Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
...metal moving at speed is a lethal weapon. If someone threatens you with such a weapon, whether it's intentionally or through sheer stupidity, I think the reactions frequently should be called self-defense, not road rage.
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Can you give me an example scenerio?
Self-defense is a reasonable reaction to a threat. However, I can envision very few driving scenerios where the "victim" is put in danger by a bad driver, and the only way to avoid injury is to cause injury to the bad driver.
Usually incidents happen so quickly that we have very little time to formulate a reaction plan. After the incident is over, we have more time to think and then become upset over the way the other driver operated their vehicle.
If the incident is already over, then violence can't be justified towards the bad driver.
I'm one prone to anger on the road, but thankfully have never acted out violently. Instead I tend to honk the horn for absurd amounts of time, like a minute, just to let the other person know I was not impressed with their driving.
What really angers me is when people intentionally drive agressively without regard for others, as if their time is more valuable than anyone elses. That video by Xist is an example that would have gotten my blood boiling just as an observer.
I've been rear-ended at a stoplight, suffered a little whiplash and a totalled car, and didn't have even the slightest bit of anger towards the kid that hit me. It was an accident, and if the kid could have prevented it, he would have. We all make mistakes, and we're fortunate that they rarely cause harm to others.