• CatZoomies@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    I used to think a slightly different way when I was younger. That these bad drivers needed to be taught a lesson. I would always catch up to them at a red light and shake my head no in disapproval and do a thumbs down.

    Then one day a driver I did that to stuck his hand out the window and waved a handgun in my direction. Looks like he had something to prove and wanted to teach me a lesson, too.

    Lesson learned: no matter what, you never, ever try to shame, scold, escalate, or “teach a lesson” to another driver. Ever. You have no idea what that person may do, and how quickly they can end your life. Would be a shame for you to wind up on the news as a dead person and your family to learn you were killed due to road rage.

    Over a decade since that incident, I’m married and would never do such a thing. If I had children, especially when in my car, I’d hate for them to see negative/retaliation behavior come from me - or worse, for them to see me exhibit any kind of road rage. I’m now older, wiser, and a much safer driver and better human being all around.

    Granted if someone tried a hit and run, I’d be on the phones with the cops and would follow them from a distance enough to get a good description and tag numbers.

    Edit: Yes, I’m American. How did you know?

    • Alto@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      You’re never the craziest person in the room is a generally good rule of thumb

      • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
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        10 months ago

        It is more than just being crazy. In the US at least, I would say people are desperate and under so much pressure that lots of people are near the edge. You can very easily push them over that edge with a random interaction and you don’t want to find out what happens when you do. They aren’t necessarily crazy people though they could be.