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Got chased by an idiot around a mall...

Razman

Razman

Feb 10, 2005
4,213
9,099
Orange Park, FL
#1
Yesterday my wife and I reached the 15-year mark in our marriage - but we celebrated today by going out to dinner at a nice restaurant, etc. Kids were redirected to other activities, so seeing how we were running about an hour early we decided to window shop at a local shopping mall.

We entered the circular loop that surrounds the mall only to be hindered by two unsophisticated individuals who apparently couldn't decide which way to turn. One brief toot of my horn was not enough to move them (there was no stop sign - we had right of way and traffic was not supposed to stop) so I gave them one more short honk to help them find a direction and take it (which they did).

They went right, but not without making some impolite sign language gestures in my general direction (WTH, you're wrong buddy, why are you giving me the finger??) Needless to say we went the opposite way. About 1/4 of the way around the loop I see in my rear view mirror the aforementioned unscrupulous individuals behind me. I turned and headed back towards the front as I could tell they weren't going to leave me alone - members of law enforcement are permanently parked there for stuff like this - and they proceeded to follow.

At one point the two pulled along side me (right in front of a department store and blocking the oncoming lane of traffic) to ask me if I had a problem. Not stopping, we continued to the front and my wife called the police. After spotting us on the phone, they turned down one aisle to observe our actions so we turned down the next - in an attempt to get their plate info.

The gentleman passenger and his female companion (who was driving) paused to holler some more obscenities towards me as they were leaving but we were able to get their tags and pass that information along to law enforcement.

We never saw them or heard back from the law again all evening. At the time it was upsetting for my wife; now it's a memorable moment from our 15th wedding anniversary we'll never forget.

Thanks for reading (if you got this far)...

Raz
 
#3
Lots of nuts out there . Glad it worked out for you. At least they didn't follow you home.

My employer put our ( as in mine and my co-workers) full names on the doors of our work trucks . After one guy was threatened by name we all realized that with the internet we could be looked up and your home identified by your truck with your name on it being parked there. Also juat being spotted in public repeatedly was a threat as well.

We took our names off and the "boss" didn't like it and wanted them ( the name lettering) to stay

We saw it as a safety issue ,for us and our families. We won and now have truck numbers instead.

I always thought it was ridiculous to have your name on an item that often infuriates the nuts of the world.
 
#5
Of course, while I was sitting in this dump truck, broke down on the side of the road Friday for 3 hours, I noticed that the underside of the hood has " Randy is gay" written on it. I was assured by the mechanic that Randy is gay, but that isn't why the truck wouldn't run. (Randy is definitely not gay by the way). The truck quit running because Freightliner Business Class M2s with Cat motors are pieces of crap. lol
 
#6
Avoid all conflict at all cost is company policy for many trucking companies. It is hard to do but it does make sense. People are on edge and a simple horn can set them off. You(OP) did nothing wrong but you still got yourself involved with potential Psychopaths.
 
#7
I never go home when I'm being followed. I either go to a public place (mall, hospital, etc.) or a police station if I'm close to one. I'm always armed with something, and not afraid of most people.
 
#8
When someone flips me off I usually just smile a genuine, rather than snarky, smile, shrug and wave to them. Most folks shrug and laugh or visually relax. A rare few seem to get even more upset, which is when I usually lock my doors and roll up my window. Some folks are having a crappy day, others are genuinely crazy drivers.
 
#9
dullsilver_mike said:
When someone flips me off I usually just smile a genuine, rather than snarky, smile, shrug and wave to them. Most folks shrug and laugh or visually relax. A rare few seem to get even more upset, which is when I usually lock my doors and roll up my window. Some folks are having a crappy day, others are genuinely crazy drivers.
Click to expand...

I normally smile at them while slowly drifting my truck into their lane. lol
 
#12
Gopherbassist said:
On a general note, you really should only use your horn for emergencies.
Click to expand...

I disagree. Horns have many uses. There's the "hey, there's my friend Ricky" honk, there's the "you're a moron and deserve to have your toenails pulled out with a wrench" honk, there's the "hey, the light's green, dude!" honk, etc. It's not like you have another form of communication.
 
#13
This is why I drive a big vehicle that is only worth about a grand. I can certainly afford better. But it is more fun to drive around in something that allows me the put people like that on my rear bumper. "Sorry officer. A cat ran out in front of me. Maybe if they hadn't been following so close they wouldn't have hit me. Have a nice day." It has happened twice already. My bumper looks fine and my truck has a curb weight of a metric crapload. So I have never had any damage in these cases. (Can't say the same for the idiots following me.) Follow me pissed all you want. But get ready......

The hardest part is NOT doing it if/when my wife and/or kids are in the car. I keep it pretty low key then.

But it really is strange. People are riding around LOOKING for ways to be offended. Put down your phone. Pay attention. Get out of the way if you don't know where you are going. And if I remind you of your fowl up with a horn tap, just wake up and move. Simple as that.

Sorry you had to deal with a dipstick OP. They are everywhere and I haven't found a legal way to exterminate them yet. Back to the lab!
 
#14
I was driving to a parking lot at the county fair grounds and for some reason this dude in a Yukon decides to turn around in the middle of a very congested and very small road. He can't make the turn, so he decided to back up and try again, further screwing up traffic flow. I honked the horn because he was about to back right into the front of our car (mom and sister were with me). He then opens his window and starts cussing me out!?

If my mom and sister weren't with me I would have gotten out of the car and broken the guys nose then drove off.

OP, you handled that way better than I would have. Props to you :) Those inbreds would have at least gotten the full machinist cussing catalog thrown at them in one sentence if I were you.
 
#15
plong123 said:
I disagree. Horns have many uses. There's the "hey, there's my friend Ricky" honk, there's the "you're a moron and deserve to have your toenails pulled out with a wrench" honk, there's the "hey, the light's green, dude!" honk, etc. It's not like you have another form of communication.
Click to expand...

I think we should all have either bull horns mounted to the hood or an LED sign that you can simply type in what you want to say. That wouldn't lead to violence.... much...... right? :cool:

Also, don't forget the "I already honked politely once so now I am laying on the horn until you wake up and quit being stupid" honk. It's my favorite. And I am offended that you left it off the list so now I shall follow you around this thread until you are scared.... and.... stuff. :spit: Let the harassment begin!
 
#17
two fingers said:
I think we should all have either bull horns mounted to the hood or an LED sign that you can simply type in what you want to say. That wouldn't lead to violence.... much...... right? :cool:

Also, don't forget the "I already honked politely once so now I am laying on the horn until you wake up and quit being stupid" honk. It's my favorite. And I am offended that you left it off the list so now I shall follow you around this thread until you are scared.... and.... stuff. :spit: Let the harassment begin!
Click to expand...

I want to get a semi style airhorn to supplement my regular horn. I could use the regular horn for "move it" and blast the air horn whenever there's impending destruction or when someone really needs to know what a jerk they are.
 
#18
dullsilver_mike said:
I want to get a semi style airhorn to supplement my regular horn. I could use the regular horn for "move it" and blast the air horn whenever there's impending destruction or when someone really needs to know what a jerk they are.
Click to expand...

reminds me of a Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comic i read when i was about 17...

Phineas Freak had a similar problem, so he hooked up a generator in the front of his VW and put in a huge amp...then he put in a loop of tape on a tape recorder....of a huge semi locking up it's brakes at 80 miles an hour...:D

the next time he encountered the problem, he hit his horn....to the effect that the offenders all had heart attacks...

just sayin'

now you know where i get my avatar

davesignatureII-1.png
 
#19
A guy at work fitted his dodge diesel truck with an air compressor that fills a tank that feeds a train horn. The horn is hidden underneath

It's ridiculous .

I believe it's also illegal to use it in traffic ...either way it really gets your attention.
 

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