Since the day i got behind the wheel (23 years ago) I have always been acutely aware of a simple truth: I’m sitting on top of a ton of steel going very fast. People die because of these things virtually every minute of the day. I don’t want to be one of them.
Certainly I can be annoyed with people who do blatantly dangerous, stupid things, but my bood pressure doesn’t rise, I don’t start flipping out. I jsut call them a butthead from within the safety of my car and keep driving. I don’t like heavy traffic, but I certainly don’t let it ruin my day.
The whole road rage phenomenon is a mystery to me. What in heaven’t sname is the point or the benefit in getting yourself worked into a RAGE over traffic?
I’ve arrived at work - AT LAST. Another piss-me-off drive. First thing I did was return to this message board and my “road rage” question) and it actually lifted my mood to read your comments that I’m not alone. Thanks fellow dopers.
In response to bantmof’s comment about taking a bicycle - if only I could. I live in the sticks and it would take me at least 2.5 hours; not to mention we have DEEP snow 6 months of the year and is deathly cold (but that’s another topic).
Do you think there’s hope for me? Will I ever get past this emotional (negative) reaction to my morning comute?
About 6 weeks ago my employer moved my department to a new location (while construction commences on our home office). Lets just say that if I was job hunting now I WOULD NOT APPLY AT THIS LOCATION. I’m not alone though as 70% of the company feels the same way. All boils down to the f@%^@%g Hunt Club Bridge!!! What moron designed this intersection!!! Who in their right mind … oops, sorry, there I go again.
My radio bit-the-biscuit a few months ago and I really miss the news and ability to wail along with the music (the windows are up so the only person I’m offending is myself).
Thanks again for the chuckle and have a good day (really must get back to work now).
I am basically the world’s biggest bastard behind the wheel. I’m in college and I drive 90 miles round trip everyday to school on a heavily congested four lane. It seems like people drive just to get in my way. I usually run 75-80 in a 65 zone and people will sit in the left lane going the speed limit. I know that it’s the law. If you’re going to obey it, that’s what the right lane is for. Leave the left open for those of us who don’t give a damn and just want to get somewhere. How hard is that. BTW, No, I’ve never gotten a ticket, or had an accident. I’m either extremely good or have the luck of Satan. I think sometimes it may be the latter.
I think those that don’t get road rage just don’t understand. Driving isn’t about getting somewhere, though that may be why the trip originated. Driving is about moving fast. So, you don’t think that guy that charged out of the stoplight, left you in the dust, and ended up right next to you at the next stoplight gained anything? He did. He was moving faster for a while. And He’d be much happier if he didn’t have to stop again, or if those goddamn idiots would get out of his way so he could maybe get two greens in a row.
When I’m driving, I get angry when other drivers do things to inhibit my driving. Like when three morons all decide to drive right next to each other on the highway. Do they not realise that if any one of them moved forward or backward (relative), that all these people stuck behind their makeshift dam could go? I get angry when people drive the speed limit or slower. And especially at cops driving during rush hour. All they accomplish is slowing everyone down to the speed limit (if not lower) at a time when maximum throughput is most needed.
I need weapons on my car. I often imagine a quake style railgun to blow away the guy just ahead (and the guy ahead of him, and…).
Handy: I would’ve backhanded that SOB and then kicked him out of the car. Prick.
I always sing along, unless someone is in the car with me, then the radio gets turned way down, if not off, so we can chatter. I doubt the person in the car next to me can hear me singing, what with the windows rolled up and everything, but even if they can, who cares? My advice to you is this: roll up your windows and turn your radio up loud enough to drown them out.
I don’t have a problem with people singing in their cars. I have a serious grievance with people who turn their stereos up loud enough to be heard seven blocks away. I don’t care what kind of music they’re playing, even if it’s stuff I like, it’s just rude to be that damn loud. Most annoying are the people that insist on putting thousand dollar stereo systems into their four-hundred dollar cars.
“ChrisCTP-…the sweetheart of the SDMB…” --Diane
Chris’ Homepage: Domestic Bliss