I Do Not Understand This Mindset

[Smoke]

The other day on my way home from work I got cut off in traffic, on a road that was essentially empty. The guy pulled up in the right lane even w/ my fender looked right at me and came over had I not stepped on the brakes he’d have hit me. Then he proceed to slow down to about 5 miles under the speed limit, I followed him for a while then he slammed on his brakes and turned right w/ no turn signal.

I’m not sure why but I suspect he was deliberately trying to antagonize me.

A week or two ago I was on my way to work, I ended up behind a car that was going a little under the speed limit until I pulled into the right lane to pass, then they sped up and prevented me from getting around them. When we stopped at the light the passenger informed me that I’d “Better watch how the [blank] I’m driving”

Now here’s my question; in both cases I had a gun and while I recognize that neither situation called for any thing like an armed response, I’m not the only person out there that carries. Do these people not think before they decide to try to piss off some random stranger? I mean, what’s going to happen when they try that **** w/ another Vern Smalley?

Maybe it’s because I’m a gun owner that I stop and think that the people around me might be armed and I behave accordingly but it makes no sense to me that anyone would risk such an interaction w/ a random stranger in today’s society.

I guess I’d like to discuss the mindset that goes w/ that kind of stupidity and how we, as responsible gun owners deal with it.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[arjay]

I figure they are people who are already having a crappy day and we just happen to get in their sights.My reaction varies.

 

[Arik]

Yep some of that I dont understand. I often go around people and sometimes they too decide to speed up. As if I was in their way. If I pass, they can still sit there and do 15 miles under the speed limit, why do they care how fast im going?

Also, youre right you dont know who the other guy youre cursing at is. Could be a psycho. In fact do you remember Iceman? The biker guy who used to do mob hits. He had a bunch of kids in a pickup truck start messing with him on the road. 10 min later they were all dead

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Old cop]

I've had similar experiences recently, but with women. One was an older lady (I'm in my late 60's) and the other was a young blond. B/C I do carry I no longer have the luxury of responding to this kind of nonsense, it's just not worth it. As to the "why" I cannot explain it.

I had to remind a friend who is new to CCW that he can no longer respond to stupid drivers when he started up w/someone who cut him off. I was in the car and did not want to be in a position to "back his play."

 

[snubbyfan]

That's just another one of the reasons I'm glad we moved out here to the mountains of West Virginia. People here know how to drive and actually have some courtesy to other drivers.
I remember when we first moved out here from the Washington DC area how suprised I was when a driver waved at me and it wasn't with his middle finger.

 

[Smoke]

I had to remind a friend who is new to CCW that he can no longer respond to stupid drivers when he started up w/someone who cut him off. I was in the car and did not want to be in a position to "back his play."

As soon as I strap on a gun I give up the right to lose my temper. I give up the right to make smart aleck comments to passers by.

I give up the right to do anything that may escalate any situation I’m in. Any altercation I’m in is a gun fight because there at least one gun involved, mine.

 

[BgDnTx]

I was on a 4-lane posted 60mph and a guy pulls out from a side road in front of me. I had to slow down abruptly using my brakes to probably 20mph or so. I was on his tail by then and figured he would get going to the posted speed and increase the distance between our vehicles. Instead he slams on his brakes because he figures I'm tailgating him or "in his space" I guess.
I thought, "if that guy only knew I carried a gun" and "he was lucky I didn't consider blowing him away" because I'm more responsible than that. I wonder what his actions would have been?
I just went on down the road, and it sure was his lucky day.

 

[Smoke]

People like this just amaze me. I was out for a ride on my bike the other day, I was coming up to an intersection where I had the right of way and as I entered the inter section these two little thugs in their thug mobile pull up to the intersection, the driver looks right at me yells **** you !!! And pulls right out in front of me, and when I say right in front of me I mean right in front of me as in I was doing about 30mph and had to slam on the brakes to avoid driving into the side of his car. And believe me he knew that's what I was going to have to do to not hit him.

When I was 13 years old I watched a friend of mine get all his upper front teeth taken out by a guy with a crow bar who didn’t like something my friend said to him as he drove by in his car.

When I was 25 years old I had some maniac chase me down I-5 in Tacoma in the middle of the night because he felt that I cut him off on an empty 6 lane interstate and took exception to it.

When I was 9 years old I took a beating in front of my house by a guy who didn't like me throwing rocks into the street while he was driving his car by.

I learned at an early age you never know when you’re going to win the psycho lottery and trifle with the one person you never should have trifled with.

There are people in this world that would have shot those idiots dead for doing what they did and “disrespecting” them like that and gone right along with their business never giving it a second thought.

 

[BgDnTx]

Yeah, and the sad part is I figure it will only get worse, or that is how it seems to be playing out to me.

 

[shouldazagged]

There is no accounting for the hostile idiocy of such people, or predicting what they will do if challenged. I keep telling my much-younger (63) sister this. She insists on driving five miles an hour below the limit in the fast lane on an interstate. Several times before I quit riding with her I pointed out that this could provoke a road-rage attack that could be fatal. Her answer was, "It's their problem." That's another attitude I don't understand, nor do I wish to.

Anti-gun people routinely fail to understand that most of us--unfortunately not all--who carry legally are aware that having the ability to take a life constrains us to be very careful not to be forced to do it.

There's another thread running in which someone suggested a very crudely-phrased call-out of a critic, in a situation where both parties were armed. I neither have nor want that dubious luxury. My fervent wish is that I never have to use my gun against a human being, so it doesn't make sense to flip the single-finger salute or challenge someone over perceived disrespect.

Of course, if they cut me off in traffic I reserve the right to call them unseemly names in the privacy of my car.

 

[arjay]

Ive learned (mostly) to give crazy acting people a wide berth.I really don't want a role in their crazy little dramas.Though the last two " overly aggressive" panhandlers sure got an earful.I'm trying...really...

 

[hotrod150]

I have a very simple explanation: people are idiots. Present company excepted (although I'm starting to have my doubts about some of you........)

 

[Mcwsky09]

Kids

When I was 9 years old I took a beating in front of my house by a guy who didn't like me throwing rocks into the street while he was driving his car by.

Way back when I was driving my GTO down a residential street and several kids on the side of the road decided to throw large sticks out into the street in front of me just as I was about to pass. After a quick check in my mirror to ensure there was no traffic behind me - I jammed on the brakes - screeched to a halt - popped it into reverse and accelerated backwards. I have NEVER seen ANYONE run so FAST before or since. I wasn't planning to do anything beyond that.

I often have people on the highway driving below the speed limit - who then speed up as you go to pass - I figure at least sometimes they were so unaware they didn't realize they were going so slowly and you passing them has reminded them and they speed up not to "show you" but much more selfishly without any concern whatsoever for what you are doing.

Personally I try to drive in a way that maximizes efficient use of the roadway for not only myself but for those around me as well.

What I don't need is a brake check by the guy who pulls out in front of me - believe me I see if you - and there are two reasons I am tailgating for 30 seconds etc - 1. YOU pulled out in front of ME - 2. I need to ensure that there isn't anyone following too closely behind me such before I can safely back off from you. A panic braking application by me if someone is too close behind is not good. Generally speaking I try to keep enough empty space (or negative traffic as I have heard it called) around me that even in a moment where my attention is not as focused as it could be that bone headed moves by others do not get me into trouble.

My base assumption anytime I drive is that EVERYONE else out there is an self-centered idiot who is probably texting while they drive - and anytime I don't run across an idiot I am pleasantly surprised.

Remember that it only takes one idiot to ruin your whole day - don't let that idiot be you!

 

[vytoland]

smoke,

you must remember that you are dealing with "humans"... an imperfect species, in an imperfect world... but the "humans" believe that they are at the top of the food chain and ohh sooo very special...

 

[cbr600f3]

The other day on my way home from work I got cut off in traffic, on a road that was essentially empty. The guy pulled up in the right lane even w/ my fender looked right at me and came over had I not stepped on the brakes he’d have hit me. Then he proceed to slow down to about 5 miles under the speed limit, I followed him for a while then he slammed on his brakes and turned right w/ no turn signal.

I’m not sure why but I suspect he was deliberately trying to antagonize me.

A week or two ago I was on my way to work, I ended up behind a car that was going a little under the speed limit until I pulled into the right lane to pass, then they sped up and prevented me from getting around them. When we stopped at the light the passenger informed me that I’d “Better watch how the [blank] I’m driving”

Now here’s my question; in both cases I had a gun and while I recognize that neither situation called for any thing like an armed response, I’m not the only person out there that carries. Do these people not think before they decide to try to piss off some random stranger? I mean, what’s going to happen when they try that **** w/ another Vern Smalley?

Maybe it’s because I’m a gun owner that I stop and think that the people around me might be armed and I behave accordingly but it makes no sense to me that anyone would risk such an interaction w/ a random stranger in today’s society.

I guess I’d like to discuss the mindset that goes w/ that kind of stupidity and how we, as responsible gun owners deal with it.

Any input would be appreciated.

Example 1 i assume YOU unknowingly did some thing to upset the person. People are generally oblivious to others around them while driving (or such has been my personal experience).
Example: I am traveling along the left lane of a 2 lane interstate when i am nearing 2 vehicles i am going to pass when suddenly the first vehicle just gets over in my lane not taking into consideration the speed to which i am closing in at, forcing me to jam on my brakes.
people dont consider if you are armed or not and frankly why should they, road rage is not cause for.you to pull a gun and "defend" your self, if you both pull over and he starts beating you to death and you in turn pull your gun and shoot rest assured your going to prison for it.

 

[Comrad]

In these here parts, drivers will do that to force an accident to either rob you on the spot when you pull over or to rob you later by suing you for some made up injury.

 

[Smoke]

people dont consider if you are armed or not and frankly why should they, road rage is not cause for.you to pull a gun and "defend" your self,

Please go back and reread my OP. Please pay special attention to the bolded line in red

if you both pull over and he starts beating you to death and you in turn pull your gun and shoot rest assured your going to prison for it.

You'd think but actually no. Google "Vern Smalley, Colorado Springs"

 

[jdh]

Other drivers seem to have gotten much more polite towards me since I upgraded to the 3500HD Crew Cab DWR.

 

[keith44spl]

Ah, well ya know....

It's sad to say, but it sounds like bullying, has made it's way from the school yard to the boulevard.


.

 

[blujax01]

As soon as I strap on a gun I give up the right to lose my temper. I give up the right to make smart aleck comments to passers by.

I give up the right to do anything that may escalate any situation I’m in. Any altercation I’m in is a gun fight because there at least one gun involved, mine.

As the kids say: "^^^ THIS ^^^"