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Cognitive Dissonance Release Venue.

subject: Treatment for road-rage?

Date: 9/25/98 2:16 PM Hawaiian Standard Time

I've been to a psychotherapist recently for treatment of anger and frustration. When I am working on a computer project, and encounter an unexpected difficulty, I experience frustration. When this happens, I clench or ball my fist several times, and I feel better afterwards. Encountering an unexpected snag makes me feel powerless, which is not a pleasant feeling.

Because I have hands that enable me to manipulate my environment extensively, I get to thinking that I can do anything. When I run into a situation where I can't do what I want, I experience frustrated emotions.

Balling my fist gets these frustrated emotions outside of my body (see more below).

I used to keep anger bottled up, and never spoke up if someone was doing something that bothered me. If someone is poking me in the stomach all the time, and he knows that it is wrong, it becomes impossible for me to be happy. I think that anger is an emotion that drives me to speak up and say, "You stop this right now, or else...". That I am angry is not my fault, it's the other person's fault for doing wrong things to me. What I need to do is to speak up about what is making me angry. Sometimes I write letters telling people off. Sometimes I do it anonymously. When I do that, the angry feelings have been pushed out of my body, and I am able to have more patience with people.

My Thoughts

This person's motivation I feel is quite self evidently a release to the world of a Behavioral self modification, which he feels could help everyone. As is put forth in teaching when we try to teach others we learn more ourselves. In this case he has a good reason to convey his own solution the daily grind we face. I SAY WELL DONE! I agree with any form of Meditation / Behavior that can reduce a persons feelings of anger and frustration. Especially when we are driving these days of traffic jams we all need to pay attention to our "buttons" and realize that we do not have to be ruled by them but we can rule them.

Motorcycle Safety

Re: Road Rage

Date: 1998/09/02

I ride a Motorcycle... and had I not had superior brakes, I would not be able to type this message, I'd probably be DEAD! Yup, Ready to push up daisies..

Please people, look in your mirrors before you change lanes!

If you've taken the Motorcycle Safety Class you would know not to expect cage drivers to do anything but what they please. You, as a motorcycle rider, can never get "cut off," can never have someone make a left in front of you, can never have someone rear end you. You must take the attitude that whatever bad happens on the road, you are at fault because you should be aware and be able to avoid everything. If you can't, it is only a matter of time before your first crippling accident.

Introspection at the end of each close call identifying only the things you could have done differently (which is all you

have control over) will make you a better and safer rider.

My Thoughts

This person is giving everyone a very good message. He talks about the safety precautions that motorcycle riders have to take. This is vitally important while driving a bike such as these. Just imagine ( for you who have never driven a motorcycle) being vulnerable to all the forces of nature such as wind, rain, glare from the sun in your eyes and having to deal with something about 8 to 10 times the size of you cutting you off. This is not fun. Actually you may be literally inches from instant death.

People in cars must realize that motorcyclists do not have a couple of tons of steel protecting them from others carelessness while on the road. They are also traveling at approximately the same speed as you. If the car you are in crashes, you will probably get a big dent in it, at least. If you are on a motorcycle, you would have that same dent in your head.

I also agree with the critique that the individual on the motorcycle must be driving extreamly defensive. Which means somthing different than when driving a car. The stopping power of the tires does not work well in emergencies, you power through and around danger. Think about it.

Large Vehicle Avoidance

Subject: Re: Driving my car today

Date: 9/22/98 2:29 PM Hawaiian Standard Time

Well, I don't know if this really qualifies as *rage*, but it brought up an interesting point. Like you said, it always makes me wonder just what the hell are they thinking.

It especially makes me wonder when they cut right out in front of my trailer pulling rig. This is an extended cab 3/4 ton 4X4 pulling a large boat on a trailer. The total rig weighs in at around 9000 lbs. It is nearly forty feet long and I always drive with headlights on for added visibility. Are they asleep? Maybe drunk or blind? Maybe they just have a death wish. Never ceases to amaze me.

"58" is spam blocker.

My Thoughts

People should realize that this guy is bigger than them. You would think that a normal, logical person would have the good sense to not cut this person off. It is very hard for a car or truck pulling a trailer behind is very hard to maneuver quickly. It could cause a major accident if this person had to swerve or stop suddenly. I think that people driving should think a little more before they act.

Pet Peeves

Driving Pet Peeves

Date: 1998/09/10

My driving pet peeves:

1. People that forget to turn their blinkers off.
2. People that don't use their blinkers at all.
3. Pedestrians that think they can step out in the middle of the road anywhere, anytime, and still have the right-of-way.
4. People that slow down to a complete stop before making a turn.
5. People in the fast lane that don't have the courtesy to change lanes when there are 5 people behind them.
6. People that pull up to a stoplight in the right lane when they are going straight (even if the left lane is empty), so those behind them who are making a right turn have to wait until the light turns green.
7. People in a parking lot that take forever to get in their car and leave, even when there are a million cars waiting to find a spot.
8. People that steal the parking spot you've been sitting there waiting for.
9. People who park in more than one spot so no one will hit their car.
10.People that match your speed when you are trying to pass.

My Thoughts

This talks about pet peeves while driving. I would just like to comment on each of these. People that forget to turn their blinkers off don't really bother me. It is the people who have their left blinker on and then turn right that bother me. I think this is dangerous and could cause an accident. People that don't use their blinkers at all are just being rude most of the time. It is pure laziness that prevents them from doing this.

We really should be aware of the fact that blinkers are really the only way that the other drivers know what we are going to do. When I was in high school, I used to think that as a pedestrian, I had the right to cross the street whenever I wanted to. Even if a car was coming I didn't care. I always thought, "They'll stop". What I didn't realize is that drivers may not necessarily be paying attention at that moment. Then look at what can happen. People should come to complete stop at a stop sign. In case this person didn't know, this is a law.

Some people in the left lane are just stubborn. The law does not state that we MUST make a right turn on red. People should be quicker moving out of a parking stall when others are waiting for the spot, but they probably waited to park there also. Be patient. People should not EVER steal a spot that you've been waiting for. That is the rudest thing that someone could ever do and I have had serious conflicts over this in the past.

Why Do We Rush

Subject: Re: lack of RAGE? How can this BE?

Date: 9/5/98 8:42 AM Hawaiian Standard Time

Leave for wherever earlier, REMEMBER where you are going and THINK if time-saving is even an issue....I've noticed that in my own road rage...I'll start fuming on the way to the store on Saturday morning...I've got ALL frigging day, but I'll be ready to kill.

My theory is that technology and society have created a lifestyle where everyone is rushing to meet an overload of commitments daily-thus they feel rushed....think about how many commercials on TV and Radio refer to "Your Busy/hectic/ schedule..." and so on. We're constantly being programmed to "higher productivity" and increased "efficiency" for the Corporate Pseudo Deity and I'm sick of it. So if I am slowed down, it's because I've made a decision to REBEL! I'm going to SLOW down and Smell the Carbon Dioxide, damn it!!!

My Thoughts

I think this person has a good point. This society is too caught up in always rushing around to get things done. We should all take time to stop and smell the roses.

Stress Factor

Subject: Re: lack of RAGE? How can this BE?

Date: 9/6/98 6:08 PM Hawaiian Standard Time

How very true, Weird Song Woman.

As an ex-mortician, we'll all get there, some a little faster than others.

Big companies what big profits, (nothing wrong with that) but at the expense of the people who make big companies big profits.

Work harder, faster and burn out after you have replaced yourself with two more like you when you started. Once we (big company) have squeezed the life out of you, GO TO HELL.

Does anyone else have the feeling that we are all being laid off because no one is buying, therefore more lay-off. Less buying, Get the picture? And now get behind the wheel of your vehicle and think happy thoughts. While the car ahead of you is pissing you off by just being there.

Until next time, safe driving.

My Thoughts

This person has a good point also. The more people get laid off, the less spending is going to be. He states that we should all get in our cars and be happy. He is being very sarcastic. I don't think that we have the right to take it out on other drivers just because our lives aren't going well.

Irritating Types?

Subject: Re: Fellow ragers unite!

Date: 8/31/98 6:12 PM Hawaiian Standard Time

Gentlemen, I need your input. What type of "driver" (I use that word loosely) causes you the most frustration: Gramps or Soccer Mom?

Let the debate begin!

Neither of the examples you cited are out to intentionally cause trouble. Indeed, they may cause some agrivation, but usually are not even aware that they are doing so. The ones who cause the most irrational emotion to be displayed by their fellow travellers are the 'self appointed traffic cops'.

The ones who intentionally like to play rolling road block.

The ones who must force their will upon others at any expense, even if it means getting innocent bystanders killed by the actions of those whom they enrage.

"59" is spam block.

My Thoughts

This posting asks what type of driver is the most annoying. He says it is a tie between soccer mom and grandpa. If I had to choose between only these two types I would say that it would have to be grandpa by a landslide. When I am driving and there is someone who is driving slowly in front of me in the fast lane, 8 times out of ten it is an elderly person. Luckily I don't assume things like the other drivers gender, age or ethnic background. Then I would be just another person who goes around throwing stereotypes at everyone.

Cycling Rage

Subject:Re: Road Rage
Date:1998/09/26

In article "How do you all deal with road rage? Since Labor Day, I have found traffic to be atrocious. Things that really 'irk' me are taxi drivers doing a U-turn right in front of me or cars that have a yellow blinking light at circles that pop out right in front of me even though I have the right of way. I wish I could slap a sticker right on their windshield that says "I am on the road too".

After reading the thread on the cyclist who murdered the woman, it got me thinking. I don't condone at all what he did, but I can empathize with at least a fraction of the frustration he may have felt. Sometimes I want to get off my bike and confront the person who almost hit me by their inconsiderateness. Sometimes when I get to work, I am seething with frustration. I don't like it that these small things get to me so much... so how do you all deal with road rage?"

I commute every day by bike and understand your feelings. But don't give into road rage. Concentrate on good cycling. I ride in DC and I am convinced thatmost of the Metrobus drivers, many of the taxi drivers and a good number ofthe car drivers would be happy to see cyclists crashed on the side of theroad. Many of them see us as just one more traffic problem and many are frustrated at the many problems driving a car entails. I ride very defensively, wait until all the cars at an intersection have run a red light, expect to be cut off by buses and cabs, and generally expect most auto drivers not to see me or to force their way in front of me if they see the need to. Do I get pissed when they do those dumb things? Of course.

But I have gradually learned that yelling at a bus that just cut me off is fruitless and explaining to drivers I have caught up with at an intersection that they just about killed me is a waste of time. I try to concentrate on cycling well and safely. In DC I can generally stay up with or ahead of most car traffic, which makes me feel good. And even given all the negatives, I still find cycling an exhilarating experience. I no longer have a car and there is no way I would ever go back to driving one.

My Thoughts

I think this person is correct to advise defense driving while on a bicycle. We should try doing that in cars also. If we expect someone to do something then how angry can we really get when they do it? Don't waste your energy by getting angry. Maybe this will make your cycling to work faster

Evading The Police

Subject: Re: Evading Cops

Date: 9/24/98 2:11 PM Hawaiian Standard Time

Anybody ever ditch a cop on your tail?

I did a couple of lose-em maneuvers as described by the original poster, but only one was to evade actual hot pursuit:

I was travelling home late at night, over a relatively new stretch of semi-rural 4-lane highway. It was a full moon, and the weather was clear. I had recently added some engine tweaks to the moderately Dinanized BMW M6 I was driving at the time, and wanted to see if I could tell the difference. As I watched the speedometer climb, I tried not to think about loose lug nuts, blowouts and the like. I got up to an indicated 160MPH, when I figured I'd had enough, and let off. [1]

As I was coasting back past 150, I passed the only other car on the road in my direction - a white sedan. I didn't realize it was a county sheriff until I was past him. He was pretty surprised too, as the lights didn't come on for a few seconds.[2]

I thought briefly about stopping, but by this time, I had about a quarter mile head start, and was still carrying a lot of speed, so I just kept going for about another mile, and ducked off an exit. I also figured, WTF, I'm already going to jail if they catch me...[3]

I hit the off ramp with the ABS chattering, blew sideways through a red light, and made for cover.

I found a tree-lined cul-de-sac, and parked in front of a motor home, and sat and shook from the adrenaline for about 10 minutes. Luckily, I wasn't that far from home, and after waiting another 15 or so minutes, drove slowly home.

[1] That, I think was as fast as I ever wanted to go in that car. It was really stable up to that point, but it just didn't feel "right" to go any faster. Since then, I've seen slightly north of that speed in a newer 911 turbo, and it felt completely natural and controllable at that speed.

[2] I'd love to have been in that car to hear/see his response.

[3] My (then) girlfriend (whose father was a cop) in the passenger seat yelling "what are you doing??? Go... GO!!!!" also helped my decision somewhat. :)

My Thoughts

Some persons really think that people who drive this fast must be insane and or have a death wish. To drive at high speeds the driver must be comfortable with the vehicle and road conditions. but even when these are good there could still be animals or even worse people who can dash out onto the road. People who are not capable of high speed driving should never go as fast as this gentleman.

And yes, there is no real need for it and it is extremely dangerous. I happen to love to go fast. I have taken my Harley Davidson to the drag strip before, I can tell you going from 0-100mph in 1/4Mi. is a rush. I occasionally drive 100+ on the freeway when there is no traffic. But I mostly go 10mi. over the speed limit and stay with normal traffic flow when applicable. I have never actually ditched a policeman before, although it has been thought about.

Bus VS Bikes

Subject: Re: MUNI Driver Advocates Harming Cyclists

Date: 9/18/98 5:21 AM Hawaiian Standard Time

If a bicyclist is crazy enough to weave in and out of traffic/ pass my vehicle on the left on Market Street or speed up when I am trying to pass them to get to the curb then they deserve to be run off the road.

Your comments are exceedingly unprofessional. If anyone -- a motorist, bicyclist, or pedestrian -- is behaving unsafely, it is your LEGAL OBLIGATION to pursue the SAFEST course of action possible.

Your comments are also absolutely apalling in their own right, given what their apparent disdain for human life, and most particularly as part of a thread with the title "SF Cyclist

Memorial." I am disgusted with you as a human being, and I regret the fact that my tax money is used to overpay you.

Muni drivers as a group don't have the very best reputation for courtesy or friendliness. I am reminded of the uniformed Muni driver a few months ago who beat up a gay fellow on a bus, apparently just because he didn't like homosexuals. And the union planned to go to bat for this cretin. Then there's the driver in Hunter's Point a couple of years ago who responded to a man harassing a female passenger on his bus by throwing her off, whereupon her tormentor promptly got off the bus & raped her. Not exactly the highest standard of care that common carriers are legally required to provide. But in truth, most of the time I've used MUNI I've found the drivers reasonable folks, if perhaps a tad surly occasionally.

My Thoughts

I think this is absolutely terrible that people employed by the state could act in such irresponsible ways. They, above all other drivers, should take the most care while on the road. They have the lives of so many people in their hands. There are a lot of caring people out there who need jobs if they don't want them. They should be happy that at least they have a way to support themselves. There is definitely something psychologically wrong with someone who says that is someone cuts them off, they deserve to be run off the road. What is this world coming to.

Comparison

I viewed my classmate's Newsgroups postings and comments. I found them to be very informative and some were kind of humorous. A lot of people used all kinds of different formats, which made this more interesting to view. They covered all of the issues from the postings that they chose. I could tell that people did put quite a considerable amount of time in doing this part of their pages. I think we have all learned about what people are thinking. There are so many ways to perceive and process this information and it was interesting to look at the different variations presented.

Conclusion

My advice to future generations is to start this section especially early. I found it to be a pain in the you know what. It is very time consuming. You have to go through so many postings that people put up that don't actually say anything. Also try to find something to do with the aspect of Cyberpsychology that most interests you.

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