Real Kato Blog: Dear Angry Driver

To the woman that flipped me the bird today.

Dear Angry SUV-Driving Woman,

Today you flipped me me the bird.

You drive an SUV that has bumper stickers about Hawaii, and images of horses. I don't remember what make and model it was, or even really what color. I just remember looking at the horse silhouettes on your rear liftgate.

When you pulled out onto the main thoroughfare, you dashed out in front of a black Passat and a blue Honda. The black Passat switched lanes and zipped by you on the right. The blue Honda slammed on its brakes to avoid hitting you. I was in the Honda.

We came to a traffic light and stopped. I would have made it through the light if you hadn't pulled out in front of me, by the way, but I'm not angry about that. I saw you roll down your window, and then I saw you glaring at me in your side mirror.

We got onto the freeway, and I passed you. That's when you flipped me the bird. And then you beeped to get my attention, and you flipped me the bird again.

I don't know what I did to upset you. I must have done something, because you seemed really mad. Whatever it was, I'm sorry. Honestly. I wish you could had the chance to just tell me what I did. I know I didn't cut you off, because I was behind you. Did you think I was tailgating you? Remember, you did pull out in front of me, and then we had to stop for a traffic light three seconds later. So if I was too close behind you, it wasn't entirely my fault, was it? Sorry, I don't mean to justify. I'm just trying to explain myself.

I admit, for a moment I was angry at you for beeping at me and flipping me the bird. I didn't think that was nice. But I don't want to perpetuate the cycle of anger. I would much rather see if I can be nice enough to you so that you no longer have to be angry at me. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all did that?

If I see you sometime and I get to talk to you, I'll tell you I'm sorry. And I'll give you a dollar. Okay?

Permalink 5 Comment

Posted by Ken in: life

Comments

Comment #1 from Jenn (Guest)
2005 Jun 30 - 12:42 am : #

When people flip me off, I like to wave at them, all friendly-like, because that pisses them off even more.

People should realize that if they spend all their time in the car either giving the finger or glaring at people, or laying on their horn, that the problem just might be them. Asshats.

Comment #2 from The Darkness (Guest)
2005 Jun 30 - 1:34 am : #

I've also seen many idiots on the road in the past few weeks. I think it's because I have a different route since I moved and I'm in more packed traffic so the road rage quotient is higher.

My traffic pet peeve is people already on the highway in the right lane that accelerate when they see people trying to get on the highway.

I mean, jeeze, when I'm in the acceleration lane doing 70 in a 60 already and there's no room behind you, you're a real asshat when you hit the gas because "OMG, they might get in front of me?!?!" Usually SUVs doing this.

My second pet peeve is people who appear to not realize that it is the acceleration lane. Doing 45 when the rest of the traffic is 60-65 is not the safe way to get on the highway.

On the glaring note: there was a guy doing that to me a few weeks ago. I did the over-the-top one-eyebrow-up "oh, is that supposed to be scary?" look and rolled my eyes. Didn't help his mood any, but hey, he was the one in front of me looking backwards to glare.

Comment #3 from Sonja (Guest)
2005 Jun 30 - 8:57 pm : #

Dude, if you gotta get angry about tailgating, there must not be enough anger in your life to begin with or something, because there are MUCH better things to get mad about. I think that if you ever see that lady, you shouldn't give her a dollar. You should give her something WORTH getting mad about. Like... um... call her a poopyhead... or something. Yeah, this is where I run out of the good ideas...

Comment #4 from Crouching Hamster (Guest)
2005 Jul 1 - 2:32 am : #

I don't think she was angry at THAT - whatever THAT was. I think she is angry at a lot of things. Things that have nothing to do with driving

Comment #5 from Nicholas (Guest)
2005 Jul 3 - 5:36 pm : #

I've smiled and flipped them back. Sometimes I've honked when I had to slam on the brakes. Mainly to warn them that they might be rearended. Also to warn the people behind me to not rearend me. Honking pisses some people off. Though I've started honking more at idiots.

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