What a ****ing ***hole!

[waterinthefuel]

I've been driving for 15 years, not one accident and only one ticket when I was 18 for "not completely getting through the intersection before the light turned red" (note that is NOT running a red light as it wasn't red when I entered the intersection) and that's long been expunged.

I'm sitting at a red light talking to someone on my HAM radio and someone pulls up in the left hand turn lane beside me and rolls down his window. Thinking he was going to comment on my newly cleaned and shiny truck, I smiled and rolled down mine. This dude proceeds to say "Do you know how to ****ing drive?" WTF? What did I do? The only thing I can think of is that I didn't ZOOM up to the red light fast enough. I find it funny, as his light turned before mine and I watched him drive off.....he had no rear bumper, the back of his SUV was all ****ed up. My truck, besides 2 door dings on the passenger side, is flawless and it's 14 years old. His vehicle was probably an 03 or newer.

All I did was grin a big ol' cheesy grin and nod my head and say "Yup, I sure do." This dude don't know me from Adam, had an out of state plate, etc. I could have had a gun in my car and he would have been a cinch to put a bullet into.

I gotta give him credit, he was one brave motha ****er.

P.S. I was telling the guy on the HAM radio that I normally take my bike, but took my truck today for the job interview to not be all sweaty when I got there. I told him it wasn't really a motorcycle, but a large scooter. He said, "What large scooter? I have one too." I said It's a majesty, he said I have a 400cc Burgman! How cool is that? The one guy, the only guy, I could raise on the HAM radio this morning owned a maxiscooter. I think that's pretty damn cool! We had a long talk about where he rides, what he uses it for, what year it is, etc. Awesome convo we had!

[dandrewk]

Maybe he was commenting on your talking on the radio while driving?

[waterinthefuel]

Well, he didn't have room to talk, he was on a cell phone.

[dandrewk]

I don't think laws that prohibit hands-on cell phone usage also prohibit using a tethered handset, the kind used by utility truck drivers, ambulance drivers etc.  What makes operating a handset, where you have to "push to talk", any safer than using a cell phone?

[Norm]

You did the right thing Brandon. Don't sweat it. People are idiots. That will never change. It's as certain as death and taxes.

[waterinthefuel]

I don't think laws that prohibit hands-on cell phone usage also prohibit using a tethered handset, the kind used by utility truck drivers, ambulance drivers etc.  What makes operating a handset, where you have to "push to talk", any safer than using a cell phone?

This isn't a discussion on whether it's safe to drive while chatting on a HAM radio, CB, utility radio or cell phone. They guy asked me if I knew how to drive without specifying what I did that he was so upset about. I'm pretty sure that I didn't make any transmissions in the 1/2 mile the guy was behind me as the guy on the other end of the radio was quite talkative. Even if I did, from behind, I doubt he could see what I was doing. Whats really funny, is when I picked up my mic to tell the guy on the HAM radio what that guy just told me, that dude shut up and rolled up his window. Again, he didn't know who I was, I could have been an undercover or off duty cop.

And yes Norm, I know there are idiots everywhere, but why do they have to be where I am all the time!?!? LOL

I would say that it's a little unsafe to do all of the above, however, cell phone conversations are continuous, long lasting and completely distracting. A quick chat up on a CB or HAM radio is usually short lived, intermittent, and not any more distracting than listening to the radio in the car. That's my opinion, however.

[Dan]

Brandon if he was behind you for a half mile maybe you unintentionally cut him off or your speed was inconsistent or too slow.  Not saying you were doing any of those but if you were engaged on the radio you may not have had your full focus on driving.  Just a possibility.

[waterinthefuel]

Honestly, that's the only thing it could be. There was no way I cut him off as I had a green arrow to turn onto that road and there were no other roads that would have me cut him off between that one and the red light. The light was red, I'm not going to zoom up to it, whether I'm talking or not.

[HappyPuppy]

I don't get the lunatic fringe. They have no idea who they are dealing with. They use this tough guy persona due to the big 4x4 or whatever. A few years ago I was with a life long friend in Oakland that happens to be in the Secret Service. We where just going to lunch and he glanced out his window to this really loud car at the light. He got the "what the F**k are you staring at?!! The guy got out of his car and kicked  my friends car and put a big dent in the quarter panel. My friend  is not small, 6'4" and about 230 and looks like a linebacker. He than as the fellow wished got out of his car , after we pulled to the side of the road and the fellow was a about 5'9" and maybe 175. He threw a punch and lightly hit my friend in the check. My friend then displayed his firearm and arrested him. He then called  Oakland PD, and in a few minutes they were there and about 30" later we were on our way to lunch again. He said at the time it was fairly common way of car jacking and he already had his weapon in hand before he ever got out. I had no idea what he was going to do and he was very calm about it all. He said he could face all sorts of charges from the damage to car to assaulting  a Federal officer. He was sure he was a "bad guy" and with any luck it was 3 strikes for him and goodbye.

From that and since, I learned don't make eye contact and if hassled on 2 wheels I am most likely faster. Go like hell if they are aggressive. if a cop pulls me over all the better. Both ways once safe I call it in. WA takes a serious view of aggressive/road rage and stop them a WSP officer told me whom I bought my bike from.

Be careful out there they maybe be really trying to hurt you....     

[billg]

Just proves the old adage... don't bring a shoe to a gun fight.    Or, stupid is as stupid does.