So I finally learned my road rage lesson (long one)

Joe Nerve · #1 04-07-2010, 05:16 PM

My girl is always on my case cuz she thinks I suffer from road rage. Spending lots of time in a car in NYC it's kind of hard to not have it, but I argue that I never really lose control. And I don't. But I get real pissed, and often do a lot of cursing and getting out of the car when I probably shouldn't.

So.... I just got back from buying an air conditioner. My block is near a train station and there's usually a lot of traffic around this time from people picking people up. Traffic is at a standstill. I can't find a spot. I really want to be able to carry the airconditioner and not have to walk 2 blocks with it.

A spot opens up right across from my building entrance. I swing a lightening fast U turn, pull a little bit into a shopping center that's across the street and start backing into the spot. Someone sees me, races up to the spot, and noses is so I can't get in. My blood pressure immediately hits 2000 and I get out of the car. "A-HOLE! I'M CLEARLY PARKING HERE!!!" He's an older guy, maybe around 70, kinda big... tells me he just drove around the block for the spot. I say "I don't F-ing care. I was clearly here before yoy!" He's not going to budge, so the best I feel I can do is scare the crap out of him. I look pretty menacing and crazy when I'm pissed, and I know I was at my best. I start screaming and cursing at him, quickly realize I'm making a fool out of myself in front of my building, get back in my car, slam the door... and drive away.

I go quickly around the block, and he still hasn't gotten out of his car. He sees me, waves me over, tells me to stop. I do. This old guy gets out, slumps over on his crutches and he's crying. "My wife's waiting for me, I'm sorry," he says. An old lady is standing across the street all worried looking. This guy is crying real tears and tells me he'll sit in my car until I bring the air conditioner in. I can't tell you how I felt. I apologized. I got out of the car to assure him all was fine... he got scared a bit, till he saw I was serious. I can't shake the look on his face, nor the tears. I really scared the living crap out of this old crippled guy. I shook his hand. Apologized as best I could... didn't take his offer to sit in the car, and drove around the block again feeling like crap. He didn't look settled when I left, still pretty shook up. I still feel like crap. Next time around the block I got the spot directly across from him, directly in front of my building. :/

I vowed to myself to ignore all A-hole drivers from now on. I will take a deep breath, let them pass, let it go, say a prayer for them, whatever. I don't know why but this guy really got to me. I think because I realize it could have just as easily been a lesson with a crowbar wrapped around my head. Just read the book 7 people you meet in heaven and it's got me hoping this guy doesn't go home now, have a heart attack and die. Arrgh....

Aright. I vented. I'm gonna let this go now.
That's all.

santucci218 · #2 04-07-2010, 05:22 PM

At least you did the right thing in the end. Not much more can be done besides that. Mistakes will be had by all.

MatticusMania · #3 04-07-2010, 05:25 PM

Yeah, thats quite a jerk move over a parking space. It almost reminded of that one Seinfeld episode, until you said the guy got out on crutches and was crying.

Im glad you learned a lesson and I hope it sticks with you. The people who get the most worked up on the road are usually the ones who should stay off of it. There are a lot of bad drivers, too many to get so worked up over. I live in Hacienda Heights, a mostly asian dominated area. Driving around there can be tough, its no wonder my insurance went up when I told them of my change of address. I'd be miserable if I let every jerk on the road bother me.

If someone were to do as you did, and get out of the car an approach me in a threatening manner I'd probably run their ass over.

rollerberg2000 · #4 04-07-2010, 05:30 PM

I was a hothead myself in my younger years. I lost all contact with my (then) teenage daughter due to my mouth and lack of control of my temper. We've patched it all up now, but that is 3 years of our lives I'll never get back. I hope this epiphany of yours is much cheaper than mine was.

kesslari · #5 04-07-2010, 05:32 PM

We learn and grow, Joe. That's what we do, if we're lucky.
Sounds like that's what you're doing. Pretty intense lesson. Good luck.

guy n. cognito · #6 04-07-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

If someone were to do as you did, and get out of the car an approach me in a threatening manner I'd probably run their ass over.

Yep. You're lucky that old guy didn't really teach you a lesson.

Relic · #7 04-07-2010, 05:46 PM

Don't be too hard on yourself dude. Of course you really should calm down and not let road rage get the better of you, but I'm thinking that many if not most of us here would get really pissed if we perceived someone stealing a parking spot last minute. I'm sure the reactions would be varied but what I'm trying to say is that yeah, you did overreact I think, but it's almost understandable in a way.
The fact that you calmed down enough and reassured this guy is good, you did the right thing in the end.
But lesson learned and I'm glad you posted this, I'm thinking maybe we all can pay some heed to it. My wife is always harping on me to calm down behind the wheel and she's right. Thanks for sharing man.

Linas · #8 04-07-2010, 05:52 PM

That sucks, but seemed like a jerk move regardless. I have road rage, but i never let it get to the point where im out of my car.

sloasdaylight · #9 04-07-2010, 05:56 PM

Frankly, if I'd been the dude you got out of the car at there probably would have been a SERIOUS problem.

Joe Nerve · #10 04-07-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linas

That sucks, but seemed like a jerk move regardless. I have road rage, but i never let it get to the point where im out of my car.

The getting out of my car wasn't to swing at him. I was because the angle I was at it was impossible for me to communicate with him. I just wanted to make it clear that I wasn't going to simply give him the spot. Thought too there was the slight possibility he didn't know I was parking there since it could have looked like I was just backing out of the lot. I'm also not sure I immediately addressed him as "A-hole". I think that came as soon as I saw that he knew I was parking there.

RWP · #11 04-07-2010, 06:02 PM

You are not alone. I use to be like that but these days I just let it do too. When I see others doing stupid stuff I can't give them crap because that use to be me!

I can remember one occasion some BIG guy I passed on the emergency lane because I was in such a hurry, got out of his car at a light a few miles down the road and was in my window telling me about some part of me that was about to be bleeding.

Joe Nerve · #12 04-07-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Frankly, if I'd been the dude you got out of the car at there probably would have been a SERIOUS problem.

If that's the case then you've got a worse problem with this than me.

Jim Campbell · #13 04-07-2010, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Yeah, thats quite a jerk move over a parking space. It almost reminded of that one Seinfeld episode, until you said the guy got out on crutches and was crying.

Im glad you learned a lesson and I hope it sticks with you. The people who get the most worked up on the road are usually the ones who should stay off of it. There are a lot of bad drivers, too many to get so worked up over. I live in Hacienda Heights, a mostly asian dominated area. Driving around there can be tough, its no wonder my insurance went up when I told them of my change of address. I'd be miserable if I let every jerk on the road bother me.

If someone were to do as you did, and get out of the car an approach me in a threatening manner I'd probably run their ass over.

ouch....kinda harsh......i would think that most of us have had moments we'd like to take back....sometimes the city can get to you and it's usually not the right guy in front of you when the cork pops.......learning from it is what separates the decent folks from the others.....i've seen some pretty ugly stuff start over less and keep going for years

Joe Nerve · #14 04-07-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

ouch....kinda harsh......i would think that most of us have had moments we'd like to take back....sometimes the city can get to you and it's usually not the right guy in front of you when the cork pops.......learning from it is what separates the decent folks from the others.....i've seen some pretty ugly stuff start over less and keep going for years

Thanks. Some of the comments here are I think a bit over the top... and I think many would have reacted the same or worse given the circumstances. The guy totally and intentionally stole a spot that I was backing into. He nosed in so I couldn't finish the park. He wasn't even in sight when I started parking, just turned the corner as I was beginning to back in.

Simo98 · #15 04-07-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

If that's the case then you've got a worse problem with this than me.

I wouldn't say that, if someone got out of their car to threaten me, it would likely end in tears. That being said people getting out of their car doesn't happen all that often here, its only happened to me once (in the McDonalds drive thru of all places, at about 2am, I was on foot). I was fuming, and would have put the guys head through his windscreen if my friend hadn't walked off (probably a much better solution).

crockpot2001 · #16 04-07-2010, 06:37 PM

Long story short:

2 underage rich kids in daddy's Lexus SUV scream in my ear as they drive by me while I was cycling. At the next light they are stuck in traffic. I quietly pull up and whisper "what?".
Later on another road they pass me again and tag me with a water ballon then turn right, into me. I pressed against the vehicle but remained upright.
They tunred into a dead end street and needed to exit. again traffic congested. I was there. I caved the driver's door in with a full water bottle. I then pig tailed the rear wiper and broke the tail light. They finally were able to drive off. I told the police. Mistake #2.

The father was a prick and his lawyer threatened me with a Road Rage suit. I had to pay for all damages. My lawyer said I got off lucky considering who the other lawyer was.

$2,500 gone along with my chance to compete in the Mater's Nationals in Utah that year.

sleepytime · #17 04-07-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

My girl is always on my case cuz she thinks I suffer from road rage...But I get real pissed, and often do a lot of cursing and getting out of the car when I probably shouldn't.

You're right. Your girlfriend is full of it. You don't get out of the car cursing because of road rage, you're just pissed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

He's an older guy, maybe around 70, kinda big... tells me he just drove around the block for the spot.

What!?? You did that to a 70 year old man?? Oh, he was kinda big? Well, that's different.

standupright · #18 04-07-2010, 06:52 PM

to the op - i think this would have been my reaction as soon as he got out of the car on crutches.....

Munjibunga · #19 04-07-2010, 06:54 PM

Do that in L.A., and you wouldn't have to worry about not doing it again.

Anyway, you should've started crying, explaining that now you're going to have to carry an air conditioner two blocks, and you have a bad back.

sloasdaylight · #20 04-07-2010, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

If that's the case then you've got a worse problem with this than me.

Not really hoss. Stealing a parking space is a dick move sure, but getting out of your car to try to physically threaten and intimidate anyone because of it is far worse, and in my mind one trait of an unstable individual.

It's a parking space, not a life or death situation, get over yourself.