Playground taunts... so applicable to commuting by bike
03-12-10, 03:40 PM
#26
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I was told to "get on the sidewalk" only once. I responded with: "no, you get on the sidewalk". The driver started to respond in kind, but I think realized how stupid and pointless the whole conversation was and shut up then drove off. I was pretty satisfied with the exchange.
03-12-10, 04:02 PM
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03-12-10, 07:50 PM
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lol @ VtJim.....
I hate to say but my default reaction to aggression is often to respond in-kind. Other times though I'll just give a polite wave (no, not the single-digit-salute) and/or a smile as if they just said, "Have a nice day!" and after many various encounters I've come to a conclusion: typically these folks are being jerks for the sole purpose of getting a rise out of you (me, whatever)... You escalate and they laugh because they won their little game; but if you do the "hey there" wave it seems to make them think they lost... which, ironically, makes them upset.
I'm trying to train myself to smile brightly and wave at people who try to run me off the road, (as opposed to those who are simply asleep at the wheel, texting, or too busy putting on their makeup or tweezing their nose hairs -- those are the people who actually make me mad).
Part of it, of course, is that whole driving desire for self-mastery ("No way I'm letting these chumps intimidate me!"), but there's also something particularly satisfying about the look someone gives you when he's just given his all to trying to scare the pants off of you and you just smile and wave at the next intersection. Ahhh, satisfaction.
Part of it, of course, is that whole driving desire for self-mastery ("No way I'm letting these chumps intimidate me!"), but there's also something particularly satisfying about the look someone gives you when he's just given his all to trying to scare the pants off of you and you just smile and wave at the next intersection. Ahhh, satisfaction.
03-13-10, 12:32 AM
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I put a bumpersticker on my back pack that says "thanks for honking Now piss off" seems to get their attention. Oh and wave with a big smile to everything. that always makes people mad when you get happy from their anger.
03-13-10, 06:59 AM
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it always takes some self-control not to spit on cars that honk or double-park in the bike lane.
08-08-10, 03:39 AM
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Funny how many of them can't figure out that it's bad to taunt and/or threaten the guy who's bigger and far more athletic than they are, (and in a county with an extremely high number of concealed carry licenses per capita) but they know better than to annoy the crazy guy.
08-08-10, 07:31 AM
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Had a guy buzz around me to get to the red light in the through lane while I was signaling to move into the left turn lane. Had to pull my signal hand back in to keep him from taking it off. After I pulled up next to him and asked him why getting to a red light was so important it was worth risking my life, he told me that I was a "s***head."
"S***head? Really? You swear even worse than you drive."
"S***head? Really? You swear even worse than you drive."
Last edited by specq; 08-08-10 at 07:37 AM.
08-08-10, 10:51 AM
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I was told to "get on the sidewalk" only once. I responded with: "no, you get on the sidewalk". The driver started to respond in kind, but I think realized how stupid and pointless the whole conversation was and shut up then drove off. I was pretty satisfied with the exchange.
Winner!!!
although, the "you get on the sidewalk" probably needs to be said in the most childish, taunting voice possible.
08-08-10, 11:08 AM
#37
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It's been rough to keep my composure at times, and I've been doing a fair job as of late in keeping my cool. From experience, responding to motorists' taunts/actions with equal effort usually ends up in a tit for tat contest that nobody really wins in the long run.
08-08-10, 11:19 AM
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My friend gives people the "double thumbs up" while driving, to other drivers who cut him off or do other stupid things in traffic. It works kind of like the big smile and wave. It's an obvious gesture that shows that you noticed their poor driving, and are pointing it out to them.
08-08-10, 01:10 PM
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My friend gives people the "double thumbs up" while driving, to other drivers who cut him off or do other stupid things in traffic. It works kind of like the big smile and wave. It's an obvious gesture that shows that you noticed their poor driving, and are pointing it out to them.
08-08-10, 02:25 PM
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A guy yelled at us to get off the ****ing road. I yelled in perfect timing so he could hear ---> "nice 70's porn mustache you jackwagon" The guy had a bad 70's porn mustache.... what else could I say?
Last edited by unterhausen; 08-08-10 at 11:57 PM. Reason: don't try to work around the censor
08-08-10, 06:36 PM
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I usually don't say anything but I think "smile for the camera" should work pretty well. I haven't bought a camera yet, but how are they going to know that?
08-08-10, 08:20 PM
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Asked a guy once if he had learned to drive like an ass or if it came naturally for him. I thought he was going to explode trying to come up with a good response 
08-08-10, 08:44 PM
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08-08-10, 08:58 PM
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Gosh, I'm a lone commuter on a bike path in the mornings and all I get to deal with is an actual turkey that cuts me off every once and awhile. Can't repeat the rants I spew at this buzzard, but they do include barbecue sauce.
Last edited by sadsack; 08-08-10 at 09:32 PM.
08-09-10, 12:00 AM
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I was out riding with another cyclist when someone yelled for us to get off the ****ing road. The other cyclist turned to me and said "I think it's a perfectly good road, don't you?" That would be a good comeback, but the motorists would never hear it.
08-09-10, 12:50 AM
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Odd, I just had to throw a guy with a 70s porn mustache and a serious attitude problem off the site last night. Was yours, by chance, driving a dark-colored sedan with Texas plates?