Road rage episode (page 2)

Julie

Hi Intro--

I think that this guy was being very aggressive. I do not think that you safely, calmly following him was wrong at all. Maybe you did do him a favor, if in fact, you managed to make him think about his actions.

Long ago (and far away) I was out on "the strip" with a car I had that looked like nothing but secretly had an engine like a rocket (it was a prototype I was fortunate enough to acquire). I used to win plenty of money racing this car and often times the loser of the race (always a guy) would get ticked for losing to a girl in a seemingly nothing car. One of these sore losers got really aggressive afterwards, tailgating me and in general harrassing me pretty badly. I got off the strip for a while to get away from him and his buddies. A couple hours later I returned and saw their car wrapped around a pole and people being carted off in ambulances. If you made this guy think even for a moment about his actions, you never know, but you may have contributed to preventing such a thing happening to him. Not likely but hope springs eternal.

Regards,
Julie

LDH

Intro, I guess I'm a lot like you. I'll never back down from anyone, anywhere. Since I'm physically larger than most women and even a lot of men, I pretty much stand my ground.

At least, that's the old Lisa talking.

The new Lisa realizes that I can't 'intimidate' the crazies, and they're the ones carrying guns.

It's just not worth taking the chance that the guy I stare down because he cut me off in traffic might just pull out his gun.

Yesterday in Fresno, a big rig truck was rear-ended. When the truck driver got out to investigate, he found that the guy who hit him had actually been shot while driving and was killed.

No thanks. Not anymore.

Lisa

Billygoat

Whenever someone is obviously pissed at me on the road, I act like they're a long lost friend. Acting all happy and motioning my hand (in a telephone-like signal) for them to call me. The whole time I'm smiling and waving like a lunatic. It usually is enough to calm or confuse them. Either way they leave me alone. ((())) Heehee!

Andi

Esmeralda

I'm not speaking to anyone in particular in this thread or judging anyone, just sticking my view out there:

Anyone considering acting out like that has to just think about one question;

Is it worth killing someone's child over?

What if your car, or the other involved hit an innocent family? What if you got shot at, and the person missed and hit someone else? Would you be able to live with that on your conscience?

So many people carry guns anymore, that even though I can't drive anymore (due to my balance/perception problems) I feel very strongly about this issue. My husband carries the cel phone and if someone was following him, he'd call the police.

There is no point worth making with a car. It's a weapon that weighs thousands of pounds, and anything can happen. Nothing like that is worth dying, or killing for.

I know of a case personally where a guy had a fit of road rage, ended up hitting another car. He took away the father of several small children in that instant, and he went to jail for it.

Not worth it in my book.

Just my 2 cents. Drive safely ya'll
essie

joelbear

LOL Billygoat,

I'm gonna try that next time. too funny

hugs

Joel

Nathan Natas

Intro,

Here's my take -

You got angry. Welcome to the human race.

You need to get yourself some friends who will flip you off on a regular basis, thus desensitizing you.

Stacey

Intro,

All I know is that I'm going to stay away from your car at Golden Gate Park this Sunday. Haha. See you then!

Stacey

Bendrr

There's definitely a line to be drawn as far as how we react to bonehead drivers. Personally I don't even flip them off anymore.
Its already been said, that guy could have been a psycho.
Best to just get home safe, let the cops handle the bad drivers.
mike.

Introspection

Thanks Julie, that's basically what I had in mind.

I thought the details I gave would show that I didn't "just lose it", that at the very least it would indicate my mind wasn't under a complete emotional hijacking.

Reaction out of fear is a reaction as well, the same as anger. I would say physical/physiological fear would be useful, but merely as information. I'm not into the "what may happen" scenarios to scare myself silly. In any case, it is over now. As I said I only hope the balance of other messages I've posted on this board speaks for itself.

I do have some doubts about how healthy my apparent complete lack of fear is, but again I would distinguish between psychological fear and the physiological response that comes with an immediate physical threat. This morning when I was thinking about it I wanted to laugh... Anyways, I've made the other points above so I'll leave it at that.

Road rage episode

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