Things that irritate

[RvW]

This is life in general right?

Life "in general" seems to not go by without at least one thing per day that is uselessly annoying or a simple pain in the neck. ...or maybe at least has me shake my head and ask "why"?? (but in much more rated "R" words sometimes.)

Today is an exception, there were many.

First, ONLY in Tillamook county can you get stuck in a FOUR-CAR gridlock!! (equally annoying is that I happened to be the only one leaning on the horn to indicate I was not at fault)
C'MON people!

So this is a bit uncommon, but I have a list of things that are not.....at least in my opinion....and they SHOULD be!

1: TAILGATERS..Does the average TIllamook or Lincoln county resident understand they are operating a 3000 lb (or more) piece of metal with a tank of gasoline attached???
WHATS THE HURRY?? I want to make bumbper stickers.lots of them, EI "TOO SLOW? TOO BAD!!! ( Heck I at least do the speed limit,sometimes about 7 MPH over and I am a TRAINED DRIVER) or how about "Im in front, you're in back DEAL WITH IT!" or "wanna see an accident waiting to happen, look in my rear-view mirror"

270,000 PEOPLE DIE in the US from auto accidents every year...did someone assume this number is inflated by California and NYC drivers? Man-O-Man I ve been to both cities, Boston, Chicago and Miami too and I swear theres not one person in any of them as braindead as some of the folks I run into in Oregon. Oh, and whats with crossing halfway over into MY lane to give a byciclist 14 feet of room and allow me only INCHES from a 55 mile-per-hour head -on collision you idiots!?

Next on my list today (and for a long time) is the sealed plastic containers that products come in these days such as a PC mouse...(finally replaced mine after a self taught course in keyboarding)
Seems like EVERYTHING comes in these Kevlar reinforced, bulletproof, fort-knox type packages so-to speak, and I have not found an adequate tool to open them safely and effectively. I got a mouse, a 12V splitter for the ciggarete lighter in my truck, and some memory cards for one of my cameras....ALL of them are in these packages that are IMPOSSIBLE to open without cursing and....well, to put it quite simply, similar to pulling too hard on a bag of chips and splitting the entire thing in two.."chips-all-over-the-place" style.

Television!...I dont watch too much of it but WOW...(I planted my arse for 20 minutes last night, and was brainwashed by 18.5 minutes of commercial GARBAGE...The thing that REALLY bothers me is I couldnt tell you ONE product that was advertised!) When the show did finally air, I found myself asking the same old question..."do these people have jobs?"

And last on my Monday trash list.....A question:

WHO CARES what the rich and famous did last week? or what they drive, or wear, or have extramarital affairs with?
As far as I am concerned, Hollywood is the land of "make believe" where the money isnt even real because the people who have it need to pay someone MORE than I make to count it!

Okie dokey kids...I got this off my chest, but theres so much more than this that I dont have time to write, or faith in you to read, so its your turn..what bugs you? whats the simple little things in "life in general" that irritate you aside from this post and the fact that you read the whole thing?

[ 08-11-2003, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: Row Vs. Wade ]

[Maddie'sDaddy]

One thing i have seen in the last few months and a couple times before, is this couple in hillsboro that stand on the side of the road with will work for food signs, its not so much that they do that, but they parade their two kids about 8 or 9 yrs old or so along with them and have them standing out there with them. That is just wrong.

[BuckisMunz]

my favorite bumper sticker that needs to be made for Tailgaters!!!

"THE CLOSER YOU GET, THE SLOWER I GO!!!"

[pdxkevin]

that's almost as bad as the sand that never comes out of your shoes from a single beach on the beach. Months later, you still get sand between your toes just wearing the shoes around Portland.

or

carefully untangling your line, getting set up, waiting for the wind to get 'just' right and casting ~ watching the weight make a nice 'plop' way out there, just about perfect ~ ~ than a second later you watch your sandshrimp 'plink' in half way between....

[ 08-12-2003, 08:29 AM: Message edited by: pdxkevin ]

[Sea Jypzee]

One of my favorite annoyances here locally is people who just casually walk across the street in front of traffic without as much as even looking at what might be coming along. Or they look and walk anyway, without a crosswalk in sight or against the lights.

Happens here in Depoe Bay all the time. The tourists seem to think they own the streets and the cars are just there for them to jump out in front of.

[Big Willie]

How about the drivers who, for no other reason, hold up the fast lane. MOVE OVER!!!

Is there a strange fascination with driving in the 'fast' lane and having other drivers pass on the right? MOVE OVER!!!

That's what irritates me. Have a nice day.

[OceanBlue]

How about when it is raining cats and dogs and you stop at the grocery on your way home? Just try to dodge the rain while drivers (safe and snug in their cars) are busily zooming through the parking lot so they can join you in getting drenched, while other cars (drivers safe and snug inside) zoom around so they can join in the fun...

How about slowing down so that the poor drenched pedestrians can get out of the rain?

Oh and more on driving... I learned to drive in LA. I thought that was bad... until I spent time in Boston. Chicago isn't any prize, either. But you want to know the most pleasant place in the country to drive? In my experience - UTAH! Oregon isn't that bad. The problem here is that folks either drive 45 or 75.... that and we don't seem to understand how to merge onto the highways.

[Thumper]

Boston is the worst! I had never seen a blinking green light before. Even the cops didn't know what that meant!

[Mr. Carp]

BuckisMunz: I remember we had a little discussion about this awhile back in regards to Oregon drivers.... :grin: Always in good fun. The only thing I have to say is if you pull that when there is a Blue 77' 4x4 Suburban with a Warn Winch on the front, get ready for a push into the median!!! Tailgaters have a purpose and it is to keep "less intelligent" people from holding up traffic.

Big Willie: I hate that just as much as you. I guess some of these fools can't read the sign in the median saying "SLOW TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT!"

[fish assassin]

Ya know what *I* hate?? (warning: this is a Tuesday rant, NOT a Monday
rant) I really, really, *really* hate it when I take a four day weekend so I
can go fishing, Fish on an ugly ocean on Friday and Saturday, take the day off
Sunday 'cause I'm dead tired from two days of fishing a rough ocean, go back and
fish again on an ugly ocean on Monday and the best day to have been out fishing?? Yep,
you guessed it!! Sunday!!

Uggghhh!! There ought to be a law!!!

-assAssin-

[OceanBlue]

Sounds like me, FA - Whenever I have the kids, or have to work and can't fish, it's most likely to be flat and beautiful. I had ONE flat ocean day this summer. I count myself lucky to have had that, though.

[larryb]

what makes me mad:city folk that stop on a blind cruve to look at the local herd of elk and then get mad if you honk at them.

[1pump]

I don't know what the big deal is about tailgaters. I just ignore them. They hit me, and it's their problem. As long as they have insurance, I don't care. But it is kind of irritating when you're going 10mph over the limit and somebody's drafting you.

Oh, yeah, the part of the on-ramp that runs parallel to the freeway for a short distance before the merge? It's called an ACCELERATION LANE! It's not a "Get on I-5 at 35mph lane". It should be used for it's intended purpose. Otherwise ODOT could save a lot of money by making them shorter. Not that most people would notice. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

This one got me today- I came zooming up behind a minivan on Hwy 97 this morning. While waiting for an opportunity to pass, I watched the driver and passengers through the back window.
There must have been some sort of "equal time" rule in this vehicle. The driver was spending as much time looking at her passengers as she was looking out the windshield. There was a non-stop conversation of some kind going on, which is fine, but the driver's head was swiveling ninety degrees to the right about every 5 seconds. Every time she did this, the car would drift accordingly.
I realize that it's polite to make eye contact, but I think this point of etiquette can be ignored while operating a vehicle on a 2-lane highway. Especially on a highway where I've seen 2 fatal accidents since June. :depressed:

[RvW]

Traffic dummies seem to be the focus here. so I'll add a few more worthy targets to the spike strip list.

When two lanes turn into one, theres typically a sign that indicates which lane ends yeah? well, if your in the lane that has ended, why do drivers in the other lane feel its thier right to decide who takes the lead? Geez, I mean were all going to meet again at the stop light a mile ahead anyway right? One set of brake lights creates fourty sets of break lights, Just plan ahead and keep the flow going!

Do some cars come without a rearview mirror capable of seeing the line of 3276 cars behind it? Is driving 23 MPH in a 55 ok if you do it halfway into the breakdown lane? Are the middle lanes designed to allow those entering traffic with a left hand turn an oportunity to at least get by the first lane of traffic? Today I was wanting to make a left turn into Staples in Newport, but the darn left turn lane had two cars in it FACING ME waiting to get into trafic...god that irritates me...the lane has an ARROW for a reason! (not to mention its a violation to use a center lane for anything but a left turn, especially when theres a sign that says "CENTER LANE LEFT TURN ONLY!)

I have very light sensitive eyes, and though I see with vision that is better than 20/10 night time seems to be a night-mare when people wait until they are within sight to dim thier brights, or follow you with 7million candlepower brights on thinking its ok because they are far enough behind you. Uhh, hello, theres a switch there for a reason...USE IT.

One last observation before I fill out my SR22 form...if your making a right hand turn and someones waiting to enter the lane your in...USE YOUR SIGNAL! I know its an inconvienience to let others know what your doing, but its not like youll ever see the person you hold up in traffic in person anyway right?

I get the impression people would stab you in the throat if they could do it from thier car without slowing down just to get to wal-mart for the bluelight special before you do.

This woman I know, who goes out of her way to pretend she loves everyone who loves her passes me on the right a while back...100 yards past where her lane ended. Her tire picked up a rock and broke my windshield. A few minutes later I pulled into an open parking spot at wal-mart right next to her mercedes that she was standing next to talking to a family and I couldnt help myself...I embarassed the heck out of her.

Carp, tailgating puts me and the people in my car at risk...and if your the tailgator, your in MY control...do you really want to be?
The law states 4 seconds...when your following at posted speeds...if the car in front of you is less than four seconds away, your breaking the law.

[Mr. Carp]

Originally posted by Row Vs. Wade:
Carp, tailgating puts me and the people in my car at risk...and if your the tailgator, your in MY control...do you really want to be?

The law states 4 seconds...when your following at posted speeds...if the car in front of you is less than four seconds away, your breaking the law.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">What does being a Trained Driver mean??

Row, I'll admit it that I tailgate people and will continue to do it. Sorry if this offends anyone, but I do it. I only tailgate people that are going slow in the fast lane holding up traffic on the freeway or if someone is poking along on a country road, I'll get up behind them so they know that I would like to go past them. Just my way of driving. Therefore Row, if you are holding up the flow, I'll tailgate you so you get the picture to move over and let the flow go by you. People don't get it half of the time unless you about ram them off the road. My favorite is when you come up on someone and they brake check you. Don't they understand that they will get tailgated even worse. If someone brake checks me, they get the KC offroad light turned on them right into their rear view mirrors. Whew... I feel a road rage episode coming on

As far as the distance between cars is concerned, I know the rules. I have all the endorsements for my CDL and am aware of the amount of following distance. If you would like to review, enjoy pg 53 on the first link. Page 35 is good to look at on the last link:

http://www.dol.wa.gov/ds/cdlguide.pdf

http://www.dol.wa.gov/ds/guide/guide4.htm#Sharing

http://www.odot.state.or.us/forms/dmv/37.pdf

Overall Row, the links I have provided do not say anywhere that you must have 4 seconds between cars. The personal cars should have a recommended spacing of 2 to 4 seconds and the commercial trucks need 1 second for every 10 feet of length plus an additional second over 40 mph. I have never heard of anything such as a 4 second law.

If you have a chance, show me proof of such a law. Not trying to get down on you, but I believe your info is incorrect. Do you know how far 4 seconds is at 60 mph? Everyone in Washington and Oregon driving on Hwy 26 or I-5 should be getting tickets.....

[ 08-12-2003, 11:47 PM: Message edited by: Mr. Carp ]

[RvW]

Carp. I dont have "proof" at my fingertips, but if concrete eveidence is needed to continue the conversation I guess it has come to an abrubt end.
On the other hand, common sense plays as big a role, if not bigger in driving decisions and my common sense tells me that if someone is traveling slower than I like to travel, they are likely not familiar with the area, or a very cautious nervous driver. Is that someone I want to be riding on the bumper of?

Im not going to waste your time and mine leading you into an answer I want to hear, Ill just say it outright when you tailgate you put people at risk simply for your convenience of getting there quiker. Do you expect people to react in your favor when you ride thier bumper? Not gonna happen. With you irritated, and the guy in front of you irritated too, things can only get worse.
Several programs offer different advice for following distances and one of the most popular driver education programs out there (which coincidently is used by an overwhelming number of law enforcement agencies) is the SMITH SYSTEM Which teaches people to apply the 4 second following rule. Police often rely on thier training and thier own discretion to determine what is safe and what isnt, and if a cop writes you a ticket for following to close, it doesnt matter if theres a law in black and white, the judge is going to make you pay the fine based entirely on the cops descretion, with nothing in writting to win his case..

I think this portion of the conversation is a perfect example of the issues on the road, people seem to think they are perfectly capable of determining what is safe for them, and safe for the other drivers on the road too.

But with the numbers of fatal crashes and crippling injuries on the rise and NOT on the decline, regardless of better roads, better equippment, and higher insurance premiums, Id say theres all the proof you need to apply a "rule" such as the 4 second one. If it doesnt save your own life, it might save someone elses.

[Mr. Carp]

Row, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, but all I am saying is that I drive this way. The problem is that it is always the officer's discrestion, but I kinda took offence to you telling me that I was breaking the law by following less than 4 seconds away. Is it the safest thing to do sometimes, no. Do I do it anyway? Yes.

When some one is taking their sweet time on a state highway looking at the scenery or yaking on the phone, then they should pull their dang car over so others can get to where they are going at the speed limit. There is a 5 car rule for holding up traffic that most people think only applies to commercial vehicles. If someone is oblivious to the rest of the world and is going 55 in the fast lane of the freeway and not getting out of the way so flow can continue correctly, they deserve to be tailgated. Sometimes this is the only way they get a clue. Sorry I feel this way, but I do.

The "Im in front, you're in back DEAL WITH IT!" or "TOO SLOW? TOO BAD!!!" mottos are the main resaon people will tailgate you with that attitude. It doesn't matter if you are going 20 mph over the speed limit. If you are holding someone up, move over and let them by. That's all you need to do. When people talk like this and have this kind of mentality, it cracks me up. I guess they control everything and are thre only people in the world that matter at that point in time, NOT! All I would suggest is that 90% of the drivers go take classes from your Smith System so our freeways and highways would work like they are supposed to.

Being an engineer studying traffic design, roads are designed for rules to be followed and such so they work correctly. When people don't move right unless passing or don't go the speed limit, the highway doesn't flow the amount of traffic it was designed to do.

[DanS]

if a cop writes you a ticket for following to close, it doesnt matter if theres a law in black and white, the judge is going to make you pay the fine based entirely on the cops descretion

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">So, you're saying an officer's descretion wins over a law in black and white? In what country? Not this one...........

[RvW]

Carp...we obviously have very different opinions on the subject of tailgating. It can be rationalized as a means of communicating with the driver in front of you, but that driver isnt infringing on any laws or endangering anyone else, the tailgater is plain and simple.
If Im going the speed limit, and you want to go faster...thats YOUR problem, and I see no need to pull over and let you by so I can read about you in the paper the next day. or the car full of kids you rearended.

Dan...maybe you should have a little chat with your local law enforcement official. Heres a crystal clear example...You can be charged with DUI AND convicted if the officer feels you are a danger to yourself or others REGARDLESS if your blood contains an illegal (written) level of intoxicating substance. Dont fool yourself, things like this happen all the time. Theres no law that say a BAL of .02 is a crime, but dont bet your bail money you wont be convicted if a police officer feels your a danger behind the wheel.
You can be given a ticket for a large number of things that are NOT written in black and white specifically, but maybe wrtten in broad generalizations.
If a cop tells a judge you were following too close and/or creating a hazard, there doesnt need to be a law written that states the officers reason he feels you were creating a hazzard. You will be found guilty and forced to pay the fine.
Which country?...the good ole USA (your in the US right?) The land where I am free to drive the speed limit and not a MPH more if I chose. Regardless of the guy behind me whos late for his carp fishing trip :tongue:

[DanS]

Row,

Well, then the law isn't black and white in that case now is it?

[snowball]

1 . People who point at their wrist while asking for the time.... I know
where my watch is pal, where the hell is yours? Do I point at my crotch when
I ask where the toilet is?
2. People who are willing to get off their ass to search the entire room
for the tv remote because they refuse to walk to the tv and change the
channel manually.

&gt;3. When people say "Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too".
Damn right! What good is a cake if you can't eat it?

4. When people say "it's always the last place you look". Of course it is.
Why would you keep looking after you've found it? Do people do this? Who and
where are they? Gonna Kick their ass!

&gt;5. When people say while watching a film in the theater "did you see
that?". No Loser, I paid $12 to come to the cinema and stare at the floor.

&gt;6. People who ask "Can I ask you a question?".... Didn't really give me a
choice there, did ya sunshine?

&gt;7. When something is 'new and improved!'. Which is it?

&gt;If it's new, then there has never been anything before it. If it's an
improvement, then there must have been something before it.

&gt;8. When people say "life is short". What the?? Life is the longest damn
thing anyone ever does!! What can you do that's longer?

&gt;9. When you are waiting for the bus and someone asks "Has the bus come
yet?".. If the bus came would I be standing here, you dumbass?

[OceanBlue]

Mr. Carp - I'm confused. If the speed limit is 55 and I'm driving 55... let's say on the sunset highway between downtown PDX and Hillsboro, am I not driving the way the road was designed to be driven? If the road was designed to be driven at 65 or at 70, then wouldn't the law be in direct opposition to the design of the road? Or were the roads designed to accommodate people who break the law by speeding?

I'm not trying to create more of an argument, I'm interested in hearing more from an engineering perspective...

[Thumper]

Originally posted by OceanBlue:
Or were the roads designed to accommodate people who break the law by speeding?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">The design of the roads and the posted speeds are totally unrelated. Until a few years ago the "safe" speed (i.e., limit) on I-5 in Washington was 60 mph. Now it is 70 mph. The roads did not change, but the limits did.

So, OceanBlue, the roads were indeed designed to accomodate people who break the law by speeding.

[RvW]

"So, you're saying an officer's descretion wins over a law in black and white?"

Dan this was your question...and my answer is:

Uhh, what was the question?
Oh yeah...my answer is YES (is that the right answer or the wrong one Dan?)

If theres a "black and white" law that says you cant have a BAL of .08 or above in oregon and drive, I guess the cops discretion WINS over that law when your BAL is less than that, but your still arrested and convicted for DUI.
Make sense? Sure it does. It happens all the time.

Im a little confused at your point. Carp had asked for proof. I dont need proof that a cop can and will write you a ticket if he/she thinks you should get one, regardless of a law that is written in balck and white and in a case where a cops driving instruction included the Smith system which is not uncommon, they will indeed apply the 4 second rule as taught in many driving programs. The 4 second rule (of thumb) is not unreasonable, and at 65 MPH doesnt put a huge gap between you and the car in front of you. Next time your on the road, give it a try. Watch the car in front of you pass a sign or pole and count to four. if you pass the same object at the same time you reach four, you'll be about 10 car lengths behind. If you have antilock brakes, the average stopping time at 65 on clean dry pavement is 60 feet (consider the 15 to 20 ft it takes to react to the stopped car in front of you and even the four second rule is cutting it close sometimes)
I have no clue what your point is Dan.

Speed limits are developed by a scientific method...theres not some guy in an office deciding what a good speed for that road is, theres people who travel in several different style cars with a device that shows tip and sway. If the tip and g force (not positive these are the proper terms but you get the point) go over a predetermined setting on the device, the speed is reduced in the vehicle and the test is performed again until acceptable results are found on the device. Most often now, there is a scale that is used instead of the device as refence. Still the same results.

Of course this doesnt apply to many streets such as school zones and inner city roads. These speeds are determined by common sense. But the speeds are most ceretainly determined in many cases by a device first, and surrounding conditions taken into consideration as well.

Snowball...very nice..I got irretated just reading it.

[DanS]

My point is that unlike you, I don't believe an officer's decretion is unimpeachable in a legal proceeding. In fact, I KNOW it isn't.......I've BEEN to traffic court on occasion.

The judge may side with the officer, he may not. You made it sound like a forgone conclusion. It isn't.

[RvW]

Conviction = unimpeachable
Aquittal = impeachable

Whats more likely to happen in traffic court with an arguement between a law officer and a civilian?

The whole point is tailgating...its dangerous, and is no fault of the person who is being tailgated...even insurance companies and courts agree on this no matter HOW far behind someone you were when you rearended tham.

[DanS]

Whats more likely to happen in traffic court with an arguement between a law officer and a civilian?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">OJ and I had a good laugh over that one.

[Big Willie]

People who drive too slow in the fast lane are just as dangerous.

I can guarantee if it's an emergency, and some jerk won't move over and I can't pass on the right, I'll make the decision for them.

There is simply no excuse for holding up traffic.

[RvW]

Originally posted by DanS:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica"> Whats more likely to happen in traffic court with an arguement between a law officer and a civilian?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">OJ and I had a good laugh over that one. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">So did Johnny Cochran and I (I'm sure if you pay him enough he'l represent you in a tailgating trial)

(Did you miss the word "traffic"?)

[ 08-13-2003, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: Row Vs. Wade ]

[RvW]

Originally posted by Big Willie:
People who drive too slow in the fast lane are just as dangerous.

I can guarantee if it's an emergency, and some jerk won't move over and I can't pass on the right, I'll make the decision for them.

There is simply no excuse for holding up traffic.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">

[Jennie@ifish]

If I posted what irritates me, I would have a board war.... so ... I'll just say,

Don't worry! Be happy!

What's for supper?

Jen

[Jennie@ifish]

By the way.... Tailgaters drive me nuts!

I can't understand why some people need to be in such a hurry. Slow down! Enjoy life! If you are late, it's your own darn fault for not leaving earlier!

Take a deep breath and look around you! This world is beautiful! Why rush? ...and why irritate someone else and ruin their day, too?

Shame on you!

Jen

[DanS]

You don't need Johnny Cochran to beat a traffic ticket, Row. I've seen it with my own two eyes.

It's up to the judge, not the officer who wrote the ticket.

[RvW]

On to the next pain in the arse.

Is McDonalds employment a tough job?
I order a sausage and egg mcgriddle with no chese and I get no sausage too! I frequent McDs for breakfast, and this happens all the time, "buiscuit with sausage and egg please"..I get a buscuit with no egg? CMON, its not like theres not enough technology in McDs.. screens with orders everywhere, muffins, biscuits and the things that go in the middle are the extent of the menu. 40 people waiting on 12 customers...What is the problem? It only happens when Im in a hurry too!

4 hours later at subway, Im standing in line behind one man. The man orders his sub and Im about to say "cold cut trio" when two other guys and a gal come streaming out of the bathroom and walk rite in front of me!..."Uh hello..can I see your ticket to CUT ME OFF please?" Its really no big deal to wait your turn is it? or is the bathroom an extension of the line to order? I guess because they came in with the guy in front of me, they had a pass eh?

The woman said "Im sorry, but we are really hungry and in a hurry" I said "hmm, where you headed" she said "oh we left our kids on the beach" I said "Oh should I go watch them for you while you eat"
No-one made eye contact after that, the professional sandwich maker got to me and I asked if there was anyone in the bathroom waiting to order.

Traffic lights that are programmed wrong! Im driving up to a 4 way in the more traveled road and the light turns yellow before I get ther with NOBODY in the other three intersecting lanes! Whats up with that? Ive learned to expect it now down in south lincoln city (taft) it never fails..6am Im the only car approaching the light and it changes..What the?

[ 08-13-2003, 07:32 PM: Message edited by: Row Vs. Wade ]

[willierower]

One thing that really irrates me is....

ATM's that ask if you want service in English or Spanish? Give me a break!!! This is the United States of America, We speak English here! If ya cant read it or speak it, You need to learn!!!

[Thumper]

Originally posted by Row Vs. Wade:
No-one made eye contact after that, the professional sandwich maker got to me and I asked if there was anyone in the bathroom waiting to order.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Funniest line of the day!

[STGRule]

Boy, what a bunch of stuff to complain about. I'm just happy I woke up this morning. I'm glad I got no horrible phone calls in the middle of the night. I'm glad I have electricity, hot water, and heat/AC when I get up. I'm glad there is food in the fridge to eat breakfast and make a lunch. I smile at the drift boat in the garage as I walk by on my way out in the morning. I'm happy about the cruddy old truck in the driveway that takes me to work. Glad I have the money in my wallet to put fuel in it. Super cool that work is just a few miles away. Outstanding that I have a job to go to that I like. Loving every minute of picking up my Grandson on the way home. Loving doggies to greet me when I get home? Truly blessed. A husband to share my life with is the tops. A warm bed at night with the serenade of crickets is sublime. All that stupid traffic stuff? It's just stupid traffic stuff and I couldn't care less about it. I left myself plenty of time to get where I'm going, so can you. No rocket science there.
The only thing that truly irritates me is adults who haven’t grown up yet. You know, the ones that are stuck in the "terrible twos".

[Boatdog]

Back to things that irritate:

Another hunter setting up a stand right next to you, and he knows your there! [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] Go find your own spot!

The inconsiderates on the boat ramp with their car parked at the bottom blocking everthing while they're blowing up their rafts, tubes, gassing up the jet ski's, polishing their kayak, or eating lunch!

Tailgaters on a two lane highway! I can see you back there and I'm already going over the speed limit. Back off! I don't want you behind me anymore than you want to be there.

[Big Willie]

Very true. Good post STG...but some things can still irritate. Gas prices, eco-terrorists and the kids in thier Hondas with the music up way to loud. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

You are right though, those things don't really matter.

[Jennie@ifish]

STG if there is one thing that really irritates me, it's happy people!
LOL

[STGRule]

Not always happy, just don't let the small stuff bother me so much. Why waste the time on that.

[Thumper]

Heck, at my age I'm just happy to be upright and taking nourishment.

Want to see all the minor irritations of life disappear? Just lay on the table in the cardiac cath lab while they run wires to your heart to place a stent that stops the heart attack.

Life is good! :grin:

[BuckisMunz]

You know what really ticks me off. being 6'-4" and absolutely no Basketball skills whatsoever!!!

So this bring me to my next thing that irritates me. hehe. I need a dang river flowing through my backyard, and then a wave pool in my side yard. So I can Surf and fish any dang time I want.

AND FURTHER MORE...

I absolutely HATE not being able to pump my own gas!!!

[Mr. Carp]

Originally posted by Mr. Carp:

Being an engineer studying traffic design, roads are designed for rules to be followed and such so they work correctly. When people don't move right unless passing or don't go the speed limit, the highway doesn't flow the amount of traffic it was designed to do.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">OceanBlue, They would work fine if people are doing the speed limit thus why I stated that above. They don't work fine where there is someone holding up traffic in the fast lane of a freeway going below the speed limit. As far as driving on a two lane highway is concerned, I have been taught that when someone comes up on you and you are holding them up, just pull over and let them pass. The traffic flow is working correct if people are going the speed limit, but it is kinda uncourteous IMHO to hold people up if they would like to go faster. Why constrain someone with your antics when you could let them be on their way past you? Roads are designed with some factor of safety in them to allow for speed changes and such so Thumper is exactly correct. When you design a road, you generally know the volume of traffic that will use it and the speed that you will post. This allows you to figure out the amount of lanes needed. If people don't do these speed limits or hold up the left lanes, it isn't working optimally. That is why the right lane is called the "slow lane" to allow for people to drive slow if they want. They just aren't supposed to do it in the left lanes. Hopefully that helps answer some of your questions. If you need any other clarification of anything, I'd be happy to do so. :smile:

Posted by Row:

If I'm going the speed limit, and you want to go faster...thats YOUR problem, and I see no need to pull over and let you by so I can read about you in the paper the next day. or the car full of kids you rearended.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Selfish Selfish Selfish. Your not the only person in the world Row. If you are holding up the left lanes of an interstate, YOU are breaking the law. Also, if you are poking along on a highway and you're holding up more than 5 cars, YOU are breaking the law. That is the truth, not like the 4 second law. You are not going to be the one who controls others actions. It is not your responsibility to try to "control" my driving actions.

Big Willie:

[Boatdog]

Irritating = whole unproccesed logs shipped overseas. It happens more than not.

I think those mill jobs should be done here, then charge the overseas folks up the wazoo for delivery of the Great Pacific Northwest's finest!
Outlaw exportation of raw lumber!

PS-I am not anti-timber nor pro-timber, just pro Northwest.

[RvW]

Willie, Carp... Your scenarios are not exactly the situations I find irritating, or take a stand for. Carp, if I am doing the speed limit in the left lane, I am not breaking any law no matter how many people are behind me who want to go faster.
Try very hard not to put me in the position of the guy in front of you whos going to slow for your liking Carp and Mr Willie..it might support your argument, but Im not arguing the idea that people DO go too slow, Im arguing the idea that tailgaters are irritating, dangerous, and selfish.
Im refering to the tailgaters who insist on being one car lenth behind you no matter HOW fast your going. Single lane hiway, traffic in front of me that I have no control over and this moron speed freak wants to be in the front of the line so he/she tailgates me? Now THAT is selfish.
People seem to ignore the fact that they are in control of a very large piece of metal traveling at speeds that are in my opinion rediculous when you consider how long it takes to stop, and the tiniest flic of a wrist, your dead AND the fact that when you DO get into an accident, the incredible damage that results, most often because someone feels they have an unreasonable amount of control and are a good driver.

Im not defending anyone who decides they want to drive in the left lane 10 miles under the speed limit. Im defending the idea that its your problem if you want to go faster than me when I am already doing the speed limit or more, or theres traffic in front of me. I think someone needs to back up and follow at a safe distance rather than tailgete me to send a message that they are in control and wish to go faster than the law allows. I have no sympathy for anyone who is late, or feels restricted or controlled by me because I am in front of them going as fast, or faster than the little sign on the side of the road says I am supposed to go. Again, if you want to go faster, thats your problem, dont make it mine, because I am the guy that will slow down to 20 below the speed limit or even slam on the brakes when someone insists on continuing to tailgating me to send a message.

I was a voluteer EMT and firfighter for quite some time, and have no shortage of memories of bloody, broken people, women and children, who if able to speak most often say "I dont know what happened, I was driving along fine and this idiot came out of nowhere and tried to pass us" or something along those lines.

So the next time your tailgating someone, maybe they are trying to send a message to you by traveling at the speed limit. Maybe that message is one of fear of the selfish people who dont give a cow-pie about anyone else but themselves while on the road even when its common knowledge that driving is the most dangerous thing youll ever do. 270,000 people die and twice that are injured beyond full recovery every year...this number is in no way representative of incapable drivers or reflects the number of people who make bad driving choices. It most often has to do with speed and a split second decision to make a risky move.

"Accidents" only happen when everyone follows the rules of the road and offers respect to the other driver on the same road, and something happens that is out of ANYONES control. Not very often you hear of a vehicle crash where no person was to blame, it doesnt happen.

As far as the people who drive in the left lane 5 or 10 miles an hour below the speed limit...yeah, that irritates me too, but they dont put people at risk more than the guy going 10 over. They just force the guy to use the right lane to pass...big deal, I do it all the time, and I have no desire to send them a message that I intend to change the world and rid it of the people who drive the left lane slower than someone else wants to.

[RvW]

STG I have little trouble counting my blessings every single day and I never get "angry" at the things I list here as irritating...I often look for a humorous aspect to magnify such as the subway incident. I am incapable of anger, and I think this has a little to do with the fact that I can recognize and speak out about the little things that bug me now and then. Ive got a healthy heart, and a big one too. But the things that irritate me the most are people who think they are the only ones in the room or on the hiway or in the theatre or at the checkout line...
Its a big world, and we have to share it, some people dont agree with this concept, but I do. I say the more you give the more you get. I like your attitude though, mine is often misinterpreted here. Im a mellow realistic overly compasionate perrson (which I try to offset with a sharp tongue sometimes)
Im working on it, because it irritates me too.

My philosophy about driving in the fast lane is.
If my speed is 55 or maybe faster and you come up behind me and follow at a safe distance I will move over for you.
If you come up behind me and tailgate,flash your lights or anything that is rude or unsafe then tough! You just lost whatever traffic courtesy you might have gotten from me.
So go ahead and flip me off as you go by if that makes you feel better but the fact remains if you are courteous then I will be also.
I also get irritated at someones loud bass speaker booming at me from their car.
Why is it that the worst music seems to be played the loudest?

[RvW]

You said it Stew, I dont know how I forgot to mention the bass boomin stereos...I guess the people who have them think its sounds better when someone else can hear it?

"Look at me, Ive got a thumpin noise maker and this is what good music sounds like"

"WHAT?"

Also I hate it when theres children in these cars too, which reminds me, one thing that REALLY irritates me is people who smoke in thier cars or homes with children in them...GET A CLUE YOU SELFISH BLANKIN BLANK

The custom mufflers on a car and spoilers and lowriders...they dont really irritate me, but what good is a muffler that only makes more noise? What good is a pickup that has to drive 1MPH over a speed bump or cant even put a 12pack of soda in the back without causing the tires to rub the wheel wells?? Why put ground effects and a spoiler on a car that will never reach a speed where they will do thier job and keep the car from floating?

[ 08-14-2003, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Row Vs. Wade ]

[Mr. Carp]

Originally posted by Row Vs. Wade:

Im refering to the tailgaters who insist on being one car lenth behind you no matter HOW fast your going. Single lane hiway, traffic in front of me that I have no control over and this moron speed freak wants to be in the front of the line so he/she tailgates me? Now THAT is selfish.

Again, if you want to go faster, thats your problem, dont make it mine, because I am the guy that will slow down to 20 below the speed limit or even slam on the brakes when someone insists on continuing to tailgating me to send a message.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Row, I agree with you completely whne it comes to some guy riding my bumper when there is a line of 50 cars right in front of me so I can't go any faster. It doesn't bother me if someone is poking along with no one in front of them.

Sometimes it is completely ridiculous though. For example, last Sunday comeing from from Neah Bay, I was driving around Rochester and some punk pulls out in front of me on a 60mph state highway and goes 35. I just about ate him because he pulled right out in front of me and we had probably close to 14,000 pounds of goodies including the truck and boat total. As I am slowing rapidly, I get right up on him and he brake checks me. I admit it that I was ready to rumble with this guy. He got a taste of the KC offroad lights right in his rear view mirror of his Accord for good measure. He continued to brake check me again. He is lucky someone didn't put him in the hospital for acting like that.

As far as brake checking someone, that is a good way to start a "side of the road brawl". Be careful!

[RvW]

Yeah, brake checking someone isnt nice, but if they dont get the idea after I touch them a little and speed up again, well, if a brawl is the only answer than Im sure the wife at home will make an adequate punching bag for the person who thinks fighting is a solution to a traffic disagreement, because I wont be pulling over to spat with anyone who gets angry enough to fight over an issue like that.

The guy who pulled out and then brake checked you isnt really too off-base with a lot of peoples attitudes on the road. They think its thiers to do as they wish and I am amazed at how angry and dangerous people become when they simply dont get thier way on the road.

About a year ago, I made a right hand turn onto the main drag, a gal was waiting on the other side to turn left and go the same direction. She pulled out rite in front of me and layed on the horn so I slowed down and let her go...she flipped me off! I later met her at the light and realized it was a gal I had met at a resturant a few days earlier. She wrote her number on a coaster which I happened to have in my visor. I flashed it and assume she recognized it, and then accidentally on purpose dropped it out my window.

[Mr. Carp]

Originally posted by Row Vs. Wade:
She wrote her number on a coaster which I happened to have in my visor. I flashed it and assume she recognized it, and then accidentally on purpose dropped it out my window.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">That is hilarious!! Nice Touch.

[Big Willie]

Very good point Mr. Carp.

This also cracks me up. When you come across someone going 55 in the fast lane and they do actually move over for you, when you pass them they jump right back in the left lane. Amazing.

This just happens to be a huge pet peeve for me. Contrary to what Mr. Row might think, I don't lose sleep over this, but it does happen way more than it should.

Well, that is what irritates me. That said...I've got some flowers to go smell!

[Pitch Pocket]

You guys have issues.

In Oregon, the basic rule applies at all times. Here are a few excerpts from the drivers manual.

The Basic Rule states that a motorist must drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent at all times by considering other traffic, road, and weather conditions, dangers at intersections and any other conditions that affect safety and speed. The Basic Rule does not allow motorists to drive faster than the posted speed, nor does it set absolute speeds designated for all conditions. The Rule expects drivers to be responsible for their own actions.

When your vehicle’s high beam headlights are on, you must dim or
lower the beam when an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet. Dim the
headlight beam when you are following another vehicle within 350 feet.
You also must turn off any auxiliary lights. Dimming headlights when
following other vehicles is a practical safety step. Headlight glare in a
rearview mirror can blind another driver.

It also is illegal to have auxiliary lights or fog lights on by themselves
or on at times when you are required to dim your headlights. These very
bright lights make it difficult for oncoming drivers to see.

Road Rage and Aggressive Drivers
These high risk drivers climb into a vehicle and take out their
frustrations on anybody at any time. Their frustration levels are high and
their level of concern for other motorists is low. They run stop signs and
red lights, speed, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right,
make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures,
scream, honk and flash their lights at motorists who are in front of them.
These are symptoms of something commonly called road rage.
Don't be an aggressive driver. If you are angry, you shouldn't be driving.
Give other drivers a break and share the road. The few extra seconds it takes
to be courteous could save lives. Aggressive driving could lead to a citation
from law enforcement or loss of your driving privileges.
If you encounter an aggressive driver, make every attempt to get out of the
drivers way. Put your pride in the back seat. It's a battle with no winners. Wear
your seat belt, avoid eye contact, ignore gestures and refuse to return them.


If you are driving in the fast lane and someone wants to go faster than you, no matter how fast you are going ... here's an idea ...... move over! What's the big deal? Are you willing to mix it up with a random psycho who could be a mass murderer carrying a gun or something: to prove what? Unbelievable. Don't you guys watch B movies?

Tailgating, driving in the fast lane impeding traffic, 'brake checking', bright lights at less than 500'......all dangerous and all illegal if the cop sees you doing it and writes a ticket. You can offer as many illogical passive/agressive road rage excuses that you like to the judge, or St Peter when your behavior results in a fatal accident.

[Mr. Carp]

Pitch Pocket: I agree with you completely. I'd say someone driving slow in the fast lane or on a two lane highway is a heck of a lot lower on the list of being irritating than people with 4 headlights (2 normal and 2 driving or fog). I can go around someone going slow. I can't get away from their bright beam of light. Those things are so bright. I don't know why the auto manufacturers even put them on cars. The single headlights are bright enough. Who KNows.

I agree too! However I'm not going to switch lanes just because some tailgating,light flashing fool wants to drive 85 in a 65 MPH [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img] area...especially if I'm doing the speed limit or even a little higher. This isn't the Autobahn after all
Someone in the fast lane going less than the speed limit is another story.

[DanS]

Why not, stew? Did you already use up your supply of lane changes for this month? :grin:

Originally posted by DanS:
Why not, stew? Did you already use up your supply of lane changes for this month? :grin:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Yep all 10 of them on my way up to Deception Pass :smile:

[Pitch Pocket]

Stew, that passive/agressive behavior is just intending to cheeze off the guy that wants to go 85.

What if he has an emergency? What if he is taking his kid to the hospital? What if he needs to find a bathroom really bad? What if he's late for dinner? What do you care what his reason is? Just take a deep breath, turn on your signal and get the heck over. He'll be gone in a minute and you can get back to irresponsibly impeding traffic.

Or maybe, because he has to get his kid to the hospital because he is bleeding to death, he'll do a foolish move, pass on the right (because you won't get over because you're doing the speed limit or some such nonsense), cause an accident and someone gets hurt or killed. Will you still take the high ground and be able to sleep at night?

Or just maybe, you will incite this guy enough for him to pull along side you in a dark stretch of highway and really ruin your life, for what reason?

As I get older, I find it easier and easier to pull out of the way for someone wanting to go faster than me. I'm not the speed monitor and I'm certainly not out to cheeze anyone off for absolutely no reason, and I'm not willing to impede someone who may have a damn good reason for going faster than me.

It is reasonable and prudent. Any other attitude, frankly, is not.

Refer to the basic rule listed above.

Huh? What did you say Pitch? I had trouble sleeping last night and was taking a nap
I've heard the same arguments from someone else who wants an excuse to drive like a.... Californian.
I am within the law on this and have never had trouble. Be courteous and others will hopefully do likewise.