WTF is wrong with people!!!!!

[skim1420]

I just got a dose of unfriendly driver rage earlier today. Car behind me made a right turn same as me into a single-lane road, then proceeded to pass me, veering me off to the side.

I should have been cautious because she was a very aggressive driver behind me (she cut off the car that was previously behind me to make the right turn). I gave her a bewildered look and she yelled at me as she drove by.

I guess she doesn't know she can really hurt or kill motorcyclists. Or.. it's simply that she's the type of person that we as a civilization need to move on from.

Just venting.

I'll tell you what is wrong with people, the stupid gene has been allowed to run rampant. In the "good old days" we all carried a six-gun and when people did stupid things like that we thinned the herd thereby decreasing the number of stupid children that were allowed to be born. But now it's not PC to do this so we all suffer the consequences!

[pintslayer]

I inherited a SOHC CB750 from my uncle, who rode it daily for about fifteen years in Miami traffic. He bought a Suzuki Cavalcade, and told me I could have the Honda. When I was about to ride off with it, he came running out the front door, yelling for me to stop. He went in the garage, and came back with an adjustable wrench, and proceeded to remove the cupholder from the Honda's handlebar. I looked in the cupholder and saw three or four rusty spark plugs. I asked him why he wanted the old cupholder full of cruddy old spark plugs. Surely he wasn't going to install that cobby looking thing on his new Suzuki, was he? He told me he was, and I asked him why, since the spark plugs were all of different sizes, they wouldn't do his new 'Zook any good. He said, "I like to throw them at people who try to kill me with their cars."

There's a lesson here: Don't f*** with my uncle in traffic.

[Ringo]

Originally Posted by pintslayer

I inherited a SOHC CB750 from my uncle, who rode it daily for about fifteen years in Miami traffic. He bought a Suzuki Cavalcade, and told me I could have the Honda. When I was about to ride off with it, he came running out the front door, yelling for me to stop. He went in the garage, and came back with an adjustable wrench, and proceeded to remove the cupholder from the Honda's handlebar. I looked in the cupholder and saw three or four rusty spark plugs. I asked him why he wanted the old cupholder full of cruddy old spark plugs. Surely he wasn't going to install that cobby looking thing on his new Suzuki, was he? He told me he was, and I asked him why, since the spark plugs were all of different sizes, they wouldn't do his new 'Zook any good. He said, "I like to throw them at people who try to kill me with their cars."

There's a lesson here: Don't f*** with my uncle in traffic.

Spark Plugs, absolutely brilliant. One night 25 years ago while I was out playing sailor, I somehow ended up in a poker game with a couple of bad news bikers. I noticed the front of their vest pockets were bulging with what I though were marbles, curiosity got the better of me and I asked what was in their pockets, one of them reached in and pulled out a ball bearing about the size of a small marble, he explained they toss them over their shoulder while riding to keep people from tail gating. Steel ball bearings hitting a windshield at 50 plus will defiantly get your attention. I could never do such a thing but man sometimes ya gotta wonder at these people, had a lady (I use the term loosely) make a left in front of me today at an intersection and then flipped me off as she turned in front of me.

[pintslayer]

Yeah, I thought it was cool, too, but in this day and age, someone's liable to shoot you for chucking an NGK BR9ES at their car.

[iamgumby]

Somebody is liable to shoot you to see how you look shot.

[SimonTuffGuy]

I've heard about people keeping spare change, marbles, etc in their pockets to dump if someone pissed them off... I think I'd be afraid of someone ramming me in that instance.

[Olivia Chillia]

Tossing stuff at other motorists is illegal, guys. Not to mention a bad idea. Let's say you chuck a handful of spark plugs or metal nuts at the lowlife who cuts you off, runs you off the road, etc. What if they up the ante by really trying to run you over? Or wait until you park and go after you with a meat hammer? So now you've broken the law AND you have to defend yourself from someone you antagonized in the first place. Tough in court.

I can relate somewhat to the frustration, having been run off the road today by a stupid woman too self-absorbed to make any of a variety of sensible choices that would have prevented a head-on collision and not involved running other drivers off the road. After running me off the road, she felt it was necessary to flip me off too. I was glad to return home to my dogs, who are paragons of civilized manners compared with her. And they're sweet on top of it.

[Ringo]

Originally Posted by Olivia Chillia

Tossing stuff at other motorists is illegal, guys. Not to mention a bad idea. Let's say you chuck a handful of spark plugs or metal nuts at the lowlife who cuts you off, runs you off the road, etc. What if they up the ante by really trying to run you over? Or wait until you park and go after you with a meat hammer? So now you've broken the law AND you have to defend yourself from someone you antagonized in the first place. Tough in court.

I can relate somewhat to the frustration, having been run off the road today by a stupid woman too self-absorbed to make any of a variety of sensible choices that would have prevented a head-on collision and not involved running other drivers off the road. After running me off the road, she felt it was necessary to flip me off too. I was glad to return home to my dogs, who are paragons of civilized manners compared with her. And they're sweet on top of it.

Olivia, no one was advocating throwing missiles at people, we were simply relaying our experiences. Although I don’t condone it, I understand why pintslayer's uncle throws spark plugs at these people and I don’t blame him for doing so.

Getting back to the original theme of the thread you have to wonder what is wrong with these people, seriously, what goes on in a persons head who has just ran someone off the road and flip’s them off to boot, it’s like “How dare you ride were I wanted to drive” I just don’t get it! It’s different when some lazy inattentive driver just does not see you; however, these people do see you and make a cognitive decision to try and hurt you!

[Dodsfall]

I would be tempted to call the local constabulary and report that a reckless, and possibly severely intoxicated driver just ran you off the road. Be sure to get the make model and plate number.

No, you don't know they are drunk, but there's a good chance right?

[Nitelord]

I believe that same person tried to pass me yesterday here in PA. I was in my truck. It's not like they were going to fit past me or anything, but boy did she try. I was thanking god I had the truck instead of the bike.
She scraped the left rear 1/4 a smidge and left white paint all over the side of my left rear tire. Thank goodness for lifted trucks.

People just don't pay attention. Doesn't matter what you are driving at the time. The stakes are just a whole lot higher on a bike...

Yikes, not one but two (separate) severe Motorcycle Accidents the other day in Sturgis! One rider seriously injured, the other one DOA. My wife feels compelled to always share these gory stories with me, and the added comment "...don't you dare let me catch you riding down LaZalle Street..." (where these incidents occurred). I feel sad for the riders... even though one of them was determined to had been riding at "...HIGH Speed.." (on a street here in the Black Hills which is almost always VERY busy!), and the fact is some of us out there create our OWN 'accident waiting to happen'. Nuff' said.

LRG

[Xianleather]

Whats wrong with people? Cell phones, Ipods, texting while driving, little ear buds in while driving, putting makeup on while driving, reading the paper, NEVER looking when making a left turn, eating while driving, and the fact they just dont give a **** about anything else around them, or anyone...sorta like that idiot that walks in 7-11 yappin on his bluetooth like hes in the SS while you're trying to make coffee and have to listen to his idiotic convo on how great his kid is doing in school...

[Dodsfall]

Originally Posted by LowRiderGhost

The fact is some of us out there create our OWN 'accident waiting to happen'.

I believe you are right LRG. We should always be thinking about doing the safest thing we can do at any given time above all else. 20/20 hindsight is always easy. 20/20 foresite is what we should be striving for.

[pintslayer]

Those Bluetooth things scare me. When I see some cat with one of those in his ear, I just assume the Borg has assimilated him, so I steer clear. I don't want to end up flying through space in some big cube.

[Olivia Chillia]

Originally Posted by Ringo

Olivia, no one was advocating throwing missiles at people, we were simply relaying our experiences. Although I don’t condone it, I understand why pintslayer's uncle throws spark plugs at these people and I don’t blame him for doing so.

I know. I didn't mean to sound as though someone was condoning it. Being a naturally analytical type, I was suggesting some very good reasons NOT to throw stuff. Emotionally, throwing objects and people who have just threatened our lives makes a lot of sense. I get it. Realistically, it's unlikely to be helpful, hence the commentary for the benefit of those whose life experience hasn't caused them to consider the consequences.

[cecilbdml]

Although I know none of us is an angel, it is foolish to think that there aren't folks out there who simply have issues they wish to visit on us. And I believe it foolish to think that those folks will simply scare us, do no damage or injury, and simply LET us get in touch with the mythic officer right around the corner.

CASE IN POINT: Riding down a major 4-lane boulevard on a GOLD WING. 1500hrs on a nice, sunny day. Traffic was light, the birds were chirping...life was good. I was in the left lane heading northbound, and was closing on a full-size Dodge Ram pickameup in the right lane. As I began pulling alongside, he moved into the left lane. There was someone behind me, so I couldn't slow down. I moved into the middle (turn) lane.

He continued to move left towards me. I was getting forced into southbound traffic.

I pulled out my combat folder knife and rapped his driver's side window. The window broke and a piece fell off the top. He whipped away from me into the right curb, and I took the opportunity to throttle out and into the next parking lot to the left. He screeched tires as if to follow me in, then suddenly changed his mind and burned rubber to skeedaddle. Maybe something about my hand on the butt of my pistol changed his mind. (Oregon has a 'Shall Issue' concealed handgun license law.) I called his license plate number into the authorities, who told me that there was nothing they could do unless he actually committed a crime. Funny, but we have menacing and reckless endangerment laws in this state...but I guess what he did violated none of THOSE laws, right?

Discussing the incident with a sheriff's dep who I know quite well, he expressed concern, stating that the individual in question was well known in the area, and apparently somewhat connected. He had already injured one biker, and KILLED a girl on a Honda Reflex scooter. He was acquitted of vehicular manslaughter in a jury trial...guess any prudent individual could mistake a 110lb girl on a scooter with a raging Hell's Angel on a Harley, right?

MORAL OF THE STORY: Paranoid is merely being prepared BEFORE the end of civilization.

[Ringo]

Originally Posted by cecilbdml

Although I know none of us is an angel, it is foolish to think that there aren't folks out there who simply have issues they wish to visit on us. And I believe it foolish to think that those folks will simply scare us, do no damage or injury, and simply LET us get in touch with the mythic officer right around the corner.

CASE IN POINT: Riding down a major 4-lane boulevard on a GOLD WING. 1500hrs on a nice, sunny day. Traffic was light, the birds were chirping...life was good. I was in the left lane heading northbound, and was closing on a full-size Dodge Ram pickameup in the right lane. As I began pulling alongside, he moved into the left lane. There was someone behind me, so I couldn't slow down. I moved into the middle (turn) lane.

He continued to move left towards me. I was getting forced into southbound traffic.

I pulled out my combat folder knife and rapped his driver's side window. The window broke and a piece fell off the top. He whipped away from me into the right curb, and I took the opportunity to throttle out and into the next parking lot to the left. He screeched tires as if to follow me in, then suddenly changed his mind and burned rubber to skeedaddle. Maybe something about my hand on the butt of my pistol changed his mind. (Oregon has a 'Shall Issue' concealed handgun license law.) I called his license plate number into the authorities, who told me that there was nothing they could do unless he actually committed a crime. Funny, but we have menacing and reckless endangerment laws in this state...but I guess what he did violated none of THOSE laws, right?

Discussing the incident with a sheriff's dep who I know quite well, he expressed concern, stating that the individual in question was well known in the area, and apparently somewhat connected. He had already injured one biker, and KILLED a girl on a Honda Reflex scooter. He was acquitted of vehicular manslaughter in a jury trial...guess any prudent individual could mistake a 110lb girl on a scooter with a raging Hell's Angel on a Harley, right?

MORAL OF THE STORY: Paranoid is merely being prepared BEFORE the end of civilization.

Right on Cecil, but keep an eye out, he will be looking for you. By the way, what do you mean by "Shall Issue" concealed handgun license law? Does this mean they HAVE to issue you the permit if you meet the requirements?

[PerrySB]

Every one of us that have ridden for a while have had people in cages do stupid things that endanger us, I have certainly had my share. Many years ago in the San Francisco bay area I biker got upset at a couple of guys in a car. I do not know what prompted the incident but witnesses said he threw something at the car. The driver eventually pulled along side the rider and the passenger shot and killed him. To be honest I don’t know if this case was ever solved or not, but that is the kind of thing that can happen if our tempers get the best of us. There have been so many incidents of road rage where people have gotten hurt, it just isn’t worth retaliating when cages do something stupid. We always must remember, bike verses car, guess who wins.

[cecilbdml]

Originally Posted by Ringo

Right on Cecil, but keep an eye out, he will be looking for you. By the way, what do you mean by "Shall Issue" concealed handgun license law? Does this mean they HAVE to issue you the permit if you meet the requirements?

That's exactly what it means. No 'discretionary' issuance, they gotta give you one if you're 21+, no felonies or recorded mental instability, and have passed the NRA safety course or have military experience.

By the way, this is the only state I know of, where merely having been in a police department doesn't automatically endow you with magic pistol powers. Police either have to be SWAT, or they have to take the course as well (this is for non-active and non-field officers).

[NEO1442]

Originally Posted by pintslayer

Those Bluetooth things scare me. When I see some cat with one of those in his ear, I just assume the Borg has assimilated him, so I steer clear. I don't want to end up flying through space in some big cube.

That totally made me laugh.

[NEO1442]

As a novice rider... People in cages can scare the bajeezus out of me.
The other day I was going along a 4 lane road 2 heading east and 2 heading west. I was just crusin around town enjoying the great weather. I was in the right most lane(going east)...and out of nowhere a guy pulls right into my lane to avoid getting stuck behind someone making a left. I nearly popped onto the curb...I'm pretty sure my foot peg scraped it. And then this guy decides to honk his horn at me, flick me off and give me all kinds of stupid body language. He acted like I just killed hi first born!? That was the closest I've come to an accident and my heart definitely skipped a beat. He could have put me straight into the curb and sidewalk right into a crowd of people.

[Voltaic Shock]

I was out on my bike the other day an 18 wheeler had to make a right turn and decided to do it form the left lane, cutting off all 3 lanes of traffic.

Let's just say I got to smell my brand new brakes and probably left a skid mark as well.

[pintslayer]

Originally Posted by Voltaic Shock

I was out on my bike the other day an 18 wheeler had to make a right turn and decided to do it form the left lane, cutting off all 3 lanes of traffic.

Let's just say I got to smell my brand new brakes and probably left a skid mark as well.

On the road or in your drawers?

Or both?

[Axle]

I like your style, cecil. I'm a small arms instructor for the navy. I go to work each day here on blessed shore duty and teach new young sailors how and when to use a weapon. CT still made me take the NRA safety course. Luckily for me, a fellow bubble head was NRA certified instructor and helped me out with that. Today, I completed my first week on a bike... ever. Which is why I'm in here reading about my fellow riders experiences. Fortunately I have not had any problems with the rolling cages, but I'm sure my time will come.

[PerrySB]

[QUOTE=cecilbdml;494351]I pulled out my combat folder knife and rapped his driver's side window.

Well I think this is an example of exactly what not to do. If that guy had been one of our local gang bangers he probably would have run you down. I also ride a Goldwing, did you have the cruise control set or just release the throttle, you couldn’t slow down to get away from his truck, you mean your brakes don’t work. Personally if I seen the incident you just described I would have cited both of you. What you did was not self defense in my opinion, you just endangered yourself, the fact that you were carrying means little. I’m not defending the guy in the pickup, he sounds like an idiot, but two wrongs don’t make for justice. What if he had gotten out of his truck and confronted you without a weapon, would you have pulled down on him? I’m a cop, it that had happened to me I would have slowed down and gotten out of the guys way, you might have been in the right, but you could have ended up dead right.

[Voltaic Shock]

Originally Posted by pintslayer

On the road or in your drawers?

Or both?

LOL!

Just the road! -

[cmonSTART]

Originally Posted by pintslayer

Those Bluetooth things scare me. When I see some cat with one of those in his ear, I just assume the Borg has assimilated him, so I steer clear. I don't want to end up flying through space in some big cube.

Ha! Made my Trekkie wife laugh.

I had someone try to pass me once on a 1 lane road. I darn near hit the guardrail. I don't understand some people.

[nickles518]

does anyone else just keep their brights on at all times? That is something i started doing about 6 months ago when this lady cut me off on the highway. I went and bought the ultra-bright headlights and keep my highbeams on during the day so it is easier for these clueless people to notice me. I realized when i'm not on the freeway that if you pass a car with you brights on, they get scared of hitting you and slow down and move further away from you. However, i do switch them off when I pass another biker.

[Ringo]

Originally Posted by nickles518

does anyone else just keep their brights on at all times? That is something i started doing about 6 months ago when this lady cut me off on the highway. I went and bought the ultra-bright headlights and keep my highbeams on during the day so it is easier for these clueless people to notice me. I realized when i'm not on the freeway that if you pass a car with you brights on, they get scared of hitting you and slow down and move further away from you. However, i do switch them off when I pass another biker.

Nickless I plan on getting the head light modulator in the next month; however, in the mean time when I come to an intersection with traffic or a side road with a cage sitting there are manually start flicking between high and low beam. Sue as hell can't hurt.

[Voltaic Shock]

Originally Posted by nickles518

does anyone else just keep their brights on at all times? That is something i started doing about 6 months ago when this lady cut me off on the highway. I went and bought the ultra-bright headlights and keep my highbeams on during the day so it is easier for these clueless people to notice me. I realized when i'm not on the freeway that if you pass a car with you brights on, they get scared of hitting you and slow down and move further away from you. However, i do switch them off when I pass another biker.

I was told when I picked up my bike to always leave the high beam on during the day. This is coming from a guy that has been riding for along time.

[atolleter]

I ride both bike and car as many do here I am sure. Although I understand the purpose of being seen on a bike I ride with highbeams off on bike because I know how annoying it is to be blinded when driving the car and passing a bike that has highbeams on.

[Zuki]

PerrySB if you reread his post you will see he said there was someone behind him so he couldn't slow down.

[Voltaic Shock]

Originally Posted by atolleter

I ride both bike and car as many do here I am sure. Although I understand the purpose of being seen on a bike I ride with highbeams off on bike because I know how annoying it is to be blinded when driving the car and passing a bike that has highbeams on.

While I agree with this. I now understand why a biker turns on the high beam during the day.

Since I now know, I just let it go if a biker is behind me with their high beams on.

[lmychajluk]

The other reason to use your high beam (during the day, anyway) is that if you have a single headlight, your high-beam filament burns out before your standard one, and you still have something to use safely around other motorists at night.

And, as far as 'flashing' my high-beam at people to get thier attention, I avoid it. It's too easy for them to mistake as a 'go ahead' signal.

[cardinal]

Originally Posted by Zuki

PerrySB if you reread his post you will see he said there was someone behind him so he couldn't slow down.

There is always someone behind me and I always slow down when it's required.

Nearly every scenario of crazy cagers discussed here, has happened to me....but I was in a car or truck (pickup and 18 wheeler) at the time. There are a few people out there who intentionally go after motorcycles. But there are a few who go after bicycles or pedestians. I have had people do stupid/agressive things to me while I was in a boat, airplane, car, and bicycle. I don't walk much, but I figure that if I was out there long enough......wait I remember somebody throwing an orange at me from a car while my brother and I were out walking about 5 years ago. You ain't safe from stupid or angy no matter what yer do'in!

[2Wheels]

It's wierd to read these scenario's because I've never had anything like that happen to me in my town.
I think people who purposly go after riders are just ignorant. You gotta admit that motorcycle riders don't have the best reputation but I have a feeling that the way other drivers treat motorcyclists on the road will change soon enough because the higher gas prices go up, the more bikes you will start seeing, but that's just my own opinion.

[Goliath616]

Sunday I pulled up to a light, (north bound) almost home, single lane road (one each way) I was first at the light, SUV behind me is turning left so gets close to the middle line (still behind me though) then some jack@ss pulls onto the shoulder and crowds me at the line and is cussing me, well I cuss back and call him a few choice names, he turns right. To my left (east bound) was a cop, he hits his light, pulls the guy over, and motions me over. I pull up and shut off the bike, cop asks me what was going on (he saw the arguing) I told him what happened, he then walked to the car and started telling this guy that what he had done is illegal (lane splitting, driving on the shoulder, not yielding the right of way, ect. ect.) and writes the guy several tickets. Walks back to me and says "After paying the amount of fines he is going to have, he will think again before doing something like that to another bike." I really like that cop LOL

[Kaellie]

Originally Posted by Voltaic Shock

I was out on my bike the other day an 18 wheeler had to make a right turn and decided to do it form the left lane, cutting off all 3 lanes of traffic.

Let's just say I got to smell my brand new brakes and probably left a skid mark as well.

You really have to watch the big rigs, they frequently need a lot of room to make a turn. I saw some little miata (or similar) one day thought she could "squeeze in" to the right turn lane while a truck was swinging left to make a right turn.

Her little car got got even smaller.

Fortunatly she lived to learn the lesson.

[Kaellie]

Originally Posted by Goliath616

Sunday I pulled up to a light, (north bound) almost home, single lane road (one each way) I was first at the light, SUV behind me is turning left so gets close to the middle line (still behind me though) then some jack@ss pulls onto the shoulder and crowds me at the line and is cussing me, well I cuss back and call him a few choice names, he turns right. To my left (east bound) was a cop, he hits his light, pulls the guy over, and motions me over. I pull up and shut off the bike, cop asks me what was going on (he saw the arguing) I told him what happened, he then walked to the car and started telling this guy that what he had done is illegal (lane splitting, driving on the shoulder, not yielding the right of way, ect. ect.) and writes the guy several tickets. Walks back to me and says "After paying the amount of fines he is going to have, he will think again before doing something like that to another bike." I really like that cop LOL

Awesome!!!