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Good to see him doing his bit for the environment, and responsibily using the council's recycling facilities.
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If it's anything like our recycling depot - hundreds of people in huge 4x4s recycling a couple of cans and their wine bottles. I think the recycling may appease their consciences from driving such huge gas-guzzling machines used for nothing more than to make a fashion statement.
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Read what Paul Ripley says under the heading "Annoying agression; ...................." tinyurl.com/2vvjkd
"It is always interesting to read about what annoys motorists and what turns them into judge and jury behind the wheel. Complaints about other people fill many of the letters I receive, yet few seem to consider a more forgiving and compassionate outlook towards their fellow road users.advertisement
My advice to people who drive around with numerous "pet driving hates" in their head is to get to grips with this attitude straight away, as the root cause of the problem is usually self-inflicted. The drivers who make the errors you describe might simply be less than accomplished, unthinking or merely distracted, and you should not be surprised to encounter them. Does it never occur to you that your own driving might occasionally leave something to be desired? Is it not the case that your annoyance is itself a symptom of aggression?
Get your own act together. Think more about your behaviour, rather than that of your fellow road users. The same goes for your detailed opinion of their driving. All that matters is your performance, which requires every observational and planning skill at your disposal to ensure safety.
You are unable to fully control the behaviour of others, much less make them change their ways, so why get upset about it? Caring about driving standards should mean increasing your tolerance of other people's mistakes and keeping your thoughts and actions focused on the safety of yourself, your passengers and all other road users, whether they be good, bad or indifferent.
Above all, safety demands a safe attitude. Don't waste important mental capacity in considering what, in your opinion, other drivers should be doing or not doing; relax and acknowledge that other people have faults, just as you do. If you are more relaxed, it will benefit you and everyone else in equal measure."
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L\'escargot.
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Totally agree. I read this Taoist philosophy a while back and find that helps too.
tinyurl.com/2exc5j
Now, whenever I see something annoying or frustrating, I try to think to myself "empty boat". Doesn't always stop me losing my temper pointlessly, but it helps.
As Mr Ripley points out above, chances are, the example of poor driving you've just seen doesn't mean that person is always so bad, and just because your own driving is generally good, doesn't mean you don't do daft things yourself. He without sin and all that?
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Escargot and OilBurner, A++.
When I was stomping around cursing incoherently about nothing much my youngest daughter used to peer at me through her sweet little spectacles and say: 'Om, Dad.'
Nearly always made me laugh.
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L'escargot.: Sensible advice from Ripley and I think he is right that most of can at times be rather self righteous and ignore our own failings. But with respect the original poster was not referring to minor driving errors. If I understand correctly, the 4x4 was doing 60 in a 30. Surely that is gross negligence? (Okay we don't know full details of the road etc. but a 30 limit is most probably present for a reason.)
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Really, really good advice. Lets all just relax. While we're at it, we can stop worrying so much about who should or should not be parking in disabled spaces ;-)
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If it's anything like our recycling depot - hundreds of people in huge 4x4s recycling a couple of cans and their wine bottles. I think the recycling may appease their consciences from driving such huge gas-guzzling machines used for nothing more than to make a fashion statement.
Yes here in North Devon the numpties have indeed become squires. Identified to a man by their purchase of an old jap 4x4. Usually identified by shell suits and puffer, (puffy) jackets and complete ignorance in the lanes. May the scrabbling of a thousand moles infest their........ar!...4x4's And if you haven't spotted one yet look for trainers and they walk at 10 to 2 with their arms so far out you look for the missing rolls of carpet!
Yours in despair..................MD.
Go on then, just one more glass.
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>>they walk at 10 to 2 with their arms so far out you look for the missing rolls of carpet! Yours in despair..................MD. Go on then, just one more glass.
I think you have just described President George W Bush!
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>> On my way to our local tip this morning on a >> 30mph road near our town centre, I and others were amazed >> to be overtaken by a prat in a 4x4 doing around >> double the limit. Since it didn't damage you or your car you should have just ignored it. Learn to chill out. It's up to the authorities to reprimand erring drivers.
Now, where do you draw the line? You suggest getting out if damage has been caused, I'm not convinced that these people will be any friendlier if damage is done. If I was involved in an accident with one of these maniacs I'm not certain whether I would stop (depending on the circumstances). Prevention is better than cure (I think that's the saying), it's better to make these people think before they kill somebody.
If everybody talked at people who drove like idiots I think they would soon stop. This applies to all minor crimes too (eg. antisocial behavior), if somebody drops litter, should you say something or should you keep away incase they want to kill you?
The truth is I really don't know what to do in these situations.
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Isn't the fundamental problem here is that there are two kinds of people that do wrong, those that care and those that don't.
If you lecture the first kind, you're wasting your time because they already knew they've done wrong and would probably not make a habit of that sort of thing.
If you lecture the second kind, it'll be in one ear and out the other, or worse yet violence is sure to follow.
In other words, to lecture somebody is to imply they're too thick to realise that they were doing wrong, well if they are that dumb then what exactly do you hope to achieve?
Relax and let it go, we have the Police for sorting these things out when it does hurt somebody else. Not a perfect system, but it does kind of work, doesn't it?
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In other words, to lecture somebody is to imply they're too thick to realise that they were doing wrong, well if they are that dumb then what exactly do you hope to achieve? Relax and let it go, we have the Police for sorting these things out when it does hurt somebody else. Not a perfect system, but it does kind of work, doesn't it?
Having a polite word with someone is not lecturing, and with reasonable people it works. But it's important not to be condescending, or patronising, or arrogant, just point out clearly what you think was wrong. I've had a few coppers stop me when cycling, many years ago I might add, and give me some sensible advice, such as "Get some lights or you'll be dead" and it worked. And I've had one or two people tell me if they see a fault on my car such as a blown bulb, which I appreciate. Once or twice when I've made a mistake at the wheel, I've raised my left hand to say 'sorry' and it seems to calm people.
I have often wondered why people get so angry behind the wheel, and I guess that it is partly the high stress life styles we all lead, and partly that we tend to blame others, expecting them to be perfect drivers, and not allowing for their mistake e.g. keep a good distance.
Oddly enough I've met very few short fused maniacs in the workplace, so I guess people must transform once inside their tin shells, much as Clark Kent transformed into Superman. My father used to be like that. An appallingly aggressive and IMO dangerous driver but mild mannered otherwise.
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You suggest getting out if damage has been caused .........
I was pointing out that Oz got involved in someone else's problem, to no good purpose.
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L\'escargot.
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