How Can People Be This Stupid And Still Breathe ?

[Treo]

Good to know. I figured it was something like that, but I thought the phrase seemed oddly appropriate in this context too.

Not to be a smart ass but if you didn't actually read the article please go back and do so. IMO if you're going to carry a gun you need to give a no win situation some thought.

 

[zacklmpd]

About 2 months ago here in Kentucky we had a guy on a motorcycle get killed he was driving up an on ramp and decided that he was a professional and was driving around cars on the ramp well he ended up going over the guard rail (no helmet, just a really expensive looking biker jacket)

 

[CharlieK]

About 2 months ago here in Kentucky we had a guy on a motorcycle get killed he was driving up an on ramp and decided that he was a professional and was driving around cars on the ramp well he ended up going over the guard rail (no helmet, just a really expensive looking biker jacket)

Just another Darwin test, thereby eliminating him from the gene pool.

 

[BC1]

My father taught me at a young age if I have to bang every azzhat I'll spend my life banging azzhats. There's a never-ending line of them.

 

[AppliedPerspective]

Not to be a smart ass but if you didn't actually read the article please go back and do so. IMO if you're going to carry a gun you need to give a no win situation some thought.

I did read the article, and I have given much thought to no-win scenarios. Doesn't change the fact that in your situation, my first gut reaction after brake and swerve would have been to let a long string of choice words fly. Not saying it's the right or smart thing to do, just what would probably happen. That was my only point.

 

[Ringo]

I've been riding for 45 years, still do. You don't quit riding because you get old, you get old because you quit riding. Like everyone else I've had some pretty hairy experiences, such is life. Much like my bike, I'm built for speed, not comfort. The only thing that I can honestly say that I've never been accused of is going too slow. I live in Arizona, so I have to ask, what's a helmet?

 

[Treo]

I live in Arizona, so I have to ask, what's a helmet?

A helmet is that thing I swore I'd never ride w/ out the day I helped scrape a guy off the pavement who laid it down right in front of me.

I will never forget watching him open his mouth and the blood just well up out of it.

That said, the bike isn't so much the issue here as the fact that the two idiots had no idea who I was or if I was armed or if I was psycho enough to chase them down and put a crowbar through their windshield.

Do the DGIs out there take things like that into account before the open their mouths to random strangers?

 

[Treo]

To take some of the emphasis off the fact I was on a motorcycle here is another post I made on essentially the same topic on THR a few years back.

The other day on my way home from work I got cut off in traffic, on a road that was essentially empty. The guy pulled up in the right lane even w/ my fender looked right at me and came over had I not stepped on the brakes he’d have hit me. Then he proceed to slow down to about 5 miles under the speed limit, I followed him for a while then he slammed on his brakes and turned right w/ no turn signal.

I’m not sure why but I suspect he was deliberately trying to antagonize me.

A week or two ago I was on my way to work, I ended up behind a car that was going a little under the speed limit until I pulled into the right lane to pass, then they sped up and prevented me from getting around them. When we stopped at the light the passenger informed me that I’d “Better watch how the [blank] I’m driving”

Now here’s my question; in both cases I had a gun and while I recognize that neither situation called for any thing like an armed response, I’m not the only person out there that carries. Do these people not think before they decide to try to piss off some random stranger? I mean, what’s going to happen when they try that crap w/ another Vern Smalley?

Maybe it’s because I’m a gun owner that I stop and think that the people around me might be armed and I behave accordingly but it makes no sense to me that anyone would risk such an interaction w/ a random stranger in today’s society.

I guess I’d like to discuss the mindset that goes w/ that kind of stupidity and how we, as responsible gun owners deal with it.
Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Ringo]

Do the DGIs out there take things like that into account before the open their mouths to random strangers?

I can only tell you that I nor anyone else that I know that rides out here has never had such an experience. Things are much different when far removed from the jungle.


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[The_Outlaw]

~Almost Road Kill~

When I was still a teenager back in the late 80's in Southern California my main method of transportation was a Honda Hurricane (CBR 600). I witnissed a lot of crazy $hit during those years and I easily could have been killed on at least 5 seperate occasions because of some of the idiots who were/are wrecklessly driving out there.

I remember one night in particular I was returning home from work after midnight, I was headed Westbound on the 210 freeway coming from Pasadena heading towards Eagle Rock. It was a very chilly evening so as I rode home I laid my upper body down on top of the gas tank and kept my head behind the tiny windshield because it helped to keep me warmer.

I was cruising at around 80mph on a pretty much empty freeway. I was very tired and trying to keep my wits about me.
After about 10 minutes I suddenly felt that something was not right so I checked into my mirrors and saw a large older model sedan speeding towards me from behind with it's lights completely turned off, it was travelling at approximately 100 + mph! WTF!?
I quickly opened up the throttle on my Honda and sped up while changing lanes to try and get out of the way of the speeding sedan, but it immediatly followed suit & also changed lanes, it was still right behind me with no sign of slowing down, if anything it was speeding up even more! WTF!?!

I could see from the freeway lights that there were at least two unknown males inside the Pontiac and it was chillingly clear to me at this point that these guys intended to run into me and kill me for some crazy unknown reason.

I immediatly downshifted to Redline my Honda Hurricane for more power and speed as the Pontiac continued to give chase and even as I swerved back and forth from lane to lane the Pontiac continued to try and follow suit while still attempting to hit me...
it was truly terrifying to say the least.
I ended up hitting speeds of 135mph and I was eventually able to get away from the friggin maniacs.

Because I was still under 21 years old at the time I did not even own a personal sidearm yet plus I don't even think that I would have been able to get to one anyways without having been struck first by those psychopaths in that particular situation.

Long story short, I was very lucky to escape unharmed on that night & I have not owned or operated another motorcyle since then.

 

[Danmc]

To take some of the emphasis off the fact I was on a motorcycle here is another post I made on essentially the same topic on THR a few years back.

Ok, let's forget about the motorcycle for a moment. There are people out there who do things to other people with no disregard. They are looking for trouble and they just don't care who you are. They have not yet met resistance from somebody more pysco, or with less brain matter, than themselves. When they do meet that person, and escape the consequences, they will simply laugh it off and continue with their antics. Hence the less brain matter part.

Normal thinking people are not fully able to comprehend what goes on "upstairs" in the mind of an antagonist or an idiot of the moron variety. The best we can do is to walk away from it and if it bothers us enough, we vent through our friends, family or an internet forum, which does not completely fix the situation, but it does make us feel a little bit better. And of course most of us are thankful that we did not have to draw our weapon.

 

[SGT504MP]

Motorists would cut me off when I was driving my marked police vehicle and think nothing of it. Would look at me with a "so what" face. It was even worse driving a marked 3 wheeled scooter when I worked alone or was on a special assignment. It was such an every day occurence that I just looked at it as another occupational hazzard. The only thing I cared about was not getting in an accident, because I would be subject to disciplinary action-even if I wasn't at fault.

 

[Rayb]

I read on this forum, and I apologize I don't remember who wrote it, that when you carry you loose the right to loose your temper. I have always felt that way but had never verbalized it so eloquently. We live in a world overrun by idiots, all we can do is rise to the occasion and walk away. I much rather avoid the confrontation than put myself in a situation where I might end up having to shoot the moron.

 

[Ringo]

Motorists would cut me off when I was driving my marked police vehicle and think nothing of it. Would look at me with a "so what" face. It was even worse driving a marked 3 wheeled scooter when I worked alone or was on a special assignment. It was such an every day occurence that I just looked at it as another occupational hazzard.

The best advice that I was ever given was.."When riding a motorcycle, always consider myself INVISIBLE". I've been riding for over 40 years, it has worked for me since day one.

 

[Treo]

I read on this forum, and I apologize I don't remember who wrote it, that when you carry you loose the right to loose your temper. I have always felt that way but had never verbalized it so eloquently. We live in a world overrun by idiots, all we can do is rise to the occasion and walk away. I much rather avoid the confrontation than put myself in a situation where I might end up having to shoot the moron.

Not to brag but I'm the guy that said it. Here is the post

The point I’m trying to make is that as soon as I strap on a gun I give up the right to lose my temper. I give up the right to make smart aleck comments to passers by. I give up the right to do anything that may escalate any situation I’m in. Any altercation I’m in is a gun fight because there at least one gun involved, mine. Once you open your mouth to a stranger you lose all control of where that interaction is going to go. What if I said “Hey guy could you pull up?” or “Thanks for holding me up dude.” And the guy just lost it? What if he came out of that car W/ his own gun? Would he be the one that caused the escalation or would it be me

First rule when you’re carrying a gun “Any check your mouth writes just might have to be cashed by your ass”

That said, this topic really isn't about me it's about those idiots who walk among us never once stopping to think what a dangerous place this world is.

After posting this thread it occured to me that the fact that I have been attacked out of the blue a few times or seen people react very, very, badly badly things I considered minor jokes has colored my world view. If I don't know you and you are w/in striking distance you are a threat and I carry myself accordingly.

 

[S&W645]

My sister would remind me that the average IQ is 100.

For every person out there with an IQ of 150, there are two out there with an IQ of 75. It is a losing numbers game.

 

[BluesStringer]

I've been riding for 45 years, still do. You don't quit riding because you get old, you get old because you quit riding. Like everyone else I've had some pretty hairy experiences, such is life. Much like my bike, I'm built for speed, not comfort. The only thing that I can honestly say that I've never been accused of is going too slow. I live in Arizona, so I have to ask, what's a helmet?

What an AWESOME line! And so true!

We went on the Laughlin run every year when we lived in So Cal. Laughlin was alright, but not being gamblers, we'd get set up in the hotel, get the show-scooters set up in the judging line, and then head across the river so we could ride with our hair in the non-existent breeze. I think we did Laughlin like 6 or 7 years in a row. Up until the last year we went ('91 I think), CA didn't have a helmet law, so it wasn't quite as urgent that we get across the river to have some true freedom, but we still hung out there a lot more than in Laughlin.

I've only ever had a couple of scary things happen on a scooter (I know - two kinds of bikers; those that have gone down, and those who are going to. So far, I remain in the latter group Link Removed). I was near downtown LA one day when the schools were getting out, and all the bus-stops were filled to the gills with teenagers. I was sitting at a red light waiting for it to change when a can of soda bounced off my gas tank. I looked over at the group of high school kids and they were all laughing. Didn't figure any of 'em were gonna give up the thrower and I wasn't gonna win if I tried to take 'em all on, so when the light changed, I eased on down the road. No words, no fingers, just a quick evaluation and accept having to touch up the paint when I get home and move on.

The other was just an accident. Coming around Memphis on the bypass, heading back home from Sturgis in '03 in a pack of 40 scooters, a flatbed lost one of those giant rolls of sheet-steel right in front of us. Three bikes hit it, and 5 other bikes hit each other trying to avoid it. All of them went down hard, but my wife on her bike and me on mine, got around the whole mess unscathed. No one died, but 4 riders were critically injured and spent weeks each in a Memphis hospital.

Other than that, I've had upwards of 300K pain-free and fear-free miles in the saddle. I always wonder what kind of magnetism it is that attracts trouble to people like described in the OP, because to hear them tell it, they never seem to have it comin'. Link Removed

Blues

 

[Danmc]

Treo said: "that as soon as I strap on a gun I give up the right to lose my temper. I give up the right to make smart aleck comments to passers by. I give up the right to do anything that may escalate any situation I’m in."


Very well put. I used to get road rage fairly easy. My mouth would open and spew out filth, and my middle finger was used quit often, while all the time hoping that the idiot I was yelling at would not pull me over and beat the tar out me, or worse, shoot me. But the very moment in my life that I began carrying a gun, my attitude changed. I simply do not express my outrage anymore to somebody for flipping me off, or cutting me off in traffic, or saying something to me in a derogatory manner. I just laugh to myself and realize what an idiot the other person is, while realizing what an idiot I used to be myself. My gun is for defending myself against grave bodily harm or death to myself and my family. It is not to create in me a sense of unnatural bravado.

 

[Treo]

I always wonder what kind of magnetism it is that attracts trouble to people like described in the OP, because to hear them tell it, they never seem to have it comin'. Link Removed

Blues

And you have the balls to call me a coward?

Perhaps you have the testicular foritude to respond to the substance of the thread instead of taking cheap shots from the safety of your keyboard.

 

[NCIC105]

I have been riding old motorcycles for over 40 yrs. (Indians, Harleys, foot shift, handshift, left throttle, right throttle.) If I took out every idiot that intentionaly cut me off for not going fast enough or just for jollies, there would be a pile of bodies in my wake. I just flip 'em the bird and laugh like an idiot. Everyone from old ladies to truck drivers to housewives in a hurry to the food mart to punks in their little jap race cars. I just gave up letting it bother me too much. Can't catch them on my old junk anyhow.

Treo, at least you HAVE brakes. LOL. Always have my Sig P238 in my right pocket of my jacket tho when riding.

Here is one of mine you might like.

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