I Do Not Understand This Mindset

Smoke

Smoke

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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.
 
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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
 
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."
 
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.
 
Old cop said:
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."
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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.
 
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. ;)
 
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...
 
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Kids

Smoke said:
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.
Click to expand...

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!
 
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...
 
Smoke said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
cbr600f3 said:
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,
Click to expand...

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


cbr600f3 said:
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.
Click to expand...

You'd think but actually no. Google "Vern Smalley, Colorado Springs"
 
Smoke said:
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.
Click to expand...

As the kids say: "^^^ THIS ^^^":cool:
 
I expect stupid people to do stupid things. Thus, I try to avoid stupid people doing stupid things, or at the very least, ignore them.

I was out with my Little Diva Shooter a few weeks ago, driving her in the convertible to gymnastics class. We were on the highway, mostly empty of traffic, and following a semi in the right lane a sufficient distance back. Cruising at a steady 70mph, I decided to pass the semi, which was chugging along a few mph less. As we rolled by the cab, my Little Diva Shooter looked up at the trucker and was going to give him the "horn request" that all kids love to do. Before she could however, the trucker looked down at us and screamed, "You blanking blank!" I have no idea what his problem was, nor could either of us figure out what we could have done to enrage him so. We kept driving, and had a good, albeit puzzled, laugh about it. Not until we arrived at gymnastics did I realize how different the situation could have been if we had become gridlocked in traffic, or simply gotten off an exit followed by the semi. I am quite certain, based on the aforementioned cretin's behavior, that he would have become physically aggressive if given the slightest window of opportunity. Fortunately, it didn't degenerate into such a confrontation.

There's a lot of rage out there, to go along with the stupidity and insanity. It's a sad reality of the culture we exist in, and as such, it requires the prudent-minded to be cautious and careful and at all turns.

Clint Smith once told my TR class, "I'm not going to get killed over a middle finger." Nor am I.
 
Recently, in Michigan there were two drivers who got into a road rage incident. Sadly, both had cpl's ...and were carrying. It ended up with them both shot to death.

It's impossible to tell what makes people behave as they do sometime. Some have just had a bad day, and you become their "outlet", others are just ornery as hell and looking for an excuse, and your "perceived" slight is all the excuse they need. Others are simply the devils children. I try to recognize and avoid them all.:cool:
 
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mc5aw said:
I expect stupid people to do stupid things. Thus, I try to avoid stupid people doing stupid things, or at the very least, ignore them.

There's a lot of rage out there, to go along with the stupidity and insanity.
Click to expand...

Or at the very least ignore them.

Exactly. Just because some idiot gets all wound up is no reason to respond in kind. A stupid situation doesn't get any better by adding more stupidity to it.

A couple weeks ago there was a news story posted on the Forum about two guys who got in huff on the road. They both pulled over and shot each other.:rolleyes:
 
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Smile.

I drove about 20K miles per year...always pleasure...none work. Interstates, urban, and rural. I drive with a smile...and drive defensively. Years of experience have taught me not everyone is a good driver, paying attention, sober, or not a bonehead.

I never throw the 'bird,' yell obscenities, or mock others. Long ago learned to live and let live. Life is too short to allow other folks' issues to adversely affect my life.

That said, if one consistently is 'attacked' by other drivers one should look inward. :)

Be safe.
 
Always good practice to be cautious around anyone that behaves unusually or unpredictably -- especially when they're mobile and away from witnesses and especially in a remote stretch of highway.

You never know what a person is up to or their state of mind. Just pissed-off at the world or just escaped from jail? I think some imbalanced or disturbed people take offense at someone passing them or going faster than they are and I also know that imbalanced and disturbed people have guns.

I would also suggest that if you ever have an encounter that seems to be escalating, fall back and see what the other guy does. If he seems to be interested in continuing the encounter, call 9-1-1 and tell them where you are and what's happening -- just to go on record if nothing else. That call could save you a lot of grief if everything goes to S--t.
 
I drive over 100,000 miles per year as a semi truck driver. Think about a semi driver when you see one next time. Nobody ever seems to see them. They're like trees, so common and never looked at. I get cut off constantly due to people perceive me as slow. Yes, I'm slower than you, and you can accelerate a lot better than me, so why not wait an extra 5 seconds before merging in front of me so your rear bumper isn't rubbing my front?

Then there's new jersey drivers. They'll just turn and merge like they're the only ones on the highway. I slammed on my brakes 12-15 times per hour to keep from killing them. They trust random strangers with their lives while showing that middle finger and leaning on the horn...

You know how to drive safely and defensively. It's been taught before. You've heard a thousand times about following distance, blinkers, speed limits, and all that. So... they drive crazy on purpose?

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson
 
to the OP's point of people not realizing that others may be carrying a concealed weapon, i never really thought about it until i decided to carry myself. But i find myself saying to my wife a lot when someone does something stupid-"don't they realize i could shoot them?" not that i would, but that they are creating a situation that given the right circumstances could escalate to something very bad.

case in point, i live in PA and we were pulling into a parking lot of a Walmart much larger than the local one. As we were waiting for a car to pull out of a spot close to the doors(not a necessity to us as i usually park farther away). a lady and her teen son, he was driving cut us off and took the spot...as they pulled into the spot, forcing us to wait as they drove by, the lady flipped us off. my wife and i just laughed. We parked about 10 cars past them on the other said of the same row. as they got to the store front, both turned and flipped us off yet again. the son then wiped his eyes like he was crying. again, we both laughed. We ran into them again inside, and for the third time, received the friendly middle finger hello. After they walked away, i whispered to my wife, "they must not realize i have a gun".

with all the people going bat crazy for no reason any more, it would be a good idea for everybody to avoid trying to one up anyone else...after all they could just shoot them...even in "non-carry" states
 
Shouldazagged, I have both stopped (warned) and ticketed people driving like your sister. It's the only thing they understand. You are right to admonish her. There is no excuse for that stuff, and it does annoy the heck out of me. If she won't stop that, don't be in the car with her. Putting aside the response of some idiot who she annoys - it is a significant traffic safety hazard.

I've also had people do some of the other behaviors described here to me while driving a fully marked squad car, and then wonder why they got stopped. You bust a stop sign and nearly hit me, or cut me off and make me dynamite the brakes, or tailgate me, and wonder why you got a ticket? Really? Failed to yield to the ambulance or fire truck that I pulled over for? Here's my autographed certificate of "guess what, dummy?". (And no, I was not dumb enough to say that. Out loud. :D)

In my own car - I get away from them. If I have the slightest impression that they are drunk, drugged, or deranged, I have 3 WSP districts programmed into my phone, and I waste NO TIME in calling in the erratic driver. I work very hard to avoid people that annoy me. Not hard enough, some times. I have gotten less tolerant of stupid people, including those who could bring out the stupid in me, and so I work harder to avoid most of them.
 
Smoke said:
Please go back and reread my OP. Please pay special attention to the bolded line in red




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

Sorry was not implying you would pull your gun. And do to laziness i am not going to google one case when im sure i can find other cases to the contrary.
 
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