# "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:** 11
**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, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/201 "2010-07-17T18:17:43Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > **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. I haven’t read every post so I’m not sure exactly what you’re referring to. In general I think the OP is correct from one perspective. It’s a two way street. Consideration is great, so is patience. Most of the time we have no way of knowing what someone’s situation is when circumstance makes it inconvenient for us. Assuming they’re some kind of selfish asshole , is in itself a lack of consideration. ---
**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, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/202 "2010-07-17T18:54:44Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Fear itself exhibits Road Rage while they are breaking the law. > > Road Rage again. I guess you like fucking with people. I don’t. Now you are just pulling stuff out of your ass. Who is exhibiting more rage , the slow driver or those who choose to be enraged by 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, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/203 "2010-07-17T19:42:24Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Now you are just pulling stuff out of your ass. Who is exhibiting more rage , the slow driver or those who choose to be enraged by it? Nope, not at all. I’ve been quoting you. You admitted to going 10mph in a 35mph zone. You then said that if someone honks at you, you will just slow down more to piss people off. That, my friend, is not knowing the rules of the road. And Road Rage on your part. I’m not enraged by bad drivers, are you? Or are you just building another straw man? ---
**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, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/204 "2010-07-17T19:59:15Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I haven’t read every post so I’m not sure exactly what you’re referring to. In general I think the OP is correct from one perspective. It’s a two way street. Consideration is great, so is patience. Most of the time we have no way of knowing what someone’s situation is when circumstance makes it inconvenient for us. Assuming they’re some kind of selfish asshole , is in itself a lack of consideration. Certainly. We all have bad days. The point is, you don’t have to make everyone else have a bad day too. ---
**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, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/205 "2010-07-17T20:12:30Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Certainly. We all have bad days. The point is, you don’t have to make everyone else have a bad day too. My point is that if being delayed for a few seconds is enough to get all pissed at another person, when you really have no idea of their circumstance, then you might be creating your own bad day and blaming it on them. No one of us gets to set the standard. There are a crapload of variables in all these minor encounters. If we’re too eager to jump to a negative conclusion about someone else then maybe we ought to look at that. ---
**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, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/206 "2010-07-17T20:18:05Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Nope, not at all. I’ve been quoting you. You admitted to going 10mph in a 35mph zone. You then said that if someone honks at you, you will just slow down more to piss people off. > > That, my friend, is not knowing the rules of the road. And Road Rage on your part. > > I’m not enraged by bad drivers, are you? Or are you just building another straw man? I hate trying to find an address in Nashville, especially at night. The city decided to use small street signs that are hard to read at 35. Maybe it’s thier fault. Not only that lots of people tend not place the numbers to their address in a clear and obvious place at a decent size. Maybe it’s thier fault. Because of those circumstances I’m sorry , but I may have to go 10 in a 35 to find an address. If you think that makes me an asshole, then I think your judgement makes you one. See how that works? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/207 "2010-07-17T20:39:19Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Now you are just pulling stuff out of your ass. Who is exhibiting more rage , the slow driver or those who choose to be enraged by it? Weren’t you once in a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6523668#post6523668) bragging about running joggers off the road for briefly slowing you down? > [@Quit jogging in the street you neuticle!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-jogging-in-the-street-you-neuticle/319234/16): > > I find most joggers to be self-absorbed assholes. Not only do they hog the street, they are so intent on maintaining their optimum pace and keeping their heart rate up, most refuse to stop at intersections or yield to cross traffic. They way they run through traffic without even looking, I am amazed there are so many of them left; I would have though Darwinian pressure would have thinned the herd much more by now. > > I walk my dog at a public multi-use equestrian trail that is also frequented by joggers. The other dog walkers and day hikers are pleasant, talkative sorts who respond when offered a greeting. But the the joggers are in some sort of endorphin-induced trance which prevents them from saying “hi” or acknowledging you if you say hello. And heaven forbid if they should have to deviate from a straight line to avoid a slower walker (on a 10 foot wide path), they brush by as if everyone is in their way. > > When I come upon a jogger who thinks the public roads are his personal running track, I resist my urge to mangle him under my tires, but I do honk loud and long when I swerve around him. I do get some satisfaction from seeing them dive into the gutter. If you are offended by my generalization, tough shit; maybe you should associate with a better class of people. ---
**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, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/208 "2010-07-17T20:56:46Z")
I live in a resort area. I am VERY used to lost people trying to find their way. I understand that. It’s OK. What I don’t get are the folks that don’t spend just a little bit of time to determine where they are going before they try to get there. I don’t understand the mindset of someone that leaves a shopping cart in the middle of the aisle. Or maybe I do get it. They simply don’t care about anyone else. Me first indeed. I don’t’ understand the people that won’t take a little time of their day to prepare for what is next. Be it in the grocery line or at a stop sign. They seem to think that their lack of observation of the element that they are in does not affect anyone. They are wrong. And as this thread shows. They don’t care. ---
**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, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/209 "2010-07-17T20:59:08Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Weren’t you once in a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6523668#post6523668) bragging about running joggers off the road for briefly slowing you down? No, I don’t object to joggers on road because they slow me down. ---
**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, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/210 "2010-07-17T22:18:45Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I live in a resort area. I am VERY used to lost people trying to find their way. I understand that. It’s OK. What I don’t get are the folks that don’t spend just a little bit of time to determine where they are going before they try to get there. Why would you assume they hadn’t? Even when I know which street and house number I’m looking for I still need to see the street sign and the house numbers. That sometimes requires me to go slow. It’s not because I’m clueless or inconsiderate. > [@](#): > > I don’t understand the mindset of someone that leaves a shopping cart in the middle of the aisle. Or maybe I do get it. They simply don’t care about anyone else. Me first indeed. If I shop at a place and I see a regular customer who constantly leaves their cart in the middle of the aisle , oblivious of others I’ll think differently than just happening to encounter a cart in the aisle. It’s unrealistic to think it’s not going to happen occasionally and IMO it’s an unessecary harsh judgement to to think someone is being selfish or rude for an occasional slip up and a singular encounter. Ideally, it would be nice if that never ever happened but it would also be nice if people weremore patient with each other in our day to day encounters, and could say a polite “excuse me” instead of complaining. > [@](#): > > I don’t’ understand the people that won’t take a little time of their day to prepare for what is next. Be it in the grocery line or at a stop sign. They seem to think that their lack of observation of the element that they are in does not affect anyone. > > They are wrong. And as this thread shows. They don’t care. I agree that’s it’s good to make an effort to be aware of those around you and show them consideration. I’m only suggesting we not be too extreme about it and ease the moment with polite communication when possible rather than harsh judgement. Poeple vary. Circumstances vary, and every inconvienience needn’t be a personal affront. When I worked retail it was odd how several people would need help at once and everyone would be impatient and wonder why they were being delayed. Nope , it’s just the luck of the draw and the circumstance. Sometimes we have 5 customers and sometimes none. One man needed my help and as I was helping him a lady came up and rather impatiently asked for some help. Rather than tell her to wait her turn the man offerd to rebox the item we had been looking at while I helped her, and waited patiently a few minutes while she and I finished her transaction. I made it a point to thank him and tell him how unusual his patience and consideration was and that I appreciated it. His efforts made it better for all three people involved. Sometimes people are indeed clueless but don’t assume your standards are always correct in every random situation. Maybe they have their reasons and need a little patience or a polite excuse me rather than “Get out of the way asshole” IMO that’s what the OP is saying and it’s a pretty valid point. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/211 "2010-07-18T01:56:08Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Sometimes people are indeed clueless but don’t assume your standards are always correct in every random situation. Maybe they have their reasons and need a little patience or a polite excuse me rather than “Get out of the way asshole” IMO that’s what the OP is saying and it’s a pretty valid point. Who here can you quote as saying “Get out of the way asshole” to someone? Who? On the other hand, plenty of us have had encounters where a polite “excuse me” does no good. I am polite as the day is long. I don’t let the little missteps that I have in my day affect others. That’s how I was raised, and how I live. Seeing as how **Fear Itself** threatens joggers to the point of having them dive in the ditch, I don’t suspect she/he will be back to try to convince others that they are the ones with anger or ego issues. Hypocrisy has a new poster child. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/212 "2010-07-18T02:47:53Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Hypocrisy has a new poster child. **Fear Itself** from 2010, > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > 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. I’d like to introduce you to **Fear Itself** from [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=332480&page=2): > [@Quit jogging in the street you neuticle!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-jogging-in-the-street-you-neuticle/319234/59): > > So what you are saying is, since you haven’t been caught, it’s not illegal? Apparently, you think joggers are above the law. Pretty much confirms my rant. ---
**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 18, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/213 "2010-07-18T02:54:05Z")
I stand by my claim that driving 10 miles per hour in the right lane is not impeding traffic. Impeding traffic does not mean you have the right to drive the speed limit at all times regardless of other lawful traffic. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/214 "2010-07-18T07:17:57Z")
Yes, you clearly do stand by that claim. What you have not done is defend that claim in any rational manner. Maybe you can take a few minutes to do so? That is, when you’re not busy driving joggers into the gutter. ---
**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 18, 2010, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/215 "2010-07-18T11:23:04Z")
You realize you are insisting it is illegal to slow down to look for an address, don’t you? That is patently false, not to mention silly. I need no further justification. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/216 "2010-07-18T13:11:09Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Who here can you quote as saying “Get out of the way asshole” to someone? Who? On the other hand, plenty of us have had encounters where a polite “excuse me” does no good. I am polite as the day is long. I don’t let the little missteps that I have in my day affect others. That’s how I was raised, and how I live. > > Seeing as how **Fear Itself** threatens joggers to the point of having them dive in the ditch, I don’t suspect she/he will be back to try to convince others that they are the ones with anger or ego issues. Hypocrisy has a new poster child. I was using an example just like the OP was. It wasn’t directed at anyone specifically. I’m speaking more of the assumption that unfortunate circumstance means someone else is in the wrong or being rude and inconsiderate. I’m pointing out that bieng too quick to make a harsh judgement about someone is as much an offense as being momentarily unaware you are impeding someone. It sucks when efforts at being polite are rebuffed but that’s on them. Making the effort is on you. If I’m assertive enough to ask politely “May I go first I only have one item” they still have the option of saying no. That’s how it works. I believe you are polite and I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I was thinking of those times when I’m in a hurry and notice my frustration is being directed outward. I don’t say “Asshole” but I might think it. Then, when I’m looking for an address that’s probably what people behind me are thinking, and yet, I’m not doing anything wrong or being inconsiderate. It’s just the circumstance. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/217 "2010-07-18T13:14:25Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I stand by my claim that driving 10 miles per hour in the right lane is not impeding traffic. Impeding traffic does not mean you have the right to drive the speed limit at all times regardless of other lawful traffic. Right. There are places where there is a minimum speed but not usually in 35mph zones. Of course you have to use basic good sense. If the cars build up behind you pull over and let them by before proceeding. You might even get pulled over. {I never have been for going slow} I read a guy got pulled for going 5 in a 40. He was totally baked. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/218 "2010-07-18T13:56:45Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I was using an example just like the OP was. It wasn’t directed at anyone specifically. I’m speaking more of the assumption that unfortunate circumstance means someone else is in the wrong or being rude and inconsiderate. I’m pointing out that bieng too quick to make a harsh judgement about someone is as much an offense as being momentarily unaware you are impeding someone. Sure, unfortunate circumstances happen. I feel the obligation is on the person in that circumstance to try to limit or mitigate it so as to not have your misfortune spill into other folks day. Don’t get me wrong though. I have probably pulled more people out of the snow than anyone here. I like being the good samariton. [QUOTE=cosmosdan] It sucks when efforts at being polite are rebuffed but that’s on them. Making the effort is on you. If I’m assertive enough to ask politely “May I go first I only have one item” they still have the option of saying no. That’s how it works. [/quote] I don’t think I have ever asked to go first because I have one item. I’m sure of it. But those that leave shopping carts in the middle of the aisle are not having an unfortunate experience. They are being inconsiderate and clueless. Same for those folks that park in the fire lane in front of the grocery store because ‘They are just going in for a second.’ They are rarely ticketed, but just because they did not get caught, does not make it right. Those are the folks we are talking about. And they deserve our ire. [QUOTE=cosmosdan] I believe you are polite and I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I was thinking of those times when I’m in a hurry and notice my frustration is being directed outward. I don’t say “Asshole” but I might think it. Then, when I’m looking for an address that’s probably what people behind me are thinking, and yet, I’m not doing anything wrong or being inconsiderate. It’s just the circumstance. [/QUOTE] IMHO, in the cities that I have been in, 10mph in a 35mph zone is beyond inconsiderate, against the law (see impeding traffic) and darn right dangerous. A considerate person will mitigate the problem by going around the block if they have to. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/219 "2010-07-18T14:58:49Z")
Minnesota State Law; 169.15 Impeding traffic. ``` No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed ``` as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law or except when the vehicle is temporarily unable to maintain a greater speed due to a combination of the weight of the vehicle and the grade of the highway. I’m sure most other states have similar regulations. ---
**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 18, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/220 "2010-07-18T15:34:51Z")
Is it your opinion that such a law makes it illegal to slow down to look for an address? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=12)