Fifty Plus (50+) - Potty Mouth in a Pickup! - I wonder if Mom knows?

Potty Mouth in a Pickup! - I wonder if Mom knows?

Greetings Dear 50+'ers,

Out running a few errands on the bike, headed for home, stop light at the freeway on-ramp. I'm in the bike lane, as far from the on-ramp lane as possible so as to be out of the way of the cars and trucks.

Honk. Up rolls Mr. Potty Mouth.
30 something guy driving a Dodge Ram. (I am well out of his path)
"Get a car, Hippie Mother-F#$ker"

I wonder if his mother knows what a jerk her son is?

I wonder why people are jerks like this when they are in their car - would they behave the same way if the venue was the check out line at the grocery store?

As much as possible, especially when riding the bike I try to let crap like this roll off my back. I guess I still need to work on that one.

Your thoughts?

Jeff, still fat

Well I bet HE feels better...

I just laugh at them. They are the ones whose inadequacies cause them to do such things.
If they persist, I pull my phone and take their picture.

+1 on the picture phone. I can only guess that people like that have to TRY to make others feel bad, so they can feel better. Sad, really.

Possible replies:

Big smile -
"Hi neighbor!" or "Tell your mom I said hi."

Tell him to keep his mother at home and he won't have that problem.:innocent:

Although I agree in spirit to those replies, I am reluctant to chance annoying someone in a two-ton vehicle. I just smile and wave, and let them wonder what I find so amusing!

Although I agree in spirit to those replies, I am reluctant to chance annoying someone in a two-ton vehicle. I just smile and wave, and let them wonder what I find so amusing!

+1

Most of these guys have gotten in trouble with the law before, so when they see the phone, they get real small and run off as fast as they can.

Same time, maybe ask him "So the big truck thing is not helping compensate for the tiny d***?"

Taser.

"Hippie", eh? I would think the peace sign would have been appropriate.:)

Just ignore the jerk. I know it is hard to do but someone like that is not worth the effort. Some day he will say the wrong thing to the wrong person and it could cost him more than it was ever worth. There are some violent people in this world who waste little time on words.

Why do these idiots think everyone on a bicycle is a hippie? If I were in a VW microbus with peace signs and wearing bell bottoms then ok.

+1

+2

"Hippie", eh? I would think the peace sign would have been appropriate.:)

I have always completely and totally ignored remarks from drivers. If I get a remark, it let's me know they see me! But if called a hippie, a peace sign would be a perfect response!

Maybe with a slight spanish accent, as you flash the peace sign, you could say "Peace on you senor".:)

"Peace on you senor".:)

OK, that had me rolling on the floor laughing!

On a serious note, one thing that I have made it a habit to do these days is show a friendly wave when a driver waits for me.

+1 Being in California, I am used to drivers being less than polite at times. I try to let the nice ones know I appreciate their courtesy. BTW I was afraid I was in for some rudeness when I went to Texas for some training in 2005, but was amazed how polite the majority of drivers were! I do not know if it was the 'Lance effect', but drivers would consistently wait for me to proceed through 4-way stops, when they clearly had the right-of-way! I came away with a whole new respect for their drivers.

Although I agree in spirit to those replies, I am reluctant to chance annoying someone in a two-ton vehicle. I just smile and wave, and let them wonder what I find so amusing!

Have to go with +3 on this.
I do like the camera phone thing too, I have never done it but will keep it in mind if matters were to turn for the worse.
Every once in awhile I have given the thumbs down too.

I try to ignore these kind of comments and remember not to take it personally. After all, they don't know me. Likely they behave in similar ways to others driving "two ton" vehicles. Then I try to focus on the fact that (where I live at least) on any given day hundreds of drivers have given me room, let me cross an intersection first, etc. The last thing I want to do is get caught up in "cyclist's rage" against others with which I must share the road. Life's too short for that.

My thoughts and actions, however, completely change if the person takes physical action against me (e.g., throws something at me). But that's only happened a handful of times all the years I've been riding.

Possible replies:

Big smile -
"Hi neighbor!" or "Tell your mom I said hi."

- No hablo Ingles
- I'll give your suggestion all the consideration its due.
- Good idea, thanks.
- (dreamily) Peace and Love, brother
- Yeah, I remember when I had MY first beer.

There is no cute or clever response to jerk like this that won't further incite his behavior. There are times when it's just best to ignore someones behavior and ride, or, walk away. When you're in a situation like that you have to ask yourself, "do I really want to escollate this situation right here and right now?" Sure, it makes you angry but you can get past that. We've all acheived our 50+ ages and along the way we've managed to control our impulses and respond, or not respond, in a mature manner.

Best to*say nothing and smile and wave, but on occasion I have gotten pissed off and told the driver to *&#$ off. No fights yet.

My daughter and her friends call those trucks "Compensators."

It's rare but it happens around here too. Some guy on a Harley told me to "Get off the F' n road!" one time. That was the most surprising one. I'm with doctor J and all the rest with the smile and wave response, it keeps them guessing. I like the cell phone camera idea too, I'll try to remember it.

After bad moods caught me flipping off a couple of friends that honked at me just to say hi, I try to just laugh and wave now no matter what. It can either have a calming effect or piss the person off worse, and that is their decision! If I were stopped, yeah, I'd try to get the camera phone out in time for a shot perhaps. We are all ambassadors every single minute we ride or even talk about cycling, whether we like it or not. Sometimes it's very difficult to remember that.

I just act like I am having trouble hearing them... I'll put my hand up to my ear and shrug, and mouth, What?... If they are stupid enough to try and repeat it, I still act like I can't hear them even if they are right beside me. Most of the time it's not to hard to fake, because the usual piece of junk vehicle they are driving makes it hard to hear them anyway. After a couple of times they get frustrated, and their self judged clever moment is gone, so they just go on about their way, as do I. Some people just can't seem to stand seeing someone else enjoy doing something, they don't do themselves. I will most likely (if I'm lucky) never understand this way of thinking.

Welcome to the Rush Limbaugh - Fox News era.

"Get off the F' n road!"

Does that make sense to you? Roads copulating?

I drive a school bus and, believe me, I hear that word used a lot. I generally tell the kids that they need to boost their vocabulary. If you use that same word too much people are going to think that you're stupid.

I don't necessarily agree, but after an intentional near miss and some nasty epithets by an idiot driver, one of our legendary local riders caught up with the miscreant driver at the next stop light and kicked a huge dent in his passenger door. He then leaned down to the window and said, "Next time your head, dude."

One of those law-and-order things we don't countenance openly but find very satisfying secretly?

Thanks everybody for your replies.

Wish I had thought of the peace sign, that would have been perfect.
I try to never flip any other road user off, why escalate?
My cheap phone has no camera, am thinking about a helmet cam though.
Love the "Compensator"!

Jeff, still fat

I'm certainly not 50+ but as a male in his twenties riding the cruel(drivers reckless) streets of philly. I hear a lot of crap. It's always guys, and its always multiples. I just ignore them, and I suggest you do too. I've talked to friends that have been chased and run off the road when the situation escalated, just saw a news video posted on the fixie forum about a man who was hit for yelling at a driver.

Life is far more important than a few words. Just let them pass and continue riding knowing you have used your own body(on the bike) to cover countless more miles than that fool will ever.

I'm certainly not 50+ but as a male in his twenties riding the cruel(drivers reckless) streets of philly. I hear a lot of crap. It's always guys, and its always multiples. I just ignore them, and I suggest you do too. I've talked to friends that have been chased and run off the road when the situation escalated, just saw a news video posted on the fixie forum about a man who was hit for yelling at a driver.

Life is far more important than a few words. Just let them pass and continue riding knowing you have used your own body(on the bike) to cover countless more miles than that fool will ever.

So thanks for visiting the old folks home. Please sign the guest book.

Yep, Philly drivers take the cake for knuckle-dragging... I almost fell victim to one of the "drive by and have the rear seat passenger try to give a good shove to the seat" game the teens like to play. Jerks. Dangerous jerks at that.

"I had a Dodge, but sold it and am saving up for a real truck."

My cheap phone has no camera,

Geez. Even my phone has a camera and I'm a Retro Grouch. Rotary dial too.

Geez. Even my phone has a camera and I'm a Retro Grouch. Rotary dial too.

Probably uses film...

"So thanks for visiting the old folks home. Please sign the guest book."

And next time, bring cookies!

Reply "No habla Ingles"!

Google Bobke's Beef and look for his rant about Tony Kornheiser. I'm not sure, but this might be the link...

http://www.versus.com/shows/bobkes-beef/

People behave like this because they think they are anonymous. They are not. They have a license plate. You don't. Don't say anything. Just get the license plate number, then use it find out who they are and where they live and then you get even ... :innocent:

I've never been called a "Hippie Mother F'er"...I think I would have started laughing! :D:lol:

I like the pretend-deaf thing -- they get frustrated, give up, with a loud and hearty, "F U!" and take off. Make sure you look straight at their rearview when you bust out laughing and pointing their way.

Wish I had the patience to use it........

About two weeks ago, I had my first "Get off the Road" yell in at least two years. Since it was night, I didn't see the car or driver clearly. It was a woman, with a raspy voice that suggested a deep personal relationship with cigarettes. I posted about that at A & S. Some amusing suggestions,
but the smile and wave is probably best. Or, just look right at them at say "See ya next week".

Terrierman, as for your Harley rider, who knows? It's not like you could have possibly been in his way. I predict that in about ten years, we'll be seeing a lot fewer Harleys on the road. Today's group of 20-somethings just don't seem interested in them. Just sit back and let time do its thing.

It's not like you could have possibly been in his way. I predict that in about ten years, we'll be seeing a lot fewer Harleys on the road. Today's group of 20-somethings just don't seem interested in them. Just sit back and let time do its thing.

Yeah they've been saying that since the '70s. More than a couple ignored that advice and are now millionaires.

Does that make sense to you? Roads copulating?

I drive a school bus and, believe me, I hear that word used a lot. I generally tell the kids that they need to boost their vocabulary. If you use that same word too much people are going to think that you're stupid.

:lol: Not to drift too far off subject... But, this reminds me of the old "Sex Stone" joke. Carry a small rock with you and make sure you set it were all your friends can see it. Sooner or later one of them is bound to ask what is up with your rock. Tell them it's a "Sex Stone". Most of them will ask "What is a sex stone?" Your answer.... "Just another F'n rock". I got three co-workers one day with that dumb little joke.

As for the F-word and the younger generation... I worked with many a twenty something that could use that word as a noun, pro-noun, verb, adjective, and sometimes a conjunction. I have a fairly large vocabulary/lexicon, and they used to accuse me of making words up, because they had never heard of them. Kind of sad really... :twitchy:

Of course I have met some people that could do the same thing with the S-word for fecal material. They both seem to be very versatile words, if you think about how they are used. :)

Yeah they've been saying that since the '70s. More than a couple ignored that advice and are now millionaires.

I'm aware that the company resurrected itself nicely, and has a present market cap of 6.29B.
Capitalism at its best.

I was referring to the aging demographic of the first time Harley buyer. What is it now? 45? 50?

Tick-tock. Onward.

Harassing a cyclist is now illegal here in Louisiana (but a cop would have to observe it).

"Stop it. You're scaring me."

The shoe-size IQ folks usually don't know what to do with that.

There is, apparently, a Psychic transmitter in the cab of every pickup truck

compelling the passenger to yell something stupid, out the window ,

only the wise and strong willed are able to resist it.

the dimwitted are powerless to it's influences ..

:roflmao2::roflmao: