna try another angle to justify your douchebaggery? > > > [@Fear Itself](#): > > > > No, the knowledge that it pisses off crotchmaggots like you is satisfaction enough. Road Rage again. I guess you like fucking with people. I don’t. **Cosmosdan** , I agree with a lot of what you have said. But the OP is still wrong. Those that won’t plan ahead 2 seconds to move their cart out of the way, or 1 minute for the turn they must take are the folks that feel **they** are more important than those that they inconvenience. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=11)