# "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:** 14
**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, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/261 "2010-07-19T14:51:20Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > They point out that it’s illegal to impede traffic, and you respond by retorting that it’s perfectly legal to slow down or to stop before making a left turn. It is simply mindboggling that you would consider such a response to be relevant to the situation under discussion. 1. It is illegal to impede traffic. 2. It is permissable to slow down to look for an address. These statements are not inconsistent. I am not arguing that it is permissable to drive at 10mph for miles and miles, but it is permissable to slow down to look for an address. That is the sum of my argument. If you believe I have made claims that go beyond that, you are mistaken. ---
**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, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/262 "2010-07-19T14:55:54Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > It’s perfectly reasonable to expect the cart to not be in the way in the first place. All you have to do is be just a little bit observant that there are other people around you, and move it to the side. I also think people should not impede traffic. That is, after all, why we have laws against the practice. This demonstrates how you and others are missing my point. There are nuances that affect the situation. 99% of the time if I leave my cart in the way it’s because nobody is around me, and I described that. They come around the corner while I’m reading a label. If I notice them I’ll move right away. If they say “excuse me” I’ll move right away. If they stand there waiting and thinking about how cluless I am instead of trying to mitigate their delay with a polite “excuse me” then IMO the extra delay is their own fault. In a broad generality it’s true that impeding traffic is not a good thing. In the reality of lots of different people with different priorities sharing the same roads , impeding traffic" can have different specific definitions. I don’t think it’s unlawful or rude for me to slow down and look for an address if my circumstances require that. I’ll try to remain considerate of others , but if someone has to slow down for a few seconds before they go around me then I haven’t broken the law and I haven’t been rude or inconsiderate of them. It’s just the circumstances. I’m arguing the specific nuance of details and I’m a little surprised that so many people can’t seem to grasp them. Oh well. ---
**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, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/263 "2010-07-19T14:58:24Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I would agree that blowing one’s horn for ten seconds straight would indeed be an excessive reaction, except in situations of dire emergency. Having said that, I’m only arguing against **Fear Itself** ’s line of argumentation. I do agree that responding in an overly aggressive way is not proper behavior either, and that the severity of the response should match the severity of the offense. And if you properly understand the argument, there is no offense at all. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/264 "2010-07-19T15:12:24Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > 1. It is illegal to impede traffic. > > 2. It is permissable to slow down to look for an address. > These statements are not inconsistent. I agree. As I’ve repeatedly pointed out though, NOBODY is arguing that merely slowing down to look for an address is illegal. That’s a strawman representation that you insist on repeatedly injecting into this discussion, and I think that we all know why. > [@](#): > > I am not arguing that it is permissable to drive at 10mph for miles and miles, but it is permissable to slow down to look for an address. It is indeed permissible, which is why nobody is arguing that it isn’t. It’s only an offense when one winds up impeding traffic in the process of doing so. You know this, and yet you keep acting as though the two scenarios are identical. They are not. ---
**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, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/265 "2010-07-19T15:17:01Z")
Here’s something we haven’t brought up that probably deserves it’s own thread and already has a couple. My only phone is a cell phone but I’m old enough that I remember when they weren’t around and we had answering machines, and even when we had party lines. I don’t feel the need to be reachable at all times and I don’t feel the need to know who is calling me the moment the phone rings. What I’ve noticed is more and more people assuming a new expectations. When the phone rings more people seemed compelled to see who it is and to answer , even if they are in the middle of a conversation or a transaction. Half of them will say excuse me as they answer and half don’t bother. People on the other end also seem to not consider that the person they are calling might be in the middle of something , and even when they are told they keep talking. It an odd effect and a pet peeve of mine. Of course when the phone rings and they answer it I have no idea what the situation is. MAybe they’re an EMT or a family member is sick or whatever. There are a lot of good reasons to answer right away and maybe that’s what they are thinking , but 95% of the time it’s trival and could have waited a few seconds for them to wrap up thier conversation or finish their activity. Fairly often others are affected. It seems odd to me that we are allowing technology to adjust our parameters of good manners and consideration. ---
**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, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/266 "2010-07-19T15:20:44Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > I agree. As I’ve repeatedly pointed out though, NOBODY is arguing that merely slowing down to look for an address is illegal. That’s a strawman representation that you insist on repeatedly injecting into this discussion, and I think that we all know why. > > It is indeed permissible, which is why nobody is arguing that it isn’t. It’s only an offense when one winds up impeding traffic in the process of doing so. You know this, and yet you keep acting as though the two scenarios are identical. They are not. You’ve got it backwards. Others refused to acknowledge that under certain conditions {looking for an address} driving 10 in a 35 is neither unlawful nor rude. That’s why it went on and on. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/267 "2010-07-19T15:33:09Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > You’ve got it backwards. Others refused to acknowledge that under certain conditions {looking for an address} driving 10 in a 35 is neither unlawful nor rude. You’re right. Under certain conditions, it is not unlawful or rude. If you’ve got traffic piling up behind you though, then it is impeding traffic, and it IS rude. Apparently though, some people won’t let themselves recognize that distinction. ---
**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 19, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/268 "2010-07-19T15:46:39Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > You’re right. Under certain conditions, it is not unlawful or rude. If you’ve got traffic piling up behind you though, then it is impeding traffic, and it IS rude. Apparently though, some people won’t let themselves recognize that distinction. This distinction was made a long time ago, but \*\*cosmodouche \*\*over there and that other guy decided to pretend that it wasn’t, so they could pretend to have a point. ---
**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, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/269 "2010-07-19T15:49:42Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I’m arguing the specific nuance of details and I’m a little surprised that so many people can’t seem to grasp them. Oh well. I am also talking about specific situations. Those people that leave their cart in the middle of the aisle and leave it to get something in another aisle for instance. I will relate a situation that I have run up against a few times. (note:I am not setting up a strawman trying to compare this to leaving a cart in the middle of the aisle) My Wife is a triathlete and I accompany her to races. Often, the parking area is just a big field. In the morning there are attendants that make reasonable order of where to park so nobody gets blocked in. As I am not a racer myself, I often go back to my car for stuff. And guess what I see. People coming late in the day blocking in other people. Poor racers that finish early get to wait in their car and steam in the heat while they wait for these inconsiderate assholes to move their cars (I’ve seen this 3 times) This actually happened to me at my wedding. A person that was in a later wedding blocked me in. There where additional parking spots not 100 feet away. I’m still in my Tux, my Wife in her dress. WTF are people thinking? ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/270 "2010-07-19T15:53:29Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I am also talking about specific situations. Those people that leave their cart in the middle of the aisle and leave it to get something in another aisle for instance. But even in the example **cosmosdan** gave, why, upon entering a supermarket – a place where people gather their provisions and convey them using a rolling shopping up and down aisles – would there ever be an excuse for the default thinking not to be, “I’d better try not to block the aisle, because somebody might come around the corner and need to get by _at any time since this is a supermarket_.” ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/271 "2010-07-19T15:55:57Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > It’s not impossible, because every time I’ve used to find a house address it’s done it. On the other hand, I’ve only used it 5-6 times to do so. I work with thousands of addresses a day. You’ve just been lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/272 "2010-07-19T16:01:25Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > 1. It is illegal to impede traffic. > > 2. It is permissable to slow down to look for an address. > These statements are not inconsistent. > > I am not arguing that it is permissable to drive at 10mph for miles and miles, but it is permissable to slow down to look for an address. That is the sum of my argument. If you believe I have made claims that go beyond that, you are mistaken. But you didn’t start _ **making** _ that argument until people called you on it. Then you resisted making that argument until your original one became untenable. That’s goalpost-moving. Sorry. You lose. ---
**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, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/273 "2010-07-19T16:33:49Z")
> [@descamisado](#): > > But even in the example **cosmosdan** gave, why, upon entering a supermarket – a place where people gather their provisions and convey them using a rolling shopping up and down aisles – would there ever be an excuse for the default thinking not to be, “I’d better try not to block the aisle, because somebody might come around the corner and need to get by _at any time since this is a supermarket_.” I dunno. Seems that when it’s busy and you are likely to have people behind you and coming in the other direction a person would just automatically move to the side when they stop. ---
**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, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/274 "2010-07-19T17:01:08Z")
> [@descamisado](#): > > But even in the example **cosmosdan** gave, why, upon entering a supermarket – a place where people gather their provisions and convey them using a rolling shopping up and down aisles – would there ever be an excuse for the default thinking not to be, “I’d better try not to block the aisle, because somebody might come around the corner and need to get by _at any time since this is a supermarket_.” I think that’s a valid point. I’m thinking I may remember this long discussion next time I stop. We do know that supermarkets aren’t always busy right. I’m only saying that there’s a give and take and life’s circumstances aren’t always ideal. I still may occasionally be preoccupied or just out of habit, not move it if I don’t see anybody in the ailse. I don’t consider that rude or inconsiderate, just human. I will say that making the effort to develop the habit of being on the left or right is a good idea. So is the habit of a polite excuse me, even to a scary lady. ---
**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, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/275 "2010-07-19T17:02:11Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I dunno. Seems that when it’s busy and you are likely to have people behind you and coming in the other direction a person would just automatically move to the side when they stop. If it’s busy there are usually people in the aisle. I don’t completely disagree. See above. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/276 "2010-07-19T23:11:54Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > It’s not impossible, because every time I’ve used to find a house address it’s done it. On the other hand, I’ve only used it 5-6 times to do so. It might have something to do with the lot sizes where you are- around here, there are likely to be 5 buildings (and addresses) within 100 ft. I’m lucky I’m on the right block when the GPS tells me I’m at my destination. ---
**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, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/277 "2010-07-19T23:37:31Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > But you didn’t start _ **making** _ that argument until people called you on it. Then you resisted making that argument until your original one became untenable. That’s goalpost-moving. Bullshit. My first post in this thread was questioning MOL’s rant against drivers looking for an address. I have been consistent ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/278 "2010-07-20T00:27:33Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > This demonstrates how you and others are missing my point. There are nuances that affect the situation. 99% of the time if I leave my cart in the way it’s because nobody is around me, and I described that. They come around the corner while I’m reading a label. If I notice them I’ll move right away. If they say “excuse me” I’ll move right away. If they stand there waiting and thinking about how cluless I am instead of trying to mitigate their delay with a polite “excuse me” then IMO the extra delay is their own fault. Nuances ? Bullshit, this about common sense. In a sense I do get what you’re trying to get across. Saying “excuse me” isn’t a big deal. Really it isn’t. But having to say “excuse me” to people that know they’ll have a good chance of getting an “excuse me” is a personal bee in my bonnet. So don’t be a fucktard in an isle that can only fit two carts while you choose to park yours in the middle while you verify that the sodium content on ramen noodles is still under 152%. So unless you have eyeballs on the back on your head or you’ve shut down the grocery store for your own personal perusal. Don’t leave your cart in the middle of the isle so that I don’t have to say “excuse me”. For the sake of saying “excuse me” because it makes **you** feel better about yourself which validates your view that society hasn’t gone all to shit yet and it makes you sleep better. You’re still a pain in the ass to me. I just want to get my fucking grapefruits, coco puffs and get the fuck out of there. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/279 "2010-07-20T00:38:37Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > Nuances ? Bullshit, this about common sense. > > In a sense I do get what you’re trying to get across. Saying “excuse me” isn’t a big deal. Really it isn’t. But having to say “excuse me” to people that know they’ll have a good chance of getting an “excuse me” is a personal bee in my bonnet. > > So don’t be a fucktard in an isle that can only fit two carts while you choose to park yours in the middle while you verify that the sodium content on ramen noodles is still under 152%. So unless you have eyeballs on the back on your head or you’ve shut down the grocery store for your own personal perusal. > > Don’t leave your cart in the middle of the isle so that I don’t have to say “excuse me”. For the sake of saying “excuse me” because it makes **you** feel better about yourself which validates your view that society hasn’t gone all to shit yet and it makes you sleep better. > > You’re still a pain in the ass to me. I just want to get my fucking grapefruits, coco puffs and get the fuck out of there. I totally agree with those last 6 words. {minus the last t} ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280/280 "2010-07-20T00:45:18Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Bullshit. My first post in this thread was questioning MOL’s rant against drivers looking for an address. I have been consistent ever since. From how I and others have interpreted those posts, it seemed that you where trying to defend driving 10 in a 35. And you defended it because someone may be looking for an address. Doesn’t really matter since you continue to move the goal posts. In many if not most situations, driving 10 in a 35 is impeding traffic even if you are looking for an address. Also, in case you forgot, you are the one defending the practice of driving slow (impeding traffic). To the point that you will slow down more just to piss people off. That’s Road Rage. And, as another thread shows, you take satisfaction in scaring joggers because they get in your way. Road Rage again. And hypocritical. It looks like you know very little about the rules of the road and the right of way. And frankly, as long as it does not disturb your day, you seem perfectly comfortable to put others at risk. From what I have seen you write, you are in no position to defend the OP. And at least in your case, the exact opposite is true. I posit that you actually feel that you think that you are more important than everyone else. I’m sorry if that’s harsh. But this is the Pit after all. I only know you from what you have posted. And others seem to agree with the assessment above. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/get-outa-my-way-or-why-i-am-more-important-than-you/546280.md?page=15)