I don't know whether anyone else experiences these things, but as I commute five days a week, it happens to me quite often:

1) You come to a four-way stop, and even though you were the last one to arrive there, and you are observing the right-of-way rules yourself, all of the other cars wait for you to make the first move.

2) You come to an intersection in which you have a stop sign/light, but the cross traffic does not. Someone stops (they don't have a stop sign/light) to let you cross.

I suppose I should be appreciative that they are being considerate, but I wish that they would just follow the rules-of-the-road. I am NOT a pedestrian; I am bound by the same rules (at least in Oregon) as those of cars. In the case of #2, their action often endangers other drivers behind them, who aren't expecting someone to stop where there is no traffic control devise, or the drivers in the opposing lane from them are oblivious to their act of kindness, and so keep driving, making it impossible for you to cross, anyway.

Depending on my mood, I sometimes just give in and go, or I look at them and yell ("Go, go, go!") and wave them onward.

people being 'nice' (or simply not knowing who has the ROW) can create a serious hazard...

I wish they would just perform the appropriate action based on the rules of the road.

Exactly. I do understand, however, that many drivers are accustomed to seeing dumb-ass people on bikes (I hesitate to call them 'cyclists') doing dumb-ass things, or being generally erratic, and so base their actions/cautious behavior on these poor representations of the cycling population. Still...

Same here, I believe the think they are doing you a favor but they are asking you to take a risk and trust them. Sometimes they wave you to cross even though there is traffic coming from the opposite direction that would hit you if you did.

I just wave them on and stick it out until they move, but sometimes it takes a long time because once they have stopped, they are afraid you will go. It is annoying but I figure maybe they will get the picture.

It could also be that the drivers just plain don't know the rules of the road. It used to be, here in Washington, drivers-ed was a class available in high school taught by a state instructor. Budget cuts and privatisation took care of that. Now, if you want a license: Pay some fly by night operation to not only "teach you" in some class with little or no rules regarding that classes actual content, drive around the block a few times and that same instructor also gives the final exam! No conflict of interest there!

Also, given Washingtons explosive population growth, many competant people may simply not know Washingtons laws. (Match speed, then merge, or pull up to the white stop bar, anyone?...Lookin' at you, California.)

I get that some drivers are courteous, others not. I am thankful for those that are, even if they are ignorant.

When a driver is waiting for me but it's his turn to move, I look down or at my watch or shoes, or I make it look like I'm taking a break. This lets them know I don't plan to move next and any amount of waiting or waving won't change that.

Don't bite:

The closest I've ever come to death is in this situation. Nice little old lady stops dead in the middle of the road and tries to wave me and some others across. No one takes the invitation and a wave-off ensues. Cars back up behind little old lady. Impatient driver several cars back decides to pass on the right and just misses us by inches.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Seriously. I simply give them the "are you sure?" look, and move off, waving "thank you" as I do so. Takes much less time to actually do as to describe.

I know what you mean. Most times, however, I'll take the opportunity to go, but I shake my head as I do so and mumble under my breath to show my annoyance. Whatever. It's better than drivers running the stop sign as you're crossing it.

I've also come to the realization through experience that because I appear to be someone who knows what he's doing, who knows the rules of the road, and who is decisive and assertive with his actions, that drivers generally respect that. I am predictable.

So when at the four-way stop I am given the right of way they expect me to go, so I go. Hesitation causes problems.

As for #2, I wouldn't do it. I'd just wait for a natural gap to go.

Haha, I do this quite frequently, too.

There is no natural gap in this situation because now there's a well-intentioned fool clogging up the middle of the road.

when driving a car on a busy road, having right of way, i often stop and let drivers at intersections pass, since they'd otherwise be waiting for ages.

i also like to be on the other end of such courtesys. however i make sure it's safe to pass when doing so.

Well, eventually this well-intentioned fool would be the target of some well-intentioned honking from other motorists, and he'd get on his way. This way he'll think, that's the last time I'm going to try to be nice. Mission accomplished! And one didn't even have to utter a single word.

I will not take out of turn right of way. It's super dangerous. People have been killed by other people being "nice."

I will dismount and stand next to my bike if needed. That's only been required once though. Usually pointing at the stop sign that I have is good enough when they try to wave me through.

Yes - it's very situation dependent, but in some circumstances it is very safe and then I'll quite happily take advantage of a driver's courtesy. If it's a situation where I can't see if there is oncoming traffic from another lane or it's risky for some other reason I'll look down at my shoes or something to let the driver know I'm not going anywhere.

But it all depends: I'm not opposed to such courtesy in all situations.

I'll often slow way down before I reach a four way to avoid the potential of a 'friendly' driver wanting to let me go. But when I can't avoid it, and they want me to go, I do so. Quickly. I know they're trying to help, so as much as it annoys me I try to smile.

I have done this, too. And sometimes they look at me like I'm the nutty one!

So many cyclists here in Chicago don't even stop or slow for a stop sign,or even go thru a red light like they are daring a driver to hit them.
When a driver gives me the right of way at a 4 way stop and I am not sure, I signal and do a right turn later a U turn and then another right.
I don't complain about the "nice guys" but do about those that don't stop or cut off s cyclist.

I swear I was going to post the same exact thing, though less eloquently, but just didn't for some reason.
I hate that, it disrupts the flow of traffic. I ride like a car drives and act in a predictable manner but drivers just throw me off sometimes.

I put my hands at my side and act like I'm looking at the ground. That usually cues them in.

I like to add to this: Cyclists, please just follow the rules of the road.

Stop griping. Folks are trying to do you a favor. or they may simply not trust you and prefer to be in control so they arent the one who ends up hitting you.

So, look all ways and take advantage of their offer. Or wave them off, and let them proceed as they should have in the first place.

In any case, given all the kinds of drivers we see every day, this doesn't even make the list of things to gripe about.

BTW - when I have a stop or red, and a drive with the right of way wants to yield anyway, I simply point to the light or sign and they get the hint, nod an acknowledgment and go.

That usually works but I really dislike the wasted time. I keep a sandwich in my frame bag for such incidents.

It's not a gripe necessarily. Or it is for some, but for others, it's another thing to bear in mind among the many other things. Discussing it here can help us build skills. Eventually, this becomes second nature, and we stop griping, but we have varying skill levels on the forum, so it's worth discussing this skill.