# Is getting beeped at in the West a huge insult? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 24, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193 "2012-07-24T01:21:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/21 "2012-07-24T04:18:33Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Aw hell, just for shits and giggles I’ll actually answer the question. No, getting beeped at is not a huge insult. It just means “Pay attention.” It really does depend. A light, staccato two-tap just means “excuse me” but a long lay on the horn can be a big “fuck you!” When somebody is laying on the horn excessively long after you commit an infraction like cutting them off, it doesn’t just mean “pay attention.” It’s a middle finger. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/22 "2012-07-24T04:38:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If you think a car horn is an insult, you should stay out of New York City. It’s considered nice if all they do is honk. Absolutely. You could have a gun that fires knives and be carrying all the knives you can carry, and you’ll run out of knives before you can get a block. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/23 "2012-07-24T04:38:53Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Aw hell, just for shits and giggles I’ll actually answer the question. No, getting beeped at is not a huge insult. It just means “Pay attention.” Actually, what it sometimes means, when aimed at pedestrians, is “I’m in a fucking car and will do whatever the fuck i want!” As a pedestrian: I’ve been honked at when using unmarked crosswalks. I’ve been honked at when using marked crosswalks. I’ve been honked at when using crosswalks with a green Walk signal. I’ve been honked at when walking on a sidewalk that crosses over a driveway. The fact is that some car drivers are fucking assholes, and either don’t know or don’t care that there are times and places where pedestrians have the right of way. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/24 "2012-07-24T04:58:03Z")
Honking at someone is considered rude here in Israel, but seeing as Israelis are extremely rude people in general, it’s an acceptable form of rudeness that no-one takes too seriously. I suspect that’s how New Yorkers see it, too. ---
**Author:** ![griffon502](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@griffon502](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffon502)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/25 "2012-07-24T05:10:58Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Actually, what it sometimes means, when aimed at pedestrians, is “I’m in a fucking car and will do whatever the fuck i want!” > > As a pedestrian: > > I’ve been honked at when using unmarked crosswalks. > > I’ve been honked at when using marked crosswalks. > > I’ve been honked at when using crosswalks with a green Walk signal. > > I’ve been honked at when walking on a sidewalk that crosses over a driveway. > > The fact is that some car drivers are fucking assholes, and either don’t know or don’t care that there are times and places where pedestrians have the right of way. Quoted for truth. That car did give me such impression. I’ve been in this country for years, and being honked at, especially at a pedestrian, is very rare and considered very rude. The street I was crossing probably did not have zebra-crossing, but the way the street was intersected (it was a kinda like a Y section), should have made every driver slow down, because from my pedesdrian point of view, his/her car was actually BEHIND me when I was crossing the street. He/she definately should have given way. ---
**Author:** ![griffon502](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@griffon502](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffon502)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/26 "2012-07-24T05:15:22Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Honking at someone is considered rude here in Israel, but seeing as Israelis are extremely rude people in general, it’s an acceptable form of rudeness that no-one takes too seriously. I suspect that’s how New Yorkers see it, too. You are right about that. In my country honking was common place so I would not have really cared if the same event happened back there. But in this Western country I’m in now, honking at a pedesdrian is very rare, so I assumed it must be very rude, and that was why I was pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/27 "2012-07-24T08:45:54Z")
> [@griffon502](#): > > You are right about that. In my country honking was common place so I would not have really cared if the same event happened back there. But in this Western country I’m in now, honking at a pedesdrian is very rare, so I assumed it must be very rude, and that was why I was pissed off. So you were crossing a street without a pedestrian crossing, not looking behind you to see if a car was coming, and you got honked at, and you’re pissed off enough to want to stab someone? Did you ever stop to think that it might have just been a friendly warning, a sort of “Hey, I’m here”, or were you so wrapped up in your little cloud of self-righteous hatred that it didn’t cross your mind? Rare \<\> rude, necessarily. But don’t let that stop you from making assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/28 "2012-07-24T09:33:25Z")
I would think stabbing someone is considered a far more impolite act than getting honked at by a car horn. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/29 "2012-07-24T10:17:12Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Anyone who is offended by horn honking must never go to Vietnam, where you will get beeped-at _when you are on the sidewalk_ and a motorbike needs to get by. In Barcelona, the most common cause of horns honking is a traffic jam. In the sleepy little town where I live, it’s that the driver saw an acquaintance… > [@dropzone](#): > > Well, in the East the cars have pussy horns that beep while in Merka we have manly horns that honk. I want a pussy horn that meows. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/30 "2012-07-24T10:17:39Z")
Whatever you do, don’t have sex with your grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/31 "2012-07-24T11:43:43Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > In the sleepy little town where I live, it’s that the driver saw an acquaintance… Yeah, in Italy it’s a greeting. People honk even when they pass my house and see a car in the drive, even when I don’t know them. Took me a long time to stop looking around me trying to work out what I’d done wrong. In London, however, a beep means ‘get outta the way arsewipe’. Although the (UK) Highway Code instructs us to use the horn only as a warning. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/32 "2012-07-24T12:01:39Z")
You know some drivers actually accidentally hit the horn sometimes. So, it is possible the beep was that the driver tried to reach for something and hit the horn in the process. But, I agree with the others… stabbing in response to a beep? That’s a bit on the bitchy side. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/33 "2012-07-24T12:16:30Z")
The OP should stay outa St Martin. Beeping happens continuously as you drive. Drivers are very courteous, and each act of courteousy is recognized with a short “beep beep”. The response is a short “beep”. My first time driving around the island had me in tremors behind the wheel until my gf explained the culture. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/34 "2012-07-24T12:32:43Z")
Did dat dude’s HAWN say “Bleat Bleat”? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/35 "2012-07-24T13:01:19Z")
A rainy day about a month ago I was driving home. A woman was walking her large dog on the sidewalk on my left. Suddenly she decides to dart across the street in the middle of the block without looking. I see her in time and honk my horn as I slam on my brakes narrowly missing her dog who is 5 paces ahead of her on the retractable leash. She gives me the finger. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/36 "2012-07-24T13:03:22Z")
> [@griffon502](#): > > So I just got back from uni. I got beeped when I was crossing a street near the uni, I don’t want to get into details but it’s safe to say it wasn’t my fault. It’s not a busy street, no traffic light, basically leading to a dead end, very low traffic. Very safe I’m sure. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/37 "2012-07-24T13:10:47Z")
West of what? ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/38 "2012-07-24T13:12:25Z")
Hey. I honked. I waved. I thought we were friends. You ignored me which is a great insult to me. It was a lucky thing that, at the time, I was unarmed. Next time I’m throwing my shoe at you. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/39 "2012-07-24T13:20:20Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > … > > As a pedestrian: > > I’ve been honked at when using unmarked crosswalks. > > I’ve been honked at when using marked crosswalks. > > I’ve been honked at when using crosswalks with a green Walk signal. > > I’ve been honked at when walking on a sidewalk that crosses over a driveway. > > … What were you wearing? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193/40 "2012-07-24T13:20:41Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Hey. I honked. I waved. I thought we were friends. > You ignored me which is a great insult to me. It was a lucky thing that, at the time, I was unarmed. > Next time I’m throwing my shoe at you. You weren’t wearing shoes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-getting-beeped-at-in-the-west-a-huge-insult/629193.md?page=3)