Advocacy & Safety - How to train your motorists not to kill you

The thread title reminds of of the old "How to train your killer whale" commercials they used to run for MUG root beer.

Tell your killer whale "Don't bite!"
If he continues to bite...STOP THE LESSON...and pour yourself a frosty glass of Mug root beer!

As for the OP...the last time I tried waving at a motorist coming up behind me and passing in the dark at 50mph, he slammed on his brakes and wanted to fight because he thought I flipped him the bird. :eek:

Wow... that spot on reminds me of living in Ohio... I almost commented in the speed impairment post.. but saw that was ohio.. and thus pointless to yell at the cops...

I do remember one huge redeeming quality about ohio motorists though, the whole flashing the headlights at oncoming traffic to let you know a cop is coming up thing. Although being a Ca native, the first time someone "warned" me, they got the bird and a lot of expletives...
(sorry this was supposed to be added in an edit... to the post above.. half a cup of coffee not so good for posting.)

I knew if I tried hard enough I could find a common ground for drunk roofers and PETA to sing Koom By Yah around the campfire. But I will never apologize to poultry (even though some of my breast friends are chickens).

By the way, I never wave motorists by. Has a very matador vibe, and I'm dressed silly enough as it is.

they banned bullfighting in Spain ya know - banning trolling of A&S can't be far behind! :D

I do remember one huge redeeming quality about ohio motorists though, the whole flashing the headlights at oncoming traffic to let you know a cop is coming up thing. Although being a Ca native, the first time someone "warned" me, they got the bird and a lot of expletives...
(sorry this was supposed to be added in an edit... to the post above.. half a cup of coffee not so good for posting.)

They do that here in Florida. Although the cops in some cities think that it's against the law to do that and ticket people for doing so. The flashing of their headlights, not the warning that there's a cop running a speed trap.

The first time I waved at motorists to "train" them was back in the '80s. My wife and I were leaving the devastation that was being wrought on the redwoods of Northern California by Maxxam. We were heading west out of there while hundreds of logging trucks were heading east to get their payloads. Since we weren't sure we would get away before they returned, we smiled and waved at each and every trucker in the hope that they would think kindly of us when they passed us later in the day. We were out of the area before any of them passed us, so I don't know if it would have had any effect.

Last winter I started going out of my way to smile and wave at all the local logging trucks. Since I started doing that, I have had no bad encounters with log trucks. Prior to doing the wave, I was having nothing but trouble. Since I'm about the only person who rides in the rain here and I wear a dorky flagger's vest, I'm pretty sure at least some of these guys recognize me.

Smile and wave? meh, basically I'll leave the good motorists alone and just report the bad ones.

http://verydemotivational.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/demotivational-posters-staying-positive.jpg

There's even Biblical support for this:


17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/1170/perspectiveposter.jpg

Ultimately however, a smile and a wave WILL get you a lot farther than a bird and a scowl...

You need to work on your scowl then. I can repel door-to-door salesmen from 50 yards away.

You need to work on your scowl then. I can repel door-to-door salesmen from 50 yards away.

Some of us have "Howdy Doody" faces that just don't scowl well. Others can stop an army of Huns with a glance.