I Am Angry Today Because . . .

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Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Apr 11, 2006
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That's one of my biggest gripes- those that say "yes" when asked if they can help, then forgot about it and get on with their own lives. Just say "No". At least then one can look for other help. Holding positive vibes your friend will win the handicap accessible van.
I always taught my kids to use the word "maybe" if they can't commit. Sure, things happen in life that can change a yes to a no. But to me, if you make a commitment to someone, you follow through even at your own inconvenience. I told them, if you aren't sure about something, don't say yes. Say, maybe. People understand maybe and it's a lot more honest and less painful than giving your word and backing out.
 

HollyGolightly

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Sep 6, 2013
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Heart of the South
I think I got ripped off by the dentist.

Prior to getting my son's wisdom teeth pulled, an estimate was sent to the insurance company. WhenI paid the bill yesterday it was about the amount I remembered, but when I was filing it with the estimate....the portion paid by the insurance company went down about $100. But the portion paid by us went up about $15. Makes no sense. Ours should have gone down proportionately with the insurance.
Our insurance refused to pay the anesthesia - could that be it? As if you can get your teeth cut out without it. They have many pranks, those insurance companies.
 

Grandpa

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Mar 2, 2014
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Colorado
Grandpa, I do this every day, and don't consider it minor...I guess because I have a long commute to and from work.
After a while, it certainly wears on one. I wish I could flash a neon sign from my car as I pass them on the right that reads, "GET IN THE RIGHT LANE WHERE
YOU BELONG." But that would ruin the aesthetics of my car...
I find it especially tiresome with truckers who seem like they think they own the road and don't mind being discourteous to us "four-wheelers."
I like to drive. I have this small, fast, if run-of-the-mill car that I enjoy hugely. A week or two ago, I drove to Dallas. Yesterday, I drove to Sidney (NE). Coming up soon: Rock Springs (WY).

But I don't enjoy commuting, and that happens when I have to go to Denver for regular working hours. The wrestling with other cars, the slowdowns and stops, the dealing with ignorant, um, jerks, pretty much drains the fun out of it.
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
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I like to drive. I have this small, fast, if run-of-the-mill car that I enjoy hugely. A week or two ago, I drove to Dallas. Yesterday, I drove to Sidney (NE). Coming up soon: Rock Springs (WY).

But I don't enjoy commuting, and that happens when I have to go to Denver for regular working hours. The wrestling with other cars, the slowdowns and stops, the dealing with ignorant, um, jerks, pretty much drains the fun out of it.

I so agree. I have a small, fast, red, 6-speed, beautifuliloveitandliketojustgazeatherinthedriveway Mazda RX8 that I LOVEloveLOVE to drive. If someone asks my hobby, I say driving.
But I drive 40 minutes to work and home, and the dealing with the ignorant drivers around me (like you said) can be so infuriating.
That's when I pull up Eminem on the iPod, open the sunroof, and try to let go of my anger while I weave in and out of traffic!
 

Grandpa

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Mar 2, 2014
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Colorado
I so agree. I have a small, fast, red, 6-speed, beautifuliloveitandliketojustgazeatherinthedriveway Mazda RX8 that I LOVEloveLOVE to drive. If someone asks my hobby, I say driving.
But I drive 40 minutes to work and home, and the dealing with the ignorant drivers around me (like you said) can be so infuriating.
That's when I pull up Eminem on the iPod, open the sunroof, and try to let go of my anger while I weave in and out of traffic!
Ages ago, when I was still undoubtedly older than you are now, I had an epiphany as someone cut me off in a lane.

Up to that point in my life, when ugly challenges arose on the road, I had yelled, snarled, maybe tailgated (I'm ashamed to admit) for a little ways, whatever, to vent my anger. But that day was different. I had the sudden thought, "That driver will never know who I am. Probably has already forgotten about me and is concentrating on the next malfeasance. Why should I let someone like that run my mood? Why should I let a person I'll never know disrupt my peace of mind?"

I backed off, gave him room, the blood pressure went down, and I was serene again. Been that way ever since, and it's a better way to be. It doesn't make the commute any nicer, but at least I'm not so frazzled when I arrive.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
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Atlanta GA
I like to drive. I have this small, fast, if run-of-the-mill car that I enjoy hugely. A week or two ago, I drove to Dallas. Yesterday, I drove to Sidney (NE). Coming up soon: Rock Springs (WY).

But I don't enjoy commuting, and that happens when I have to go to Denver for regular working hours. The wrestling with other cars, the slowdowns and stops, the dealing with ignorant, um, jerks, pretty much drains the fun out of it.
I live in Atlanta GA, a big city like Denver. There is a big difference between traveling and commuting, especially in commuting in a big city. I've made it a personal policy to avoid traffic whenever possible, but sometimes it's impossible. Suddenly you're stuck in a catastrophic situation, and all there is is to plan to move to a smaller city.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
Ages ago, when I was still undoubtedly older than you are now, I had an epiphany as someone cut me off in a lane.

Up to that point in my life, when ugly challenges arose on the road, I had yelled, snarled, maybe tailgated (I'm ashamed to admit) for a little ways, whatever, to vent my anger. But that day was different. I had the sudden thought, "That driver will never know who I am. Probably has already forgotten about me and is concentrating on the next malfeasance. Why should I let someone like that run my mood? Why should I let a person I'll never know disrupt my peace of mind?"

I backed off, gave him room, the blood pressure went down, and I was serene again. Been that way ever since, and it's a better way to be. It doesn't make the commute any nicer, but at least I'm not so frazzled when I arrive.
A while back I decided not to allow tailgaters to get my blood pressure up. I started not caring what their problems were while getting out of their way asap. Road rage will get everyone participating into trouble of some kind eventually.
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
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Ages ago, when I was still undoubtedly older than you are now, I had an epiphany as someone cut me off in a lane.

Up to that point in my life, when ugly challenges arose on the road, I had yelled, snarled, maybe tailgated (I'm ashamed to admit) for a little ways, whatever, to vent my anger. But that day was different. I had the sudden thought, "That driver will never know who I am. Probably has already forgotten about me and is concentrating on the next malfeasance. Why should I let someone like that run my mood? Why should I let a person I'll never know disrupt my peace of mind?"

I backed off, gave him room, the blood pressure went down, and I was serene again. Been that way ever since, and it's a better way to be. It doesn't make the commute any nicer, but at least I'm not so frazzled when I arrive.
I'm trying very hard to be as you describe your now-self, and I'm doing better, but it's still hard for me sometimes.
I'm guilty of tailgating sometimes, driving too fast when I finally do get around the person that pulled out in front of me, and saying a bad word or two to describe said puller-outer. Somehow, when I'm going fast past the offender, I think I'm letting him (actually, it's usually a her--I know, but it's true) know he disrupted my driving, and he will think to himself, "Wow, I'm not being a polite driver. I'll know better next time." Yeah, right.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
I'm trying very hard to be as you describe your now-self, and I'm doing better, but it's still hard for me sometimes.
I'm guilty of tailgating sometimes, driving too fast when I finally do get around the person that pulled out in front of me, and saying a bad word or two to describe said puller-outer. Somehow, when I'm going fast past the offender, I think I'm letting him (actually, it's usually a her--I know, but it's true) know he disrupted my driving, and he will think to himself, "Wow, I'm not being a polite driver. I'll know better next time." Yeah, right.
You never know. In Atlanta, drivers seem so focused on their cell phones, I think they remain oblivious to reality from the time the sit down behind the wheel til they go to bed at night. It's conceivable that the driver you assume could care less actually does notice. The main thing is to protect yerself from letting someone else hurt you.
 
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Grandpa

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Mar 2, 2014
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Colorado
None of what you guys said makes any difference when someone DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO MERGE OR EXIT THE FREEWAY!!!! Learn to merge and exit people. Learn. Now. Please.
Okay. You got me. I can get angry when a person brings me to a dramatic slowdown or even a dead stop on a ramp, and the reason for that is because they're trying to kill me. I'll allow a little ire for that.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Apr 11, 2006
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Okay. You got me. I can get angry when a person brings me to a dramatic slowdown or even a dead stop on a ramp, and the reason for that is because they're trying to kill me. I'll allow a little ire for that.
Absolutely. I can forgive people who think we are part of the Blue Angels. I get out of packs--we did not practice this maneuver, I don't know you. I can forgive those who dart in front of me because generally, you can tell when they're going to do it. Not always, but oftentimes and I'm prepared.

But I cut you no slack when you don't know how to merge or exit. Okay, I cut slack if the ramp isn't long enough to get up to speed. I understand heavy trucks, but if you don't stay the speed limit till you hit that exit point and THEN brake, I want to go middle-aged ninja on you.

AND, when you are on the freeway, you don't slow down to let people on. It is THEIR job to merge with YOU. I'm not saying that you can't be courteous by adjusting said speed a tiny bit up or down, and if you can, get over, but I don't HAVE to get over! I don't have to do crap for you mergers. So learn to merge and learn to get off the friggin' freeway.

Whew. I think I just broke a blood vessel in my eye.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
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Our insurance refused to pay the anesthesia - could that be it? As if you can get your teeth cut out without it. They have many pranks, those insurance companies.

You can if you are Bill Murray in that movie "Little Shop of Horrors" - he liked pain :wink:
That does sound weird though, that anesthesia would not be covered! :noooo:
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
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Absolutely. I can forgive people who think we are part of the Blue Angels. I get out of packs--we did not practice this maneuver, I don't know you. I can forgive those who dart in front of me because generally, you can tell when they're going to do it. Not always, but oftentimes and I'm prepared.

But I cut you no slack when you don't know how to merge or exit. Okay, I cut slack if the ramp isn't long enough to get up to speed. I understand heavy trucks, but if you don't stay the speed limit till you hit that exit point and THEN brake, I want to go middle-aged ninja on you.

AND, when you are on the freeway, you don't slow down to let people on. It is THEIR job to merge with YOU. I'm not saying that you can't be courteous by adjusting said speed a tiny bit up or down, and if you can, get over, but I don't HAVE to get over! I don't have to do crap for you mergers. So learn to merge and learn to get off the friggin' freeway.

Whew. I think I just broke a blood vessel in my eye.
But if you can get over, it helps the flow of traffic, IMO. I've had to literally come to a complete stop on the shoulder of the interstate because a gigantic semi won't drive a few feet over to the left lane to allow me to merge in. It's common courtesy to me, if there's not another car passing you on the left, to allow me in at the 70 mph I'm traveling, instead of staying in the right lane and making me STOP before I can get in. You don't have to cut your speed at all to maneuver over for a few seconds. Generally, I'm going faster merging in than most people already traveling on the interstate...
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
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But if you can get over, it helps the flow of traffic, IMO. I've had to literally come to a complete stop on the shoulder of the interstate because a gigantic semi won't drive a few feet over to the left lane to allow me to merge in. It's common courtesy to me, if there's not another car passing you on the left, to allow me in at the 70 mph I'm traveling, instead of staying in the right lane and making me STOP before I can get in. You don't have to cut your speed at all to maneuver over for a few seconds. Generally, I'm going faster merging in than most people already traveling on the interstate...
Oh for sure, I said, if you can get over, get over. It is courtesy if you can. But I'm just saying, people don't have to get over for you. It's a d*ck move for sure, but they don't have to. So adjust the speed. And sometimes they just can't get over because there are other cars next to them, and that's understandable. But these lollygaggers. Don't drive on the freeway if you don't want to follow the laws. We do have to share these roads with everyone, so it pays to be kind.
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
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Yeah, I move over when I can, perhaps to be courteous, but mostly out of self-preservation. My wish for an uninjured continuation of life overrules my territorial instincts. I probably picked that up from 40+ years of motorcycle riding.
Yes, it just helps everyone to be courteous. No one would be pulling out in front of me and going 25 mph, or jauntily parallel driving in the left lane if he were being courteous. That's all I'm asking.
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
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Kentucky
Oh for sure, I said, if you can get over, get over. It is courtesy if you can. But I'm just saying, people don't have to get over for you. It's a d*ck move for sure, but they don't have to. So adjust the speed. And sometimes they just can't get over because there are other cars next to them, and that's understandable. But these lollygaggers. Don't drive on the freeway if you don't want to follow the laws. We do have to share these roads with everyone, so it pays to be kind.
Lollygaggers--such a great word.