Backlash against hybrids
Banned
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,155
From: Lewisville (Dallas), Texas
Sometimes I'll Respond
A few times when someone is going over the board on their aggressive driving, I'll mock them doing things such as whip into another lane, or snap my head back and forth as if I'm a NASCAR racer on the way to the hospital to see my first born. Also make sure they see me laughing. 
It probably does not register to them, but if they did their behavior would be embarrassing.
In my dreams, they would simply fly off the road and have plenty of time to ponder their idiotacy...
It probably does not register to them, but if they did their behavior would be embarrassing.In my dreams, they would simply fly off the road and have plenty of time to ponder their idiotacy...
Last edited by Delta Flyer; Apr 19, 2006 at 12:52 PM.
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 874
Re: Sometimes I'll Respond
Originally Posted by Delta Flyer
A few times when someone is going over the board on their aggressive driving, I'll mock them doing things such as whip into another lane, or snap my head back and forth as if I'm a NASCAR racer on the way to the hospital to see my first born. Also make sure they see me laughing. It probably does not register to them, but if they did their behavior would be embarrassing.
In my dreams, they would simply fly off the road and have plenty of time to ponder their idiotacy...
It probably does not register to them, but if they did their behavior would be embarrassing.In my dreams, they would simply fly off the road and have plenty of time to ponder their idiotacy...
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 955
From: Chicago area
Re: Backlash against hybrids
lol, you guys. And that's good- it's way better to be able to laugh about it; getting angry does no good at all.
I saw something once on how people in cars basically have a box around them, and they feel buffered from the rest of the world, as if they aren't really interacting with live people, just other big boxes. They do things to other cars that they wouldn't do if they were walking down a sidewalk and passing or rushing around actual human beings.
If there's anything to that theory, then envision a world with (mostly) transparent cars- it would be impractical (the materials, privacy issues, sun glare and sunburn...), but putting aside all that, it might make our interaction with each other on the roads more human. If you could see (and hear?) other drivers instead of feeling distanced from them, you might be more respectful to them. What do you think? Would it have any impact at all?
I saw something once on how people in cars basically have a box around them, and they feel buffered from the rest of the world, as if they aren't really interacting with live people, just other big boxes. They do things to other cars that they wouldn't do if they were walking down a sidewalk and passing or rushing around actual human beings.
If there's anything to that theory, then envision a world with (mostly) transparent cars- it would be impractical (the materials, privacy issues, sun glare and sunburn...), but putting aside all that, it might make our interaction with each other on the roads more human. If you could see (and hear?) other drivers instead of feeling distanced from them, you might be more respectful to them. What do you think? Would it have any impact at all?
Banned
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,155
From: Lewisville (Dallas), Texas
To a Degree, They Already Do And Are Oblivious To It
Originally Posted by leahbeatle
lol, you guys. And that's good- it's way better to be able to laugh about it; getting angry does no good at all.
I saw something once on how people in cars basically have a box around them, and they feel buffered from the rest of the world, as if they aren't really interacting with live people, just other big boxes. They do things to other cars that they wouldn't do if they were walking down a sidewalk and passing or rushing around actual human beings.
If there's anything to that theory, then envision a world with (mostly) transparent cars- it would be impractical (the materials, privacy issues, sun glare and sunburn...), but putting aside all that, it might make our interaction with each other on the roads more human. If you could see (and hear?) other drivers instead of feeling distanced from them, you might be more respectful to them. What do you think? Would it have any impact at all?
I saw something once on how people in cars basically have a box around them, and they feel buffered from the rest of the world, as if they aren't really interacting with live people, just other big boxes. They do things to other cars that they wouldn't do if they were walking down a sidewalk and passing or rushing around actual human beings.
If there's anything to that theory, then envision a world with (mostly) transparent cars- it would be impractical (the materials, privacy issues, sun glare and sunburn...), but putting aside all that, it might make our interaction with each other on the roads more human. If you could see (and hear?) other drivers instead of feeling distanced from them, you might be more respectful to them. What do you think? Would it have any impact at all?
leahbeatle,
I see some people that are clueless how ridiculous they look on the freeway....people that would not dream of acting pompous like Thurston J. Howell III of Gilligan's Island, but.....here it is:
Worship me!
Actually there are times I could get more pompous pictures, but a few here complain out of "concern" I get in an accident (who might be concerned they will be in the next picture
)
Enchanter, Enthusiast
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 852
From: Seattle, Washington
Re: Backlash against hybrids
I think a study on how a car makes people feel would be fascinating. When I drive my HCH, I feel patient, more relaxed and more generous. I let folks merge easily, follow at safe distances - generally more cooperative. When I drive our Pilot, a vast majority of that carries over. However, there's an underlying, almost sub-conscious feeling in there - entitlement. I'm high up, I can see far, I have a strong engine, I'm in a large vehicle. Folks ought to be looking out for me. Fortunately that doen't translate into any visible change in my driving, but it's strange that it's there and I can detect the difference. I expect that folks who do not have hybrids, or have not otherwise trained themselves to have more relaxed driving habits, give into this feeling and let it translate into agressive driving. Anyway, would be an interesting study...
Go Army!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 178
From: Ellicott City, MD
Re: Backlash against hybrids
there used to be a commercial that showed people in line for something (a bus??) and they were behaving like many drivers in traffic -- moving out of line in order to jump back in ahead by one "person length", shouting at people in front of them to move the instant the front of the line started moving, standing very very very close to the person in front of you in line (tailgating), etc. -- it was pretty funny
I really can't remember the product they were advertising though
I really can't remember the product they were advertising though
Prof. of Hybridology
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,070
From: Michigan
Re: Sometimes I'll Respond
Originally Posted by GeekGal
In my dreams, and as part of my coping mechanism to avoid indulging in any of their behaviors/gestures myself, they are hit by a full spread of photon torpedos and their vehicle is vaporized, leaving nothing but their naked (uninjured -- I'm not evil) body in the still-driving position. Then I can think, "How embarassing for them... I really hope they get wherever they're going quickly because they look ridiculous!"
Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29
Re: Backlash against hybrids
I think people tend to paint in the feelings and attitudes of those who transgress against them. For example, at least in my experience a good number of the agressive drivers are the small sporty car type cars that like to zoom in and out of lanes taking advantage of the alleged greater agility of their vehicles. There is a reason why Volkswagen Jetta drivers are getting a reputation for being the very worse. The big SUV drivers, consuming huge amounts of fuel, tend not to weave in and out of lanes quickly although many of them will tailgate, or is it their bigger size that makes them feel like they're tailgators?
It would be interesting to see some type of quantitative analysis between vehicle type and automobile accidents per mile.
As for hybrid drivers, my take experience tells me that they tend not to tailgate or make aggressive lane changes. But then again, those buying the hybrids seem not to be buying them for that reason.
It would be interesting to see some type of quantitative analysis between vehicle type and automobile accidents per mile.
As for hybrid drivers, my take experience tells me that they tend not to tailgate or make aggressive lane changes. But then again, those buying the hybrids seem not to be buying them for that reason.
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 335
Re: Backlash against hybrids
Originally Posted by leahbeatle
...envision a world with (mostly) transparent cars- ... Would it have any impact at all?
Okay, probably should have resisted the urge to post this.
