Traffic Theory

[Zombie Master]

But it's a PIA to be told what you already know, over and over again.

ZM, I'm witcha there.

You say that but you don't practice it. Look, I already know that everything Sunbeem says is tearing down my country and attacking my fellow Americans. I already know, before I read what Sunbeem writes that it is untrue and filled with arrogance. I know this because you have been so kind as to tell me OVER and FUCKING OVER! Thanks for that but you can stop now. It really is a PIA.

I didn't write any of this stuff.

You wrote:
I now wait, after reading anything written by Sunbeem, so as to not misinterpret it. Zombie Master can be counted upon to come along and tell us what Sunbeem really meant. Pay no attention to the words Sunbeem writes. ZM is the only one who really knows what Sunbeem means. Very handy.

So do you think that your post just be just a wee bit provocative? Stirring the shit as it were?

So sing along with me!

Love is but the song we sing,
And fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Know the dove is on the wing
And you need not know why
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Some will come and some will go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moments sunlight
Fading in the grass
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
If you hear the song I sing,
You must understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Right now
Right now!

[Duane Ausherman]

"... a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest." (Paul Simon).

"I think 'beem is saying we can't control what others do, but we can control how we react to them."


You're right Steve, that's one of my points, and you'll notice that the one who responds most often to my posts, is the one who understands them the least.

My main interest in this discussion, is the connection between our state of mind, and the quality of our journey.
Control of the former leads to bliss in the latter.
That's where I'm going.

Sunbeem.

Ole 'beem, please quit inciting ZM to rioting with you. Your secret messages that only he seems to be able to decipher are making me jealous. This is not a good excuse to ignore me. I deserve your wrath just as much as anyone else and I demand it.

We could start a campaign to get a government program to serve the ignored. Those rich enough to be able to ignore others could be taxed to death. Oops, that wouldn't work, as every government program always ignores those it is tasked with serving. Bad idea.

I will think on it, so for now just ignore my musing.

[Sunbeem]

" ... just ignore my musing."
Duane old chap, I couldn't possibly ignore you -- why, it could be construed as an insult, and then where would we be ?

Your observations on driving, along with Chuey's, tell me that things are similar with you -- the roads are a minefield, though in this case, it is we who explode with rage from time to time.
We liken it to subtle warfare, and demonise the other -- sometimes using their "failings" to sanction the acting out of our hostility.
Well -- it's a hostile environment, and we are seeking to survive; so it is entirely understandable that the nuances of etiquette can be lost in the red mist.

It seems that people who generally try to follow the injunction to love their neighbour, forget this when on the public highway. I confess to being occasionally among their number, especially with "tailgaters," but my primary aim is to avoid creating negative energy by feeling adversely affected by the actions of others.
In a different argot, you could say I was wanting to forgive others, in order to receive my own forgiveness, or finding peace through giving it to others.
Same difference --
the acid test is whether or not I'm enjoying the journey, and giving the view my respectful attention.
(Like some of the early airborne radar aerials, I can't receive while I'm transmitting.)

Properly undertaken, the journey will be an uplifting experience.
If I'm careless enough to turn it into a war game, life will be all muck and bullets.

Sunbeem.

[enigmaT120]

I guess I really do know the words to that song. I like it, but does anybody but the Youngbloods do it? I don't really like the way Jesse Colin Young sings it, too whiny. I saw him in concert in Albany, OR a few years ago and he did a better job than the recording that is popular.

[Jeff in W.C.]

Back to the OP. I learned much of that the hard way at 16. My family went down to So. Cal for the holidays and decided to take two cars. On the way back, I decided to change lanes to get home ASAP. My Dad, with a few more years of driving experience, just stayed in the same lane. After about an hour or so trying to change lanes to the faster one, I see my Dad only a few car lengths back. All that frustration for nothing.

I also think our laws and conditioning contribute to the rude behavior on the road. Our laws dictate who's has the right of way in just about every situation. That has lead to people being kind of rude--I have the right of way; therefore, they should get out of my way. Unfortunately, some feel this way when they don't have the right of way. And if we do get in a collision, we are told not to admit anything. People get out of their cars accusing the other of causing the collision regardless of what the facts are.

[Deleted User 287]

Thanks to Duane's somewhat lengthy post from the 13th at 11:29 (oh wait, not everyone sees the same time...) on page 3 of this thread; today on the way to work I set the cruise at the speed limit and stayed in the slow lane or the next to the slow lane (to allow for merging traffic).
I enjoyed my commute so much more, knowing I was exempt from speeding tickets, and I certainly didn't arrive to work any later.
There was the large SUV-type vehicle that passed me on my left with his right wheels in my lane. That kind of pissed me off. Then I saw he was busy talking on the phone, and probably couldn't be bothered with minor things like proper lane positioning.

I'm not sure I'll have the nerve to try riding the motorcycle so slowly come warmer weather.

[Chuey]

I'm not sure I'll have the nerve to try riding the motorcycle so slowly come warmer weather.

Nope, unsafe on the bike. I like to be moving just a wee bit faster than traffic. That's not to say that I want to be the fastest one out there. There's always some yahoo I let go. I have this fantasy that the really fast sketchy drivers will siphon off the attention of the cops, leaving me to safely ease my way up the road. Siphon on, O sketchy ones!

Chuey

[Deleted User 287]

I'm not sure I'll have the nerve to try riding the motorcycle so slowly come warmer weather.

Nope, unsafe on the bike. I like to be moving just a wee bit faster than traffic. That's not to say that I want to be the fastest one out there. There's always some yahoo I let go. I have this fantasy that the really fast sketchy drivers will siphon off the attention of the cops, leaving me to safely ease my way up the road. Siphon on, O sketchy ones!

Chuey

I call them "sweepers" because they sweep up the cops for me.

[Duane Ausherman]

I lost count of the times that someone passed me "zip" and a few miles later is on the side of the road with a cop. On a bike, that has been me more than once.

[Deleted User 287]

I lost count of the times that someone passed me "zip" and a few miles later is on the side of the road with a cop. On a bike, that has been me more than once.

It gives you a warm & fuzzy feeling inside, doesn't it?