Got Flipped off by a Cobra Yesterday

[lal Naja]

Getting into a vehicle, turning the key for some, seems to turn off a portion of the logical brain. Some sort of primitave instinct must kick in. A few times in my life I have seen perfectly logical and sensative people turn into raging impatient loones when behind the wheel.

So what if you miss a light, it's a matter of a few minutes and what does that matter in the whole scheme of life which lasts about 42,000,000 minutes.

How often would anyone jump a line of people waiting to buy a movie ticket, or waiting in line to do anything else? Or how often do you see anyone push their way through a store or on a side walk. But put a mild mannered person in a metal box on wheels and the Jeklyll & Hyde syndrome takes over.

A couple of years ago a taxi I was in pulled into a line of slow traffic. Something commonly done in the city I live in. Well the driver and passanger behind us was not pleased and blasted the horn. Then the driver pulled on to the wrong side of the road to overtake us while the passenger pulled a hand gun and pointed it at the cab driver who ducked. Then the gun was pointed at me and I was in the rear seat. Was not the most comfortable feeling I assure you.

From that day I realized that at any point in time while in traffic, an action or infraction, however advertent, could end in dire circumstances.

What would you do if you were with your family behind a car that missed a light. Blow your horn? What then if a bunch of enraged hoodlums got out and terrorized you and your family. Was it worth the toot?

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by lal Naja

Getting into a vehicle, turning the key for some, seems to turn off a portion of the logical brain. Some sort of primitave instinct must kick in. A few times in my life I have seen perfectly logical and sensative people turn into raging impatient loones when behind the wheel.

So what if you miss a light, it's a matter of a few minutes and what does that matter in the whole scheme of life which lasts about 42,000,000 minutes.

How often would anyone jump a line of people waiting to buy a movie ticket, or waiting in line to do anything else? Or how often do you see anyone push their way through a store or on a side walk. But put a mild mannered person in a metal box on wheels and the Jeklyll & Hyde syndrome takes over.

A couple of years ago a taxi I was in pulled into a line of slow traffic. Something commonly done in the city I live in. Well the driver and passanger behind us was not pleased and blasted the horn. Then the driver pulled on to the wrong side of the road to overtake us while the passenger pulled a hand gun and pointed it at the cab driver who ducked. Then the gun was pointed at me and I was in the rear seat. Was not the most comfortable feeling I assure you.

From that day I realized that at any point in time while in traffic, an action or infraction, however advertent, could end in dire circumstances.

What would you do if you were with your family behind a car that missed a light. Blow your horn? What then if a bunch of enraged hoodlums got out and terrorized you and your family. Was it worth the toot?

Your analogy is interesting and has merit, however apart from being in the wrong place at the wrong time, discretion is always the better part of valour, that said, we almost always get to pick our own fights, so unless you is packin' a piece, as most folks do in Arizona, perhaps a wave would be better than a finger. Of course if you were driving a Cobra at the time and felt particularly pissed, you could always pull along side the fuktards, flip em' off and floor the beast. Cool, uncouth, outa line,totally uncalled for, maybe, you name it, if it floats you boat at that moment in time, do it, because you are what you is, a Cobra drivin' bad boy. tin-man

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by lal Naja

How often would anyone jump a line of people waiting to buy a movie ticket, or waiting in line to do anything else?

That comparo goes both ways. Now let's look at it a different way. Lets say you were standing behind a person at the movie theater and when it's their turn they just stand there. So what do you do? Clear your throat? Say "Hey bud, ya wanna move up?" OK, so you do one of these, most of us would, it's about the equivolent of honking your horn. Now let's say the fuktard just stands there picking his nose, scratching his knards, or fumbling in her purse and ignores you or (worse yet) flips you the bird for calling attention to his/her ADD. Do you step in front of him now? I sure would.

Originally Posted by lal Naja

What would you do if you were with your family behind a car that missed a light. Blow your horn? What then if a bunch of enraged hoodlums got out and terrorized you and your family. Was it worth the toot?

I drop them as hard and fast as I possibly can because I'm always prepared to protect my family and myself. I realise that in your city you don't have the option for self defense but many of us do. Living in fear is just not an option for many Americans.