Wednesday, February 6, 2008

What's Your Beef Wednesday :: The Road Rage Edition

It's been a few weeks and I have some pent up beefs. Let's get to it.

  • Inclement Weather. Anytime the smallest amount of precipitation falls, the new speed limit on the highway becomes 25 mph here in Columbus. Yesterday we had on and off downpours during our morning commute. It took me so long to get to work you would have thought inches of snow were falling. Ridiculous.

  • Windshield Wipers. I'm glad you're actually using them (because there are definitely people who avoid them like the plague), but can you pick an appropriate speed and stick to it? It's downpouring, OK put the blades on high. But if it stops raining will you shut them off? You look like a dumb ass sitting there with your wipers flapping at full speed when there ISN'T ANY RAIN FALLING.

  • Rubbernecking. I know. There's an accident over on the other side of the highway. Police cars, ambulances, the works. CAN YOU PLEASE STOP LOOKING OVER THERE AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD? This lane of traffic should not be moving as slowly as the lanes on the other side of the median where the accident actually took place.

  • Tailgating and the Like. If I can't even see the hood of your car in my rearview mirror you are TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. Back the hell up now before I slam on my brakes. And there are quite a few people who have the opposite problem. I know there's a car about a mile in front of you tapping on his brakes. Do you really need to start braking when you are SEVEN CAR LENGTHS behind him? Slow your roll a little, but there is no reason to leave that much room. You know a few of the rush hour weasels are going to sneak in front of you. And I just might be one of them.

  • Speed Limits. Are around for a reason. Let's at least try to drive, at minimum, the posted miles per hour. OK? It's RUSH HOUR. See the RUSH in there? Get some lead in your foot and pick up the pace granny. It's 65 and we should not be going 50. In the fast lane.

    And one non-road rage related beef for today:

  • Lazy Elevator Riders. I got on the elevator this morning with another guy. He pressed his floor, I pressed mine. We start going up. The elevator comes to a stop of the 15th floor (which isn't the destination for either of us). We both look puzzled, but then a lady gets on. PRESSES THE 16TH FLOOR BUTTON and steps back. Seriously? You couldn't take the stairs for one floor? She gets off and my fellow passenger starts snickering. I couldn't help but laugh as well, but I was still miffed. That might be the laziest thing I've ever seen.


Let it out. What's YOUR beef, road rage related or otherwise? And feel free to use ALL CAPS. I feel it helps emphasize how irritated you really are. :)


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53 comments:

S said...

Oh I hate lazy elevator users. I always try and use the stairs in if it is only a few floors.

I also have an almost OCD compulsion to have my wipers on the exact speed necessary for the rain/speed I'm driving. It's like a game I play.

shelleycoughlin said...

Lazy elevator riders are bad, but lazy escalator riders make me enraged. You are on MOVING STAIRS- the least you could do is put in the effort to walk a bit?

Baby Makes Three said...

Drivers irk me so much! It seems like your post minus the elevator riders is a daily issue for me. Ack!

Charm City Kim said...

The lazy elevator riders KILL ME!

What's annoying me lately? People who stop by my desk and look at what's on my computer screen. Excuse me? You have a question for me? How about you look at me and stop commenting on what I'm looking at.

dreamgirl said...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH FAST WINDSHIELD WIPERS!!!!!!!!!! my biggest biggest pet peeve ever. By far. Seriously. People just look like complete morons. Sorry if you do that people - but I can't take it!

Anonymous said...

wow, that elevator person must be lazzyyy

Donna said...

Sunday drivers truly piss me off. And we get alot around here.
Our road doesn't have a center line, and alot of outa-towners drive 35mph (posted at 45mph) DOWN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD!!!!! There aren't very many straight stretches for passing either.
My kids are going to have very interesting 'car language'.

Donna said...

OH, and my husband always wonders (out loud) if people in the city ride the elevator to get to a gym that's not on a first floor. I'm kinda curious about that myself.

Andréa said...

Seriously the windsheild wiper thing drives me crazy. For some reason, people in Texas are not fond of driving in rain and feel that driving 12 miles an hour, is acceptable, WHEN IT IS ONLY DRIZZELING, and they have their wipes on high. You see... those things are put on the car for a reason. To HELP YOU DRIVE IN THE RAIN you goof!

Jess said...

I don't even have a car anymore but this post reminded me of when I did and I got all infuriated at those types of drivers all over again. Thanks for reminding me how nice it is not to have to drive surrounded by crazy people.

Moll said...

Here's my beef - I am sick of not having a car. Not only does running errands take forever and I can't escape the city when I have had enough, but I can't even contribute road rage moments!

Nic (NotPerfect) said...

The lazy elevator riders drive me INSANE. ESPECIALLY if they're going down. GRRR.

Sarah said...

I have a beef with my roommate.

graffiti.girl.designs said...

lol you have a lot of road rage michelle!

here is my road rage beef:

yesterday, around rush hour in the evening, i am headed back downtown for dinner and traffic is moving at a slower pace, i'm in the left lane and there is a turning lane next to me, all of a sudden this huge pick up truck comes barreling down the turning lane, i cringe - thinking ohmygod he is going to slam into the car waiting to turn, but what does he do - CUT ME OFF. which was absurd since HE GOT NO WHERE, EXCEPT ONE SPOT IN LINE IN FRONT OF ME.

Anonymous said...

i work on the second floor but unfortunately the door is locked so we can't take the stairs up (only down) but yeah taking it one floor to the 16th is kind of redonkulous :P

my beefs? Slow movers on the metro escalators. Cars who don't stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, loud teenagers on the metro, smelly people on the metro. fat people who stand in the MIDDLE OF THE CAR NEXT TO THE DOOR SO NO ONE CAN GET ON, people who stand at the bottom of the metro escalator as a train is coming into the station and don't move so i have to break out into sprint to get to the opposite end of the train.

I <3 your what's your beef wednesday :)

Anonymous said...

OMG for reals with everything you just said. Absolutely everything. Holy crap.

What's worse than people going up a floor in the elevator? Going down in an elevator. I do not understand it unless you are crippled, in a hurry for something and/or work on the top floor a gigantic skyscraper.

Anonymous said...

What scares me is the people texting and on cell phone going 50 mph and weaving thru traffic during snow storms. OMG, we are they trying to kill us? Stop with the cell phone use people!!!

thegirlfromtheghetto.wordpress.com

Tonya said...

It drives me crazy when people walk slow in a group in front of me and take up the whole sidewalk so I can't pass them. erg!

Annie said...

TURN SIGNALS.
People who don't use turn signals when other cars are around are simply inconsiderate. I can't handle it. Turning into your drive way on a one way, one block side street that doesn't show up on mapquest? Fine. No signal necessary. Major road and your blinker would make several other peoples' driving experiences smoother and much more convenient? Usage is mandated by law and ME.

I used to get frustrated when people didn't drive the limits (I'm not a crazy driver, I'm just efficient) until someone noted that they are LIMITS, not MINIMUMS. I still get frustrated, but I also try and take that into consideration, though it doesn't happen all the time.

B said...

the elevator thing used to piss me off SOOOOOO bad in college! Seriously?! You're 18-23, you're obviously able to walk all over a HUGE campus, you're not carrying a shit ton of crap - freaking walk up that one flight of steps! PALEASE.

And the road rage? right there with ya.

For serial.

Anonymous said...

I totally did a WTF Wednesday post, but I can add to the road rage beefs!

People (usually older ones, much older ones) who brake when a car is coming in the other lane. As in, the opposite direction of that which we are traveling! DO YOU REALLY NEED TO BRAKE JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS PASSING YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD?! Seriously! I once counted an old lady who braked 32 times in one stretch of highway! B/c...you guessed it...32 cars passed us on the other side of the road!

Anonymous said...

I'm with ya on the inclement weather rant. It's the same way with drivers in Seattle, even though it rains NINE MONTHS OF THE YEAR here. One would think people might, i don't know...be capable of driving in rain? But of course that's not the case.

And snow? Forget about it. Utter chaos.

Nilsa S. said...

My beef: People who cut you off when there's half a car length in front of you and then proceed to drive 5 car lengths behind the car in front of them. Um, hello, if you're going to be an asswipe and cut me off, the least you could do is not let the rest of the world in front of me, too.

Stephanie said...

No car, so no road rage, but I have SUBWAY RAGE instead. I could go on and on, but #1. Do not push to get on or off the subway - the conductor will not leave as you're halfway between the train and the platform. #2. Wear deodorant, we are in close quarters. #3. If you step on my shoes, I will kick you with said shoes. #4. If you are homeless, go puke/poop/pee at McDonalds, not on my ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.

Whew. Felt good.

marisa rose said...

I am the worst driver in the world, so I think I may do everything you hate. Also my office is on the second floor and I have no problem taking the stairs but the staircase is for emergencies only. So every time I've in the elevator with someone not from my floor, I feel like as ass.

Katelin said...

I hate hate hate when people don't go speed limit, it drives me nuts. And other road related beef, I hate when big cars just cut me off with no blinker just because I'm a small car. Grrrr big cars, grrrrr.

Girl from Pennsylvania said...

My beef is with myself.

I went through an entire box of tissues last nite and had to buy a new one today. In the mean time my nose is a urious shade of red and I have no vaseline to put on it. F.

Secondly, I forgot to bring a razor and I am a girl who shaves everything everyday. That being said I had to pay like $6 for one f-ing razor.

Damn, Damn, Damn

Unknown said...

I'm so with you on the weather thing--it's the same way here in MN! People thing that a few flurries are reason enough to drive 20 mph on the highway and there's always an accident, no matter how little snow there is. DUMBASSES get off the road if you are scared to drive in snow!

And the elevator thing happened to me at school on Monday. I had to wait for three different elevator cars to come and go because they were so packed. Then when I finally got on? A woman goes up ONE FLOOR while the rest of us are rushing to get to class and have to go up to the 4th or 5th floor. LAZY BITCH!

Thank you.

Lacey Bean said...

I loathe 1 floor elevator people. Just walk dammit! We used to have housekeepers in the hotel I worked in take the elevator one floor. Gahh!!! When you work on the 32nd floor, that's death!!

Angela Noelle said...

Ha! Love it!

I used to get really angry at the people who used the elevator to go up one floor in our office, but come to find out, there's no stairs! There are the fire escape stairs, but apparently they're locked and don't unlock unless the fire alarm goes off. How bizarre and kind of terrifying is that!

So@24 said...

Rubberneckers. Jesus. RUBBERNECKERS!

I was just thinking about that on my way into work this morning and started muttering (see: cussing) under my breath when .2 seconds after I passed the accident, the freeway was going 60 again.

I'm getting heated again. I'll be back

Lisa said...

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN TORONTO.

Vanessa said...

My beef was yesterday at the gas station from the guy who was filling the tank of his HUMMER and complaining to me about the cost of a fill up and how much gas his Hummer used. Ummm, DUDE! Did you not realize what you were getting into gas wise when you BOUGHT A FREAKIN HUMMER? This is why I drive an Audi, because I don't like to pay $100 or more per fill up. Go cry your sob story somewhere else.

Personal elevator rule? Stairs for one floor up or two floors down.

the fanny said...

I AM ALL DONE WITH WINTER.

(thank you)

Bhanu said...

LOL that was hilarious! Well written I might add.
It's funny I've always wondered about the phenomena of "Rubbernecking". Sometimes I take the elevator up / down one floor. BUT I always flash a quick smile and ask my fellow elevator riders to excuse my laziness (or my 4 inch pumps)!!

Happy Hump Day!

Liz said...

When people don't use their turn signal. How the eff am I supposed to know you want over? Likewise, if I've had my turn signal on for more than five seconds, don't be a douchebag, let me over!

The Dutchess of Kickball said...

People who brake long before they actually turn on their blinker. Like I am a freaking psychic. OOOHH, that is why you are breaking to a practical standstill before making a 90 degree turn. Blinkers were invented for a reason, use them prior to braking!

Niki Nielsen said...

i hate it when people don't use their turn signals.

i also hate it when people don't get their car all the way into the turn lane, and i have to go around them! ugh!

Anonymous said...

People who walk in big, spread-out groups going sooooooo slowly and yet are so large a group that there is no way to get by them!!!

Anonymous said...

I HATE people on this street that I take to work every day that will turn out in front of me when I'm like 2 inches and in risk of crashing into them, AND to make matters even better, they turn left. This busy road doesn't have a turning lane (We've grown too fast for road makers to keep up), so I have to wait on them because They pulled out in front of me. EVERY SINGLE TIME. It's like some sort of scientific anomaly. This road, in This town makes people cut you off then turn left.

Thank you. I really needed to vent that.

Silverstar said...

Hi,
New here.:) Rubber neckers drive me crazy! I mean do you really NEED to see the damage done to cars and/or other people? Seriously.

Katie said...

Aww you've blocked anonymous comments - now we have to support google and use their accounts. :(

Anyway, I hate it when people get in the wrong lane at round-abouts and then don't care that they are cutting off someone by exiting when they shouldn't be. And nobody indicates at round-abouts anymore! Gah!

Yoda said...

You have road rage issues in COLUMBUS? OMG. The city with the most polite and reasonable drivers?

Srsly, you should try driving in NYC.

Ashley said...

I HATE SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND HAVING SOME CONSTRUCTION TYPE WORKER NEXT TO ME IN A PICKUP TRUCK HONK, SMILE, AND WAVE! WHAT DOES HE THINK I AM GOING TO DO, GET OUT OF MY CAR AND GO HAVE DRINKS? SERIOUSLY!

Ok, I am not that mad about that, but the caps just felt right! :)

L Sass said...

For the 87,000th time... I am so glad I don't have to drive and deal with this crap!! Also, it was 60 in NYC today, which definitely helped!

Raven said...

Talking on a cell phone and attempting to drive. Obviously this is a highly specialized skill and not everyone can do it. If it is too taxing on your brain to operate your very complicated phone and your rapidly moving vehicle for the love of all things holy CHOOSE THE VEHICLE! People are trying to DRIVE HERE.

*taking a deep breath*

I'm okay, really I am.

Appletini said...

Ugh! Rubberneckers are my ultimate pet peeve! I want to just get out of the car and yell.."GET A LIFE!" :)

Miss A said...

Rubbernecking? Thats a new term for me!

My beef? Hmmm, slow walkers in th city. It's always them who piss me off.

Lara said...

ex-dates who loudly announce to entire roomfuls of people, "i've seen it all before" when you inform him that you were going to change your pants in private.

asshat.

Anonymous said...

People that leave their turn blinker on for an excessive period of time. I was behind a semi for about half a mile yesterday who had his left blinker on. I try not to mess with semis seeing as they're much bigger than my car and could easily crush me, so I stayed in my lane and waited for him to move over. Then he turned right. And I was so confused. He proceeded to drive about 25 mph on an entrance ramp, all with his left blinker on. I wasn't sure where he was going to merge, etc., because he was sending out the wrong signals. USE YOUR BLINKER AND TURN IT OFF WHEN YOU'RE DONE!

Phew, I feel so much better after "yelling" in all caps.

Anonymous said...

I splurged this morning and got some hash browns at Dunkin Donuts (try them; they're yummy). However, the ketchup and salt I asked for were absent. Makes my splurge not nearly as good as I wanted it to be.

Anonymous said...

Windshield wipers and turn signals...TURN THEM OFF PEOPLE.

Passionista said...

Lazy elevator riders are the worst! It's especially ridiculous when you're in a 20 story building with only 2 elevators.