# "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:** 12
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/221 "2010-07-18T16:00:45Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Is it your opinion that such a law makes it illegal to slow down to look for an address? Look dummy. No one is saying that you can’t slow down to look for an address. What you are not supposed to do is drive your car 10 mles an hour down the middle of the freeway or in a busy city street blocking traffic like you are a 90 year old woman. Really all of this shit is common sense. Whether you are in a car or on the sidewalk, there is a natural flow of traffic. If you are blocking it because you have your head up your ass, the problem is not other people. ---
**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, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/222 "2010-07-18T17:00:32Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Look dummy. No one is saying that you can’t slow down to look for an address. [**MeanOldLady**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12672468&postcount=45)and [**enipla**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12695395&postcount=170)have both said it is either illegal or unnacceptable for me to slow down to look for an address. So there’s that. In 35mph zone, at what speed do I become a 90-year-old woman driver worthy of your scorn? ---
**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, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/223 "2010-07-18T17:24:33Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > 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. I don’t disagree. I just think an equal obligation of patience is present, because we often don’t know the circumstances or the person is unaware they are creating a problem for someone else. > [@](#): > > 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. I get that. If I leave my cart to far into the middle it’s usually becuse nobody is in sight , but I occasionally get sidetracked reading labels. I don’t think that’s ire worthy but I get it. Maybe this threadwill make me more aware when I stop to read labels. > [@](#): > > 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. You can’t go around the block if you don’t know where the block is. If you can’t read the street signs or the house numbers at certain speeds you have to slow down. I have gotten out to walk the street and read the numbers rather than crawl along. I doubt it’s against the law in residential areas with slower speed limits to begin with. I know freeways often have a minimum. I’m much more concerned about people who think they can drive well over the speed limit if the coast seems clear. ---
**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, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/224 "2010-07-18T17:30:00Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > 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. True, but this is not specific. What speed interupts the normal and reasonable flow? Is it also reasonable to slow down if you can’t read the street signs or house numbers? If there are several cars backed up behind you you are obviously impeding traffic. If one car pulls up and immediately starts honking thier horn that’s something else. ---
**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, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/225 "2010-07-18T20:19:52Z")
> [@Cosmosdan](#): > > …the person is unaware they are creating a problem for someone else. Bingo. If you don’t know that you are creating difficulties for someone else you are unaware of your surroundings and how that affects others. People that can’t take a second to see how their actions affect others are inconsiderate. Those of us that care about other people do so by being aware of how our actions might affect them. ---
**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, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/226 "2010-07-18T20:48:20Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Bingo. If you don’t know that you are creating difficulties for someone else you are unaware of your surroundings and how that affects others. People that can’t take a second to see how their actions affect others are inconsiderate. > > Those of us that care about other people do so by being aware of how our actions might affect them. And again, I find that to be a rather harsh judgement. You were momentarily preoccupied and delayed someone for a few seconds. Obviously you don’t care about people. IMHO harsh judgement of others can be just as offensive ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/227 "2010-07-18T20:59:26Z")
For those of you that spend a lot of time looking for addresses they have these GPS navigator things that tell you where to go. ---
**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, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/228 "2010-07-18T21:19:42Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > For those of you that spend a lot of time looking for addresses they have these GPS navigator things that tell you where to go. I have one, which is accurate to about a half block, if the data is accurate. Even when it says, “You have arrived at your destination”, you still have to find the street number on the house, which could be anywhere from three to five addresses from where the GPS says it is. But since you have one, you knew that. ---
**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, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/229 "2010-07-18T21:56:13Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > IMHO harsh judgement of others can be just as offensive Is a judgemnet as offensive as an actual action? Is a judgement as bad as wasting some persons time? Or in **Fear Itselfs** case, actualy puts people at risk? ---
**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, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/230 "2010-07-18T23:02:43Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Or in **Fear Itselfs** case, actualy puts people at risk? What are you on about now? I am just looking for an address; if anyone is at risk, it is from your Road Rage becase you might not get your 101 errands done. ---
**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 18, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/231 "2010-07-18T23:25:35Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [**MeanOldLady**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12672468&postcount=45)and [**enipla**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12695395&postcount=170)have both said it is either illegal or unnacceptable for me to slow down to look for an address. So there’s that. > > In 35mph zone, at what speed do I become a 90-year-old woman driver worthy of your scorn? On a busy street, you dumb fuck. Are you going to pretend you don’t know the difference between driving much slower than the flow of traffic on a busy street --i.e., impeding traffic-- and driving slowly when no one is around? I said you should not drive super slow when traffic is busy because you are lost. Pull over, shit stain. ---
**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, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/232 "2010-07-18T23:32:44Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I said you should not drive super slow when traffic is busy because you are lost. All of my posts have been in the context of looking for addresses, not driving slow for shits & grins. Are you ready to admit that is a legal, permissable reason to slow down? ---
**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, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/233 "2010-07-18T23:37:51Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Is a judgemnet as offensive as an actual action? Is a judgement as bad as wasting some persons time? Or in **Fear Itselfs** case, actualy puts people at risk? I think it can be. Putting people at risk is another matter. ---
**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 18, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/234 "2010-07-18T23:39:59Z")
Let me just summarize this thread for anyone who is late to the party: Group A: We shall defend our inalienable right to park our grocery carts clear across the aisle, take 30 minutes at the ATM, and bring any group we’re with in public to a complete halt in the middle of a busy walkway! We don’t care if it pisses people off. Group B: You _can_ do all kinds of things, but it’s rude and/or stupid to behave this way. To hog up shared resources, and/or otherwise show no regard for other people’s time or space is a classic Dick Move. Group A: Well you’re rude for not liking it! We’re actually engaging in poor behavior, but you guys are actually the dicks here for thinking negatively of what we’re doing. Group B: :rolleyes: Upon preview: Dude, you’ve been shown three different state laws that say driving too slow will get you a ticket. If a cop pulls you over for impeding traffic, you can’t reference the “Oh No, This is Totally Different; I’m Lost” addendum. ---
**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, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/235 "2010-07-18T23:56:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What are you on about now? I am just looking for an address; if anyone is at risk, it is from your Road Rage becase you might not get your 101 errands done. Driving is fairly safe because most people follow the rules of the road. It’s safe because it’s predictable. Driving at 10mph on a 35 mph street is not common or predictable. You are the only one that has brought up the 101 errands. Why do you bring up this strawman again? It does not matter if I have one or a thousand errands. Please try to get that through your head. It seems that you know nothing about how your poor driving habits can affect the rest of traffic. Or you just dont’ care. Not understanding what impeding traffic means says volumes about your knowledge of driving codes, and more so about how you treat other drivers. You are the only one here that has exhibited Road Rage. Do I need to remind you of the joggers that you would like to run over? Or those that you gleefully send into the ditch? ---
**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, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/236 "2010-07-18T23:58:56Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > .Dude, you’ve been shown three different state laws that say driving too slow will get you a ticket. If a cop pulls you over for impeding traffic, you can’t reference the “Oh No, This is Totally Different; I’m Lost” addendum. So, for the benefit of \*\*msmith537, \*\*you are stating unambiguously that it is illegal to slow down to look for an address; true or false? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/237 "2010-07-19T00:10:16Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So, for the benefit of \*\*msmith537, \*\*you are stating unambiguously that it is illegal to slow down to look for an address; true or false? Moving the goal posts again? ---
**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 19, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/238 "2010-07-19T00:19:04Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Moving the goal posts again? Nope. My goalposts have been firmly planted since I first posted about looking for addresses. ---
**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 19, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/239 "2010-07-19T00:22:57Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Dude, you’ve been shown three different state laws that say driving too slow will get you a ticket. If a cop pulls you over for impeding traffic, you can’t reference the “Oh No, This is Totally Different; I’m Lost” addendum. I am legally permitted to slow down to look for an address. That is no more impeding traffic than stopping in the left lane to turn left. Both are legal activities, and you are legally bound to exercise due care when you encounter traffic that is moving slower than you are. Failing to do so will get you a ticket. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/240 "2010-07-19T01:20:27Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Let me just summarize this thread for anyone who is late to the party: > > Group A: We shall defend our inalienable right to park our grocery carts clear across the aisle, take 30 minutes at the ATM, and bring any group we’re with in public to a complete halt in the middle of a busy walkway! We don’t care if it pisses people off. > > Group B: You _can_ do all kinds of things, but it’s rude and/or stupid to behave this way. To hog up shared resources, and/or otherwise show no regard for other people’s time or space is a classic Dick Move. > > Group A: Well you’re rude for not liking it! We’re actually engaging in poor behavior, but you guys are actually the dicks here for thinking negatively of what we’re doing. > > Group B: :rolleyes: > Upon preview: Dude, you’ve been shown three different state laws that say driving too slow will get you a ticket. If a cop pulls you over for impeding traffic, you can’t reference the “Oh No, This is Totally Different; I’m Lost” addendum. Hey, Really nice job of gross oversimplification and failure to grasp nuance. Comgraulations. Well done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=13)