Road Rage vs. Asshole Affirmation

It doesn't seem to matter how far (or not) I drive, there is always some other driver that does their level best to aggravate me with their lack of driving skills, manners, or their obliviousness to their surroundings and the vehicle they are driving.

I have been cut off, nearly sideswiped, tailgated, stuck behind "Sunday Drivers," flipped off for nothing, had a parking place taken from me as I was beginning to turn in with my signal on, and countless other things that are too numerous to mention. Now, I tend to not want to get into a confrontation with other drivers, so I typically will mutter things to myself in the car instead of yelling at them out the window, though there have been a few times I couldn't help myself. Usually I've said something as simple as, "Wow, that was a really asshole thing to do!" (like when I had my parking place stolen). No rage...I was just affirming what they must already know - - that they have reached the pinnacle of assholery.

Myself, I was always taught to be a courteous driver. I was also taught to be a defensive, rather than offensive, driver - - I am usually the one who will let another car merge in front of me when they have just realized that their lane is closed ahead, even if they had fair warning miles before, and I don't block intersections or exits onto a road. It is really just common courtesy, even though I never expect the favor to be returned (that's usually too much to hope for). And when another driver does something really stupid and/or dangerous I do not retaliate by acting in like manner...no need to jeopardize the safety of myself and passengers just because they ticked me off.

I have been trying, though, to tone myself down in the car when chastising other drivers for their offenses, even when I don't have anyone in the car with me. I try to just think it to myself without vocalizing. It's for my own well-being...why get the blood pressure up, ya know?

I have just returned from taking my eldest daughter on an errand a couple of blocks from our home. Nothing too major happened while we were out, but there was this one driver we were behind who had their left turn signal on while turning right. I simply said, not really realizing I was speaking audibly, "It's people like that who should just spontaneously combust," which was met with uproarious laughter from my daughter. "Wow mom! That's too funny! I'm going to make an icon that says that for my MySpace!"

I'm off in a minute to take her to her college class this evening. Must remember to keep my eyes open and my mouth shut or I will forever be immortalized on her MySpace page. I think I'd rather be famous for other more noble things. *Grabs Duct Tape, Tapes Mouth* See you soon...hopefully without giving myself apoplexy. ;-)