Someone just gave me a dirty look

[dentprone]

While I agree that it is probably best to leave aggressive drivers alone, I think there is something seriously wrong if folks start bowing down to these pr*cks. I am not sure about how it is in other places, but the "police" just really don't exist here. Plenty of laws on the books, but no enforcement. Couple that with a general "I don't care about anyone else" attitude from the majority of motorists, and it is absolute chaos. I would love to see a decent solution to this problem, but I don't think it will ever happen. I myself am waiting for a benchmark court case where a driver successfully defends their family when threatened by an aggressive motorist driving a 3000 lb deadly weapon.

[greenitup]

some guy flicked me off today (after he passed me on a big downhill), if i wasn't in the middle of a nice long eoc, i wouldn't have let him pass, and it couldv'e turned ugly.

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by RH77

Same here. The dispatcher (mistakenly) had us follow the guy. He pulled over and we held back. He walked back to our car brandishing a knife and tapped on my driver's window with it. I looked him in the eye and stated that the Police are on their way, and there's nothing he could about it. He jumped in his RAV-4 and took off. In the meantime, I communicated the plate numbers. Later he was arrested at home.

Ever since, I imagine the same experience with someone with a gun (concealed carry is legal in MO). It's not worth our lives.

My advice. Just give it up and be a man. Let it slide.

RH77

Nope. Definiately not my experience. I got run off the road in Bolton, Massachusetts. Phoned Bolton police, gave description and license plate #. Got mugged for it. Gave them names and addresses of three witnesses (two of them physicians who were passing by). Bolton cop called me back hours later and told me it wasn't their problem: I was on my own with the matter. Swine.

I am now licensed to carry concealed large.

I will not just bend over and "take it like a man."

[dentprone]

Originally Posted by Silveredwings

I will not just bend over and "take it like a man."

+1

[RH77]

Originally Posted by Silveredwings

Nope. Definiately not my experience. I got run off the road in Bolton, Massachusetts. Phoned Bolton police, gave description and license plate #. Got mugged for it. Gave them names and addresses of three witnesses (two of them physicians who were passing by). Bolton cop called me back hours later and told me it wasn't their problem: I was on my own with the matter. Swine.

I am now licensed to carry concealed large.

I will not just bend over and "take it like a man."

Originally Posted by dentprone

+1

Definitely an extraneous circumstance. You certainly have a case for negligence against the PD if you're the litigator-type. So, what are you going to do with your "large" now? Imagine the same scenario, but now you're packed. What you gonna do?

If folks don't want to "bend over and take-it", so be it. My suggestion is to ignore people wanting to elicit a reaction and be mature about it instead of the juvenile exchange that ensues.

I don't carry a gun, nor will I. I already have a weapon. It's blue, made in Japan, and weighs 2700 lbs. I could have easily turned the wheel, threw it in reverse and ran over the guy. Despite how I feel, human life is still valuable. If he had a gun, I would have improvised for the safety of both of us.

I've outrun perps before. If you drive fast enough and correlate it with a call to the authorities, it will get attention.

Siveredwings: It's not clear what happened -- bump and mug? What if they're packing too? Then you're in a fire-fight. If you shoot someone, the consequences could be more severe than getting robbed or having your BMW scuffed.

My point is to ignore gestures by other drivers and avoid the escalting the situation. Tempers are dangerous and road rage is on the rise. Bad combination.

RH77

[bbjsw10]

Originally Posted by BlackDeuceCoupe

I'm always looking for a few good men - know where I can find one?!?!?

Sticking your tongue out - beeping your horn - flashing your lights - calling the cops - sitting down when you pee - are you sh!tting me?

I did say something about sticking tongue out, but if they want to throw down I am all up for it. I have my battle scars, and enjoyed every one of them. So if they want to take it there I will in a second. You have to learn to stand up and defend yourself, just like bullies at school once you beat the crap out of them they leave you alone.

Some people do not have that option though. I have friends that have never fought and will not fight, for them I say call the cops if necessary. Or just leave it alone. I myself believe in confronting the issue.

[Silveredwings]

Originally Posted by RH77

Definitely an extraneous circumstance. You certainly have a case for negligence against the PD if you're the litigator-type. So, what are you going to do with your "large" now? Imagine the same scenario, but now you're packed. What you gonna do?

I don't know what makes the lives of me and my party extraneous. What word did you really mean here? Anecdotal?

And who said I carry? Did I? And litigator's are sent in only after the fact assuming there are survivors. What I needed was a cop, not just lipstick on a pig.

I did not have a cell phone and had to stop at a pay phone. Perhaps in hindsight I did this imperfectly.

Originally Posted by RH77

If folks don't want to "bend over and take-it", so be it. My suggestion is to ignore people wanting to elicit a reaction and be mature about it instead of the juvenile exchange that ensues.

um...blink. blink... OK, in the heat of the moment after being forced into a ditch, I memorized his license plate and description as he sped away. I called the cops to let them handle it. Are you saying that was the right thing to do, but I was wrong to do it? I can't tell if you're just trying to be inflammatory of my ineffective response to a bad situation.

Originally Posted by RH77

I don't carry a gun, nor will I. I already have a weapon. It's blue, made in Japan, and weighs 2700 lbs. I could have easily turned the wheel, threw it in reverse and ran over the guy. Despite how I feel, human life is still valuable. If he had a gun, I would have improvised for the safety of both of us.

Now you are talking of a different situation, not mine.

Originally Posted by RH77

I've outrun perps before. If you drive fast enough and correlate it with a call to the authorities, it will get attention.

Siveredwings: It's not clear what happened -- bump and mug? What if they're packing too? Then you're in a fire-fight. If you shoot someone, the consequences could be more severe than getting robbed or having your BMW scuffed.

Dude, I was driving a Miata, and had my step son with me. I had to get out of the car and walk to a phone. This was a "return to the scene" for the perp who had a truck and a Rottweiler and who knows what else, tried to run me over when he came back. I really don't think this has anything to do with a ****ing beemer.

If we're talking about hypotheticals, where he had threatened me with a gun...
if I had one available to me, I would have first, sought an escape route and used my cell phone (assuming I had one of those too) to call the cops such as they are. Failing that, I would have stalled for time as long as I thought was prudent considering the danger my party was in. Failing all that and remaining in imminent mortal danger, I would have aimed center mass and discharged a few rounds. Two, maybe three. No sweet talk. No reacharound. No shoot the pistol out of his hand. It's him or it's me. But the truth is that like the real situation, it's never that predictable or clear cut. That's why I don't carry. For all I know, his brother is syndicated. There's no walking away w/o some harm.

Originally Posted by RH77

My point is to ignore gestures by other drivers and avoid the escalting the situation. Tempers are dangerous and road rage is on the rise. Bad combination.

Exactly, great way to wrap it up. Unfortunately what makes both the

• tempers worse, and

• the dangers more real,

because of immediate helplessness on the part of victims and equally immediate impunity for the perps, is the perceived impotence of the cops, however anecdotal the facts may be.

The feeling that "you're on your own," as the cop in my story told me, exacerbates the whole thing. Am I alone in seeing this?

[Vince-HX]

The only thing cops have ever done for me is write me tickets and tailgate me because I drive a modified honda.

You are on your own, sorry, if you can't handle that you probably shouldn't be behind the wheel.

If you guys want to really learn how to just ignore a situation ride a motorcycle. Every day I rode I had close calls with cars because people don't know how to drive. You know how pissed you get knowing you could have died and the other driver doesn't even know whats going on. But, I have been know to "remove" a side mirror and speed off

I still haven't had a road rage run in yet in my civic while hypermiling.

[RH77]

Originally Posted by Silveredwings

I don't know what makes the lives of me and my party extraneous. What word did you really mean here? Anecdotal?

"Unusual" is the word that best describes it.

And who said I carry? Did I?

Your implication was pretty strong when you stated,

I am now licensed to carry concealed large

First off, my point was that if I let the guy go in my circumstance, it wouldn't have escalated to the point that it did. My post was in defense to that rationale.

um...blink. blink... OK, in the heat of the moment after being forced into a ditch, I memorized his license plate and description as he sped away. I called the cops to let them handle it. Are you saying that was the right thing to do, but I was wrong to do it? I can't tell if you're just trying to be inflammatory of my ineffective response to a bad situation.

Sir, I'm in no way trying to be inflammatory. My response to you began after your name in the post. It was merely an inquiry as to how a gun would have helped in your situation. Honestly, I probably would have done the same thing. It's an unfortunate situation and I'm sorry it happened to you and your family.

Dude, I was driving a Miata, and had my step son with me. I had to get out of the car and walk to a phone. This was a "return to the scene" for the perp who had a truck and a Rottweiler and who knows what else, tried to run me over when he came back. I really don't think this has anything to do with a ****ing beemer.

Again, good information to have known the first time around. My point was safety over property and the use of a firearm. I used the vehicle in your garage as a reference.

If we're talking about hypotheticals, where he had threatened me with a gun...
if I had one available to me, I would have first, sought an escape route and used my cell phone (assuming I had one of those too) to call the cops such as they are. Failing that, I would have stalled for time as long as I thought was prudent considering the danger my party was in. Failing all that and remaining in imminent mortal danger, I would have aimed center mass and discharged a few rounds. Two, maybe three. No sweet talk. No reacharound. No shoot the pistol out of his hand. It's him or it's me. But the truth is that like the real situation, it's never that predictable or clear cut. That's why I don't carry. For all I know, his brother is syndicated. There's no walking away w/o some harm.

The feeling that "you're on your own," as the cop in my story told me, exacerbates the whole thing. Am I alone in seeing this?

Again, you are quoted to be licensed to carry. That elicited my reaction. It seems like a big misunderstanding on my part, and I apologize for the assumption. In this case you were indeed alone, and the Police negligent.

Exactly, great way to wrap it up. Unfortunately what makes both the

• tempers worse, and

• the dangers more real,

because of immediate helplessness on the part of victims and equally immediate impunity for the perps, is the perceived impotence of the cops, however anecdotal the facts may be.

This is where I have no apologies. What exactly happened before you were run off the road? Did the guy just drive up and knock you in a ditch, or was there some interaction beforehand? Before I get flamed for that question, read on...

I'll straight-out admit that I used to be a full-throttle road rager with a nasty temper. It was a real problem. As I finally saw that this was compromising the safety of those around me, I started to get it under control. Most of my readings have recommended to either ignore the other party, put your hands up in a gesture of apology (even though it may have clearly been their fault), or divert course. It's a real danger and it's not getting any better (and has to be getting worse for hypermilers).

Post after post in this thread, I see people retaliating for dirty looks, gestures, and performing dangerous maneuvers. This is the center of my argument. It's not easy, and requires self control. It's a shame that more people have not demonstrated that trait in this thread.

RH77

[DifferentPointofView]

Whew!... all I gotta say is... what a topic.