My Experience with Newsgroups:
Anger abounded
All postings were found through www.deja.com and are presented in their original form
Subject: Minging Bitches Who Can't Drive!
Date: 01/17/00
Offensive narld faced minging bitches who drive in the fast lane of the f***ing M1 (between junction 7-9 north bound) at 50mph in a shagged out Granada should be pulled over onto the hard shoulder and shot in the face with an elephant gun!
My Analysis
Hopefully this man is not capable of the violence that he describes. He is obviously very angry and unable to control the negative emotions that he feels. This type of person is a threat to others on the road because it would appear almost certain that he engages in activities commonly refered to as "road rage". His spewing of anger is not harmless complaints, this man is actively participating in a facet of road rage.
This man is stewing in his own anger and posts his thoughts to be shared by the whole world. This can only lead to problems, as his anger spreads into the lives of others who do not even know him. His words inspire agreement in some and disagreement in others, but in common they both leave with a negative and unhealthy feeling inside. His submission does not seem to calm him and only fuels his anger as some support his right to be angry and others attack him and create new anger. Instead of posting such inflammatory remarks, he should learn how to constructively release his negative emotions, so they do not turn out inspiring more.
Subject: Idiot drivers. Totally Off Topic
Date: 01/09/00
Today I had to go get some straw we have in a neighbors building a mile and a half away. You have to make a right turn out of our driveway, make another right turn after a 1/4 of a mile, go one mile, take a left, go another 1/4 mile and take a left into his drive. Well, I took the payloader with the bale spears on it (i only needed two 4x4x8 bales) and went and got them. After I got the bales,( going backwards with a SMV, and signal lights on the bales--neat little hangy thing) out of his drive and onto that 1/4 mile stretch and started turning onto the mile long stretch I see this red honda, lowered and all, stopped right infront of my tire, I stopped.
I had signled and everything and he still was going to pass me. I got stopped about 4 inches from running over the front of that car. This payloader is a Case 621 B (go look it up so you can get a picture of how big it is. Tires are about 5 foot tall by 2 foot wide.) I jumped out and screamed at him "WTF are you trying to do", he said, "I thought I could pass you before you turned". I started cussing and calling him every name I could think of. He started calling me names and how stupid I was to be driving that down a road with bales on it, and then had the gall to try to step up to me.
I told him If he didn't get in that f***ing car, realize what he did, and run away, I was going to jump back in the payloader and run his ass over. He said, don't sing it, bring it. I jumped back in the loader, started it up, and was about to back up three inches (I wasn't actually planning on running him over) when I heard that little engine screaming and as he tried to jump the clutch it went ca chunk and died right there. He back it up, gave me the finger(I gave him two rigid digits in return) and we went on our way.Sorry I just had to get that out.
My Analysis
I think it is pretty obvious where this person made their first mistake. Instead of screaming at the other driver, he might of instead noted to himself how it was a close call and then drove on his way. Instead of reacting in a calm way, he instigated a confrontation that left both himself and the other driver in a negative mood. He was so angered, that possibly hours later he was still so consumed with the situation that he had to share it with the rest of the world. While he might have thought that telling his story on the web would sooth him, it actually spurred the exchange of an incredible amount of anger. So holding on to his negative emotions actually created significantly worse negative emotions for himself and others.
Subject: RE: Idiot drivers. Totally Off Topic
Date: 01/09/00
I have a similar one. About 5 or 6 years ago, I was helping a friend move with my battered old '80 GMC. The truck was loaded to the gills (read: WAY overloaded. I really gotta break that habit) and we were not far from the place when one of those famous South Texas gulleywashers opened up on us. It was the middle of the day and I could barely see 10 feet in front of the truck from the torrent. We were on a little 2-lane country road with BIG runoff ditches on either side. There was nothing I could do but white-knuckle it all the way to the next turn. Naturally, I was going pretty slow.
If there would have been a place for me to pull over and stop, I would have. I could see in my side mirrors that there was a line behind me, but there was nothing I could do, and I'm sure most of them knew that. Just as I got to the turn, I signaled (for all the signal did in the visibility of the storm), and started to turn. Apparently, someone in a pink (yes, pink) caddy didn't like being at the end of the slow-moving line. They passed me as I was MAKING THE TURN. Had I turned about a half second sooner, that car would have caught my bumper and caused some major chaos. I guess owning a caddy is like owning a ferrari: It exempts you from common sense. Yet another rip in my poor Guardian Angel's wings...
My Analysis
Although this person is agreeing with UUC's standpoint, it does nothing but harm UUC. This reply just encourages the harboring of negative feelings, like saying that UUC has the right to be angry, that his actions were well founded. This person really is unable to let things go, they are talking about an experience that happened 5 or 6 years ago, and we know it still inspires passionate feelings or else they would not still be talking about it. It is time for CAD Consultant to move on and release the cadillac driver as an object of hatred. As we shall see, their hatred only serves to inspire more hatred.
Subject: RE: Idiot drivers. Totally off Topic
Date: 01/09/00
You're blocking traffic, in an admittedly seriously overloaded s**twagon, in a howling rainstorm, and it's the other guy who lacks common sense...
I believe I'm spotting a pattern.
Oh dear... I don't have s**t on my shoes... I must be an inferior citizen. Let me ask you a question, Slappy: Since when is it an element of rural life to perform a job in a half-assed fashion ? (I believe you volk even have a rather unflattering expression for such slipshod performance...)
Do you really want us to associate "rural" with "ignorant halfwit" ? I don't really think that's fair to all the rural folks who know to come in from the rain, who wouldn't tie three bedsteads to the roof of their Nova with pastry string, and who don't clean their loaded semi-auto pistols from the muzzle with the magazine in place. "Hey ya'll, watch this !" or even possibly the facts of life outside the sex ed. class.
Are you allowed to have any sort of ed. out there in the land of "enlightenment"? Wouldn't that require "teaching" (and "learning") ? Wherever would you find the Jews ? Don't bother trying to out man of the earth me Slappy. I may work with my brain and fingers but I've dug dirt before. I'll not only out drive you, I'll out dig you, and I'll out shoot your working class hero-posturing ass.The only thing I won't do is out peasant you. I doubt that many *could* be more ignorant, crude, stunted, reactionary and uncultured than you and your pal Jethro, the CAD Cockup; and I know of none who would wish to be. Unfortunately, not every ditch digger is a figure of nobility; some have just reached their limit. Enjoy you success.
"Larry Flynt is right: You guys suck." - Homer J. Simpson
My Analysis
After just a few postings, UUC's message has managed to attract a very bitter and angry contributer. Instead of just being about frustration while driving, the topic grows to an angry debate between rural and city. This is an example of how anger from the driving realm can spill over and contaminate other parts of life. MJF 2000 seems to be looking for an arguement and derives pleasure from the situation. His comments can be shocking at times and this is only one example of his many postings that continue on the arguement. This man is poisoning himself and those he comes into contact with.
Subject: RE: My first road rage experience
Date: 02/19/00
In the UK you get a
provisional license at 17 and can hold a full license at 18. It doesn't
surprise me that you can drive at 16 in the States, after all you love utting
people in charge of lethal weapons as soon as possible....
My Analysis
This is just another example of how negative emotions over driving can lead to negative emotions and attacks on other parts of life. This person from the UK took a discussion of driving and used it as a lead in to make an attack on the US. This wasn't necessary but negative emotions allowed to flourish, bridge topical boundaries.
Subject: Daily gripe: "Rage"
Date: 02/17/00
Note that I did not
call this posting "Road Rage". The reason I did not do this is
because with all the disgruntled ex-employees killing ex-fellow employees, all
the people killing ex-significant others, and other random murders, it seems
that the issue really is not "road rage" per se, but just "rage"
alone. Vehicles only become vehicles of rage for killing purposes
similar to the way guns or any other weapon is used to kill or hurt others. In
other words, the problem is not, strictly speaking, a road problem, but
a people problem (though congestion as a contributing factor at times can be
partly blamed on politicians).
NO REALISTIC CURE
Cure the whole world of anger and killing of all kinds will stop, whether by
gun or by vehicle. Since thousands of years of recorded history show that is
not likely, we are kind of stuck with it. Thus, any efforts to stop "road
rage" are going to be about as futile as the efforts to stop the random
murders.
My Analysis
I think that Walt has a very good point about controling rage in all aspects of life. Rage does not find its only form on the road. It is about controlling negative emotions no matter where they stem from. The only problem with driving, is that so many people do it. All of these people are driving around in very large weapons and who knows what kind of mental state they are in? I don't think that there is nothing that we can do about the situation, but I do think it will take a concious effort on the part of all people to keep our lives and roads free of negativity and danger.
Subject: Very OT: Driver Courtesy
Date: 02/10/00
I know this is very
OT and I try not to post much which is, but dammit! I'm just getting
extremely tired of this. Is it just me (of course it's not) or has simple
driver courtesy (not to mention the "rules of the road") simply gone
out the window?
1. I know the speed limit. I can actually *read* those signs they post next
to the road; they have big black numbers on them which *mean*
something. And I DRIVE the speed limit. I have *never* had a speeding
ticket. So if you don't like the fact that I drive the posted speed limit,
and if the yellow or white lines painted on the road are broken yellow
or white lines, indicating you can pass me, by all means, do so. Please do
*not* ride on my tail. I'm not going to kill myself or risk getting into an
accident because you are hell bent on getting God knows where faster than you
already are. Nor am I going to kill myself or risk getting into an accident
attempting to get out of your way. You don't *own* the road (and no,
neither do I).
2. I know my car (it's a Tercel). I am quite familiar with its' handling
capability under every driving condition. If it's been raining and the
streets are oil-slick, it will hydroplane in an instant. So don't expect me
to take curves or turn onto a street at the speed of light. It ain't gonna
happen. I'm not going to risk a slide off the road, or into another
lane, or otherwise kill myself because *you* are in a hurry. A Tercel is
tinfoil on wheels (so sue me; it's what I wanted). If it's extremely windy,
I'm focusing on keeping the car straight in my lane, not about whether or not
you are late for work, some appointment, your anniversary dinner or a shack-up
with that hot new lay you just met. Those things are not my problem. Getting
to my destination safely IS my problem.
3. If I stop at a red-light or a stop sign, if I can't see your headlights in
my rearview mirror, you are TOO CLOSE. (Even worse if I look out the sideview
mirror and can't even see your vehicle.) If someone slams into the rear of
your vehicle and you haven't allowed enough room between yours and mine, guess
who else gets hit? Might happen anyway, depending on the impact. But then
again, it might not. They teach this in defensive driving classes.
4. Ever heard of a turn signal? a.k.a. "blinker". It lets the other
drivers' know what you plan to do. It's not an *extra* on your vehicle; comes
as standard equipment. Try it sometime.
5. If you are in a truck, the rule "my truck's bigger than your ___" does
*not* apply. I don't care how big your truck is, it doesn't entitle you to
drive like an imbecile. If you think it does, chances are you *are* an
imbecile.
6. People driving non-commercial mini-vans seem to be some of the worst
offenders of discourteous and downright dangerous driving habits I've
encountered lately. And since they *are* driving mini-vans, it behooves me to
point out, they probably have children. Lots of room for transporting kids.
So why would you drive like a complete idiot when you have children in your
vehicle?! Late for a dental appointment? The dentist isn't going anywhere.
30 minutes late? Leave the friggin' house 45 minutes sooner.
7. Lastly, just because your vehicle cost more than mine doesn't make you
more important or entitle you to extra privileges on the roads. There is no
"special speed limit" for expensive vehicles. I paid cash for my brand new
car. Did you?
Sorry, I just had to rant. Had one of these experiences on the way home today
with a smart-ass who nearly hit me (after riding my ass for 5 miles) as I
turned, with turn signal 200 feet in advance of the only turn-off, because I
slowed down to make the turn. The people who do the things in these examples
are either totally inconsiderate of anyone else on the road, think they
are better than everyone else, or are completely unknowledgable about how to
drive. Makes me wonder if they bought their drivers' licenses over the
Internet :-) [ Jill ]
My Analysis
While Jill brings up some good suggestions about how to make driving a better experience, she does it in the wrong manner. She appoints blame and labels others. If she truely wanted to just make suggestions about how to drive better she should have done it in a non-confrontal type of way. Instead she points fingers which could inturn cause those who read this to get angry instead of just reminded of how they should be a courteous and responsible driver. Her ranting could also encourage the continuance of her anger but she seems to end off her posting somewhat happily.
Subject: RE: Very OT: Driver Courtesy
Date: 02/15/00
Jill, it doesn't matter what type or size vehicle you drive .... what matters is, you've just posted a message that strikes at the heart of "road rage." If more drivers on our roads - no matter what size vehicle they drive - followed your downright sensible suggestions, there would be less road rage and fewer accidents. In short, our roads would be safer and the drive much more pleasurable for all. [J.]
My Analysis
This posting gives hope that there are people out there who know that there is a problem and believe that there can be something done about it. He points out that it is the responsibility of all drivers to make the road a better place. This response is positive and encourages good driving in a way that people will not take offense to.