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Rise above it, Jamie. You were 'well out of order' in the vernacular. Remember, it is a fact that half the population is of below average intelligence and approx 1% are psychopaths. So the odds of encountering a gormless nutter every ten miles or so is now astonishingly high on our congested roads.
Occasionally, these 1% ers interact; sometimes with amusing, often with disastrous or hugely expensive consequences (apparently a much higher percentage of police officers and lawyers are psychopaths).
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One of the most noticeable changes in human behaviour on the roads of this country in recent years is the increasing aggression of young women drivers. I think I've already posted about the curly haired young lady in a VW Beetle who travelled behind me for half a mile, constantly giving me fingers, w****** gestures and everything else on the list, just because I pulled out to turn left in front of her and she had to slow down just a little bit because she was speeding. I blame feminism, meself.
When my wife first started driving she was a little hesitant, and occasionally fell foul of the irritation of impatient male drivers. There was one occasion when she came to a roundabout in South Wales, couldn't quite work out the priority of traffic flow and a some squaddies in a marked Army van who had been forced to wait at their junction due to her indecision gave her the finger. I was quite annoyed about that, which is probably why when months later she went to turn right on a local road, dithered because she was unsure of the speed of approaching traffic and a driver behind who had been forced to wait for her manoeuvre gave her a brief beep on his horn, I gave him the finger from the passenger seat as we turned. Whereupon he screeched to a halt and began to back up, making to chase us. He probably noticed my yard-wide shoulders and thought better of it, coz he stopped and made off instead, but it caused me to think about what might happen if someone on the road called your bluff in such a situation and it went to the wire. So nowadays when confronted by aggression and ignorance on the road I usually shake my head sadly, refuse to make eye contact and continue blithely on my way.
Edited by argybargy on 26/08/2017 at 10:15
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Sometimes, you've just got to do a frozen.....let it go let it go..
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some years ago I was driving at work when a silver Peugeot came up on my outside in an area where the lanes merge, the driver was quite forceful and pushing his luck as the outer lane was ending as he just cut in front of me. I later found out it was the depot manager who made a point of finding me at work and talking to me about it. If I had reacted in anyway I might have been looking for another job. Instead he commended me on my patience.
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Having popped in and out of the Back Room for the past 15 years and having seen some/many of Jamie's posts over time, and looking at this latest contribution, I too, would say Jamie's the one with the attitude. But, to be honest, I've never taken much notice of what he's had to say anyway.
We've all done silly things. I dare say we continue to do silly things occasionally. But I, personally, wouldn't brag on a public forum that I'd tailgated a car for ten miles, or, even, that I'd blasted the car in front with a long blast of my horn either... a polite 'toot' might have done.
Maybe ownership of a "Jag" (one with a jolly loud horn) ... and, more significantly, frequent references on this forum to said ownership of the car tells me something?
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nick62 commented "WUM"
Precisely and, it would appear, rather more successful at it on here than in real life.
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What is WUM please ? excuse my ignorance.
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Someone held you up for a few seconds and you think it's worth following them and talking to them about it. I think you're the one with the attitude problem!
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Having popped in and out of the Back Room for the past 15 years and having seen some/many of Jamie's posts over time, and looking at this latest contribution, I too, would say Jamie's the one with the attitude. But, to be honest, I've never taken much notice of what he's had to say anyway.
We've all done silly things. I dare say we continue to do silly things occasionally. But I, personally, wouldn't brag on a public forum that I'd tailgated a car for ten miles, or, even, that I'd blasted the car in front with a long blast of my horn either... a polite 'toot' might have done.
Maybe ownership of a "Jag" (one with a jolly loud horn) ... and, more significantly, frequent references on this forum to said ownership of the car tells me something?
KB, couldn't agree more. On the flip side he recognises he's done wrong, just needs to learn from it. He'll give Jaguar drivers a bad name.
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Thanks FP.
Completely agree with posts about Jamie's attitude. I had a problem turning right at traffic lights the other week, not able to.engage gear. The motorist behind honking his horn didn't solve the problem. A garage did.
I also think when someone makes a mistake, which we can all do, harassing them with the horn only makes the situation. Driving should be cooperative, not who led.
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I also think when someone makes a mistake, which we can all do, harassing them with the horn only makes the situation. Driving should be cooperative, not who led.
There's a clear difference between someone missing a gear or stalling a car and clearly texting at the traffic lights which the young lady I refer to was doing. It was very obvious from the way she was clearly staring downwards in the car. That's not a driving mistake that's actually worth 6 penalty points now so don't defend her.
She can't even claim she was paying attention really as the light had been solid green for a good 4 or 5 seconds and she hadn't noticed. Too interested in her Instagram.
I wouldn't use the horn on somebody who had missed a gear or stalled the car, that'd be stupid but I have no problem using it on people who are using a phone while driving.
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Which rather misses the point about the other stuff.
"Competent driving" is more than being able to steer and change gear.
You may want the last word, but it'll do you no credit. Best wind your neck in.
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So the Back Room is against using the horn but 100% in favour of illegal use of a mobile phone?
Fair enough, so long as we know.
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No I don't condone texting or other handheld phone use while driving.
Your reaction to these idiots is a natural response, in my opinion. Maybe not for everybody, but for many.
But, trying to 'train' other drivers by expressing disapproval generally doesn't work, and often seems to have the opposite effect as you yourself have described - so no upside really.
On the downside, as you discovered it can make them angry (so an even worse driver). Beyond that, you might be really unlucky and pick on someone like Kenneth Noye.
Another possibility is that there is some background or context that you are unaware of that has caused or contributed to the other person's behaviour, which might not be typical of the individual concerned.
So I try to ignore my anger and just try to be the best driver I can, keep out of the way of the unpredictable, pushy, or incompetent drivers and stay calm. Focusing on my own speed, positioning, braking, steering keeps my blood pressure down. Better to feel a bit smug than a lot angry.
It took me a while to reach this state of grace! My own more natural behaviour when confronted by aggressive, selfish, dangerous behaviour is probably not that different to yours - but we don't have to react based on how we feel in that moment.
I hope you can read that in the spirit that it is meant.
Go in peace :)
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"So the Back Room is against using the horn but 100% in favour of illegal use of a mobile phone?"
Don't be ridiculous. The longer you go on, the more desperate you get.
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Rule 112
You MUST NOT use your horn
- while stationary on the road
- when driving in a built-up area between the hours of 11.30 pm and 7.00 am
except when another road user poses a danger.
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It was suggested, above, that .....
"On the flip side he recognises he's done wrong, just needs to learn from it. He'll give Jaguar drivers a bad name."
I don't think so. Jamie's subsequent replies don't suggest that's the case.
I think it's a bit pointless pursuing the topic as he's generally right in all he says and does, and isn't known for acknowledging that, occasionally, he might, just possibly, be wrong.
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Avant will be keeping a close eye on this thread, I'm sure, and I would be the last to tell him what to do.
However, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere and it might be merciful to all concerned if it was closed.
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The thread is headed 'Attitude Problem'. Maybe it should be 'Attitude Problems'. The woman who might have been texting might have one. The OP definitely has.
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Seconded.
I haven't a clue how anyone could suggest my post was condoning the use of a mobile phone while driving.
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I have made what I hope is a constructive reply to the OP; I am interested in whether he responds, and how.
I would be the last to tell Avant what to do, so I won't.
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I have made what I hope is a constructive reply to the OP; I am interested in whether he responds, and how.
A very good reply I must say, that is the thing isn't it? 2 wrongs do not make a right.
Responding to a bad/dangerous driver by doing the same as them is never a good idea.
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Responding to a bad/dangerous driver by doing the same as them is never a good idea.
Indeed, Manatee's post was indeed constructive reasonable and thought provoking, and your comment is spot on too.
The danger with trying to bandy words and/or actions with idiots on the road, is that they are often skilled time served experts in idiocy, when i see the idiot i try to let them past at the first opportunity so i can keep an eye on them and hopefully not be involved in the result when they do what they always do, the danger of which is magnified when someone else gets involved and tries to out-idiot them
Edited by gordonbennet on 27/08/2017 at 13:43
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Responding to a bad/dangerous driver by doing the same as them is never a good idea.
Indeed, Manatee's post was indeed constructive reasonable and thought provoking, and your comment is spot on too.
The danger with trying to bandy words and/or actions with idiots on the road, is that they are often skilled time served experts in idiocy, when i see the idiot i try to let them past at the first opportunity so i can keep an eye on them and hopefully not be involved in the result when they do what they always do, the danger of which is magnified when someone else gets involved and tries to out-idiot them
"Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience" (George Carlin 1937-2008)
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"Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience" (George Carlin 1937-2008)
Could have sworn i just posted a reply, either i'm going senile (don't answer that :-) or it's vanished.
Anyway, i knew there was a famous quote wich applied here, much obliged to me learned friend for providing it.
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I'll leave this thread open for a little longer, in the hope that Jamie might show signs of having learnt something from the extremely good advice given above.
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Unfortunately this country seems to have spawned some very unpleasant, obnoxious and rude people and unfortunately these people are allowed to drive. I must admit I ignore it all, getting in a rage doesn't do you any good and will not change their attitude. You always hope that they will eventually come to the notice of the police!
However, we have found a way to turn such incidents into entertainment. Most of the people I work with have dashcams and we all save anything we think worthy. We then share the best examples every few weeks. Unfortunately you soon realise that if you saved all examples of bad attitude and plain rudeness, you would fill your dashcam memory up pretty quickly.
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" .. Unfortunately you soon realise that if you saved all examples of bad attitude and plain rudeness, you would fill your dashcam memory up pretty quickly... "
Zackly the reason i decided not to buy one.
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" .. Unfortunately you soon realise that if you saved all examples of bad attitude and plain rudeness, you would fill your dashcam memory up pretty quickly... "
Zackly the reason i decided not to buy one.
Surely main reason you buy one is to help any insurace disputes?
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"I'll leave this thread open for a little longer, in the hope that Jamie might show signs of having learnt something from the extremely good advice given above."
Avant's faith in human nature is wonderful, but I fear misplaced in this case. But there you go, I'm fast becoming a cynical old git. :-)
Edited by FP on 28/08/2017 at 12:47
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..... But there you go, I'm fast becoming a cynical old git. :-)
I couldn't possibly comment .... :-)
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KB, couldn't agree more. On the flip side he recognises he's done wrong, just needs to learn from it. He'll give Jaguar drivers a bad name.
Thank Heavens he hasn't got a Beemer
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