# Tailgaters, I've got your answer here **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 30, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974 "2003-07-30T20:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![E72521](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@E72521](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E72521)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/41 "2003-08-02T00:28:57Z")
**Bill H.** , I know your type. Your wife beats you, your boss berates you and the only way you can express your masculinity is to use your soon to be repoed rust bucket as a deadly weapon. Real man, dickweed. > [@](#): > > Oh, and you know what? It would be my greatest dream to have some jerk turn some reverse headlight on me or release a firecracker or spill brakefluid or whatever. Nothing would please me more than wrecking their car, seeing them pay me for the damage to mine, and best of all seeing them in jail. If that’s your greatest dream, you really are fucked in the head. Do us all a favor: Rent a gun and buy a bullet. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/42 "2003-08-02T00:32:35Z")
I loved your letter, **Hatshepsut**. Very nicely done. (Egyptian fan, by the way?) ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/43 "2003-08-02T00:36:20Z")
Honestly, though, who the fuck drives the speedlimit? I’d be pretty pissed if someon was on a road where I couldn’t pass them and they were only doing 30mph. I wouldn’t tailgate, but I’d be pissed. If the limit is 30, you ought to be doing 45+. But, like I said, I’d be pissed but wouldn’t tailgate. Actually, I owuldn’t be pissed, that is too harsh. I’d be miffed. Yes, I’d be miffed. Anyway, if you are driving the speed limit on the highway, your ass better be in the right lane. Actually, everyone’s ass should always be in the right lane except when passing. Mine is. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/44 "2003-08-02T00:46:46Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Rhum Runner \* > \*\* If the limit is 30, you ought to be doing 45+._\* :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/45 "2003-08-02T00:50:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludovic \* > \*\*:eek: \*\* Come on. I’d be willing to be that less than 5% of drivers drive the actual speed limit. Let’s not kid ourselves. Even our glacial OP admits to a boisterous 1-5 mph over. 45 in a 30 is hardly uncommon. When was the last time you saw someone, not running drugs mind you, who was actually doing the posted speed limit on a free way? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/46 "2003-08-02T01:17:14Z")
**E72521** wrote > [@](#): > > Bill H., I know your type. Your wife beats you, your boss berates you and the only way you can express your masculinity is to use your soon to be repoed rust bucket as a deadly weapon. Uh, no wife beatings or boss beratements. But I do drive a '63 corvair and though my wife doesn’t beat me, she would very much agree with your assessment of it. I have no issue with people driving slow, friend. I have no problem with people doing whatever they want in the privacy of their own homes. But don’t you be lolly gagging between me and where I need to go. Some of us have purpose in life. There’s nothing in this life more important than time. Don’t have enough money? Go get another job. Don’t have enough friends? Go out and meet some people. Don’t have enough time? Nothing you can do. Time is everything, and don’t you dare steal mine. And if you do, expect some feedback. How will a dog learn if he doesn’t have his nose rubbed in it? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/47 "2003-08-02T01:20:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > Okay, but how about some powerful external speakers, hooked up to a microphone in the front seat? Supposedly, out here in California, if the things can be heard more than 50 feet away from the vehicle, then they’re violating some portion of the motor vehicle code (at least, according to two different police officers in two different jurisdictions in California). But, I do like the idea just in a “That’s kind of what that tailgater does deserve, too bad it’s probably illegal” kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/48 "2003-08-02T01:20:49Z")
In fact, I’ll go a step further. I get upset when I’m passenging and the driver **doesn’t** tailgate a slowpoke in front of them in the fast lane. How can you possibly expect them to learn without feedback? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/49 "2003-08-02T01:26:14Z")
So, Bill, you’re saying your purpose is to drive like a maniac and get yourself and possibly others killed? ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/50 "2003-08-02T01:30:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*So, Bill, you’re saying your purpose is to drive like a maniac and get yourself and possibly others killed? \*\* Actually, in busy traffic, say on 294 outside Chicago, it is the people who insisit on driving at the speedlimit, and not those moving with the speed of traffic, that pose the real danger. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/51 "2003-08-02T01:38:09Z")
Of course not, **Monty**. My purpose is to do the things that are important in my life, which occasionally means using the freeway. I don’t get in other people’s way. I’m very courteous actually. But… Driving slow in the fast lane with noone in front of you and people stacked up behind you is rude, inconsiderate, and ultimately it’s theft. theft of time, theft of life. Ultimately, murder is stealing all of a man’s time. And driving slow in the fast lane is some fraction of that. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/52 "2003-08-02T01:52:42Z")
I think I’m going to print out all of **Bill H.**'s posts in this thread to show to people who ask me why I don’t drive. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/53 "2003-08-02T01:55:42Z")
Bill: It’s not theft of time or anything else. It’s something you just decided to get upset about. How about if everyone else on the road decided to get upset about your tailgating? What then would be theiving? ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/54 "2003-08-02T01:56:30Z")
Well, speaking just for myself, my wife doesn’t beat me nor does my boss berate me. I _will_ admit that my sports car is an attempt to compensate for my small penis, though… 😉 Barry ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/55 "2003-08-02T02:07:10Z")
**Monty** wrote > [@](#): > > Bill: It’s not theft of time or anything else. It’s something you just decided to get upset about. How about if everyone else on the road decided to get upset about your tailgating? What then would be theiving? Fraid I didn’t follow that, friend. You’re saying that tailgating is theft in some way? As to my beef, it most certainly is theft. Let me be specific: - If everyone is going slow, I don’t tailgate. There’s no point in tailgating someone who can’t actually move forward faster or move to the right. Not only is there no point, but it would be flat out rude to tailgate them. - If there is an open lane on either side, I won’t tailgate and instead I’ll switch lanes and move along. If nothing else, it’s just common courtesy. If I’m driving along and someone is coming up quickly behind me, I move over. It’s rude to do anything else. I’d (literally) rather you steal a dollar from me than steal a minute of my time. It’s rude and it’s unethical. And people who do so need to be given consequences. Otherwise they’ll continue in their inconsiderate and immoral ways. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/56 "2003-08-02T03:16:43Z")
It’s just as much theft as your assertion–ridiculous as it is–as driving the speed limit is theft of the time of the person behind you. It’s also common courtesy to not intimidate someone into breaking the law. I would think that would go double for laws concernig the safety of the general public. Speaking of incosiderate and immoral ways: care to guess who’s going to be found at fault when you actually rearend someone pulling that silly stunt? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/57 "2003-08-02T03:18:31Z")
p.s. You might want to reconsider your time management skills if you’ve gotten yourself into a situation that means failing to bullet down the roadways at extreme speeds is the only way to get wherever you’re headed by your target time. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/58 "2003-08-02T03:21:14Z")
Drat! Above posting should read as follows: > [@](#): > > p.s. You might want to reconsider your time management skills if you’ve gotten yourself into a situation that means failing to obey the traffic laws and bulleting down the roadways at extreme speeds is the only way to get wherever you’re headed by your target time. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/59 "2003-08-02T03:50:18Z")
**Monty** wrote > [@](#): > > p.s. You might want to reconsider your time management skills if you’ve gotten yourself into a situation that means failing to obey the traffic laws and bulleting down the roadways at extreme speeds is the only way to get wherever you’re headed by your target time. I’m afraid this piece of logic always bugs me. My time is my own. It’s not yours to take just because I have it. It’s not a “mistake” that I budgeted 15 minutes and didn’t count on the extra two that would be required to be delayed by some uncourteous person. And in the times I do budget 17 minutes, it’s my damn time. The fact that I budgeted in 2 extra minutes doesn’t give anyone the right to steal them. If I work extra hard today and earn an extra dollar, does that give you the right to take that as well? No, it’s not yours to take. Same (moreso actually) with my time. The most important thing is that this is reciprical: I would never steal someone elses time (not by design certainly), and I expect the same courtesy in return. Also, for what it’s worth, I don’t personally “bullet at extreme speeds.” ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974/60 "2003-08-02T04:27:32Z")
It is not my fault you woke up/left late. You will not make me feel guilty because of that fact. There is a two-lane road between you and town. The speed limit is 55. I will do 63. Tops. I cannot afford a speeding ticket, and my road is a known speed trap. I know that your need for speed takes precedence over my limited insurance and I therefore promise to slow down and move as far to the right as I possibly can in passing zones. In non-passing zones, though? Fuck off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tailgaters-ive-got-your-answer-here/191974.md?page=4)