NationStates Jolt Archive

During a local newscast last night they led with a teaser about a "Road rage incident at a local school".

They cut to a local high school and the 'victim', an 18 year old student with a nasty shiner and stitches above and below the eye. He was telling how he was beaten in the parking lot of the school after an incident with another driver. When the entire story finally unfolded I had no sympathy for the guy. I even felt a little sorry for the other guy, who was arrested.

Seems this kid was "trying to get through traffic", and "found himself in the wrong lane when he got close to the school". (translating to no bullshit english - He was driving like an ass in rush hour traffic, changing lanes trying to pass people and wound up in the wrong lane when he got close to the school) The kid admitted that he did indeed cut the other driver off, making a left turn from the right lane, but he "had to get to school" (translating again, he didn't want to be bothered going further up the road and turning around, so he knowingly cut off someone with an illegal manuever).

Well the other driver didn't take kindly to this and followed him into the parking lot and approached him as he got out of his shiny new car at his upscale yuppy high school. (OK, I'm editorializing, but I saw his car on TV and I know the school and area well) According to the "victim", he asked him why he had cut him off and the kid responded by telling him to "get out of my face,.... well not exactly in those words" (translated again - he told the other driver to go fuck himself or something similar)

So our genius decides to instead of treating the other guy as a person and answering him and possibly apologizing for the dangerous action he admitted to intentionally doing, he was going to arrogantly insult him and dismiss him. As my old coach used to say, he let his mouth write a check his body couldn't cash.

He got a much deserved ass whooping. Now I don't think violence is the answer, but telling someone who has a legitamate complaint against you to fuck off isn't it either. This genius could have defused the whole thing by simply saying "I'm sorry, I didn't see you, are you OK?" Even if your not sincere, an apology usually does wonders in situations like that. I've yet to encounter someone who was beaten down while apologizing.


Any thoughts?

They are both dicks, but I agree with you, I feel sorrier for the guy who was cut off. I hate people like that (not just the cutting off, the whole attitude thing).

The Kid got what he deserved.

Beating the shit out of someone just becuase they cut you off isnt right, but neither is driving like an asshole.
The kid could have easily clipped the other car, and caused an accident, and then who knows what might have happened?

If you think its ok for you to endanger the lives of others, just becuase your a couple of minutes late to a place you'd rather not be...

..then you deserve an ass kicking.

So our genius decides to instead of treating the other guy as a person and answering him and possibly apologizing for the dangerous action he admitted to intentionally doing, he was going to arrogantly insult him and dismiss him. As my old coach used to say, he let his mouth write a check his body couldn't cash.

He got a much deserved ass whooping. Now I don't think violence is the answer, but telling someone who has a legitamate complaint against you to fuck off isn't it either. This genius could have defused the whole thing by simply saying "I'm sorry, I didn't see you, are you OK?" Even if your not sincere, an apology usually does wonders in situations like that. I've yet to encounter someone who was beaten down while apologizing.

Any thoughts?

This is why I think that we should allow duelling as an alternative to civil court. Anyone is with a legitimate grievance could demand "satisfaction" or an apology (which may require reimbursement in some cases). Sure you might need someone like a cop or a traffic guard to oversee the proceedings and make sure everything's kosher, but it would certainly save the state (and the tax payer) a lot of money in court costs.

The Kid got what he deserved.

Beating the shit out of someone just becuase they cut you off isnt right, but neither is driving like an asshole.
The kid could have easily clipped the other car, and caused an accident, and then who knows what might have happened?

If you think its ok for you to endanger the lives of others, just becuase your a couple of minutes late to a place you'd rather not be...

..then you deserve an ass kicking.

Ya, rather than follow the kid he should have just sped up a little, clipped the guys rear bumper and sent him spinning out of control probably wrecking his car. That way it would have all been the kids fault and he'd have really got what he deserved. Lost his car, and probably his license.

I think it quite likely that I'd have kicked the arse as well. People think they can just mouth off at whoever they want...teach the little shits a lesson in being polite.

If someone is driving like an ass around me I blow them a kiss. Usually it confuses them enough to settle down, or they take off and are away from me anyway.

But we really could use a universal hand gesture for "Sorry, my fault." (Waving doesn't quite cut it, it looks like you're mocking the other person.) The fact that we don't have one says a lot about our driving mentality.

If someone is driving like an ass around me I blow them a kiss. Usually it confuses them enough to settle down, or they take off and are away from me anyway.

But we really could use a universal hand gesture for "Sorry, my fault." (Waving doesn't quite cut it, it looks like you're mocking the other person.) The fact that we don't have one says a lot about our driving mentality.I thought I was the only person who did that, the blowing kisses bit.

But it doesn't always work, the angriest person I ever saw was this guy on the freeway I blew a kiss at. It was rush hour, I was merging on the freeway and you know how some people jealously gaurd their spots and won't allow anyone to merge in front of them, riding the bumper of those they follow? Well I was driving a really beat '62 falcon, old rusty and made of real steel, and he was driving a new lexus, new shiny and made of paper thin metal. So I did what I always do in such situations, I put on my turn signal and slowly merged, I knew that he'd make space rather than scratch his precious lexus. He did, but he changed lanes soon afterwards and when he came alongside he was cussing and flipping me the bird as he passed. Traffic was at a crawl and soon he got boxed in. I on the other hand knew the traffic patterns for the area, made a few wise lane changes and a mile up the road I was cruising past the lexus again at the blistering pace of about 20 mph.

I blew the guy a kiss as I passed.

I thought his head was gonna explode, he got so angry.

He followed me for a while screaming the whole time.

I thought I was the only person who did that, the blowing kisses bit.

But it doesn't always work, the angriest person I ever saw was this guy on the freeway I blew a kiss at. It was rush hour, I was merging on the freeway and you know how some people jealously gaurd their spots and won't allow anyone to merge in front of them, riding the bumper of those they follow? Well I was driving a really beat '62 falcon, old rusty and made of real steel, and he was driving a new lexus, new shiny and made of paper thin metal. So I did what I always do in such situations, I put on my turn signal and slowly merged, I knew that he'd make space rather than scratch his precious lexus. He did, but he changed lanes soon afterwards and when he came alongside he was cussing and flipping me the bird as he passed. Traffic was at a crawl and soon he got boxed in. I on the other hand knew the traffic patterns for the area, made a few wise lane changes and a mile up the road I was cruising past the lexus again at the blistering pace of about 20 mph.

I blew the guy a kiss as I passed.

I thought his head was gonna explode, he got so angry.

He followed me for a while screaming the whole time.

Quickly, Robin! To the Roflcopter!

That is so great! When I get a car I'm going to follow your great example.
:fluffle:

I'm going to get an agricultural combine and modify it into a sort of anime-style mecha, with robotic tentacles, missile launchers, et al. and then I'll be ready for road rage.

If it stops the guy from driving like a pompus ass-hat then this is one ass shopping of which I approve.

Both guys were wrong, but I can sympathize with wanting to knock the crap out of the snarky little asshole.

I once had a brush with road rage, my friend William was driving me home after we had seen a movie, can't remember what it was but we were laughing our heads off. We were traveling along Kessles Rd (long road with traffic lights every 100m) and had stopped at the lights next to some hotted up car. We were both impressed with the car and from the way the engine was being revved it seemed as if the guy in the next lane would take off like a bolt when the lights changed. The lights changed and his car stalls while our datsun charged on up the road. We were over taken just before the next light (he sped only to find himself at another light) and pulled up next to him again. He revved the engine and when the lights changed to green he stalled again. By the third light Will and I were laughing, at both the driver and the movie we had just seen (mostly at the movie, cars weren't our thing and by now we had stopped paying attention to him revving his engine) of course he stalled a third time and managed to catch us, when we were stopped at the next red light. So the driver, who I might add was very angry, grabbed a knife, got out of his car and tried to open my door which I locked just seconds before he tried the handle. The lights then turned green and we took off. Looking in the rear view mirror because we feared we would meet him at the next red light, knife and all, we both fell to laughing hysterically again. It seems that a cop car had pulled up behind us at the last set of lights and when we took off had seen the man with the knife standing in the middle of the road.