In this episode of 'Things That Piss Me Off'.........

[Deleted member 129457]

Does this mean you've lost interest in my SassySox rent-a-sock franchise?

I'll have you know I put a non-insignificant amount of work into the PP presentation.

I’m sorry but I’ve just invested all my money into H2Woah which, via a highly proprietary something or other, will realign your personal magnetic field for optimal something or other. I can tell you it involves copper and water.

If I can raise another ten dollars, though, it’s all going to Sassy Sox. Great idea. Wonderful. Sure to make a mint.

 

[Soko]

Easy way to be Socks compliant.

 

[Drizzt321]

I don't understand people. Someone sent a friend request on Facebook. Really, really sure we've never met, but we do have 1 mutual friend in common, and so I message him, basically "have we met before and I don't remember?". Maybe there's some other positive reason he's trying to reach out. Ok.

So he then tries to do a Messenger video call with me. WTF? How does that give you the right to try and do a video chat?

I really don't get people.

EDIT:
Ok, no text chat reply at all, delete the conversation, delete the request. Goodbye. If you try and bug me again I'll just end up blocking most likely.

 

[treatment]

psycho traffic light left-turn signal...

 

[thekaj]

That reminds me, people who don't move up in an intersection when trying to turn left without a dedicated left turn light. I know that in my state it's technically illegal. But when it's the only chance you've got to make a left turn, because there's a steady stream of oncoming traffic, inch your way out there, so at least ONE car makes it through that cycle! It's not like a semi truck is going to broadside you immediately when the light turns yellow.

Also, the law that makes it illegal to enter the intersection when waiting to make a left turn.

In addition, the people who end up blocking the box, because they pulled out to do a left turn, but didn't notice that the lane they're turning into is backed up, so even when they have an opportunity to go, they can't, and instead end up blocking at least one lane, thus making the stupid law necessary via the universal constant of "this is why we can't have nice things".

 

[Drizzt321]

That reminds me, people who don't move up in an intersection when trying to turn left without a dedicated left turn light. I know that in my state it's technically illegal. But when it's the only chance you've got to make a left turn, because there's a steady stream of oncoming traffic, inch your way out there, so at least ONE car makes it through that cycle! It's not like a semi truck is going to broadside you immediately when the light turns yellow.

Also, the law that makes it illegal to enter the intersection when waiting to make a left turn.

In addition, the people who end up blocking the box, because they pulled out to do a left turn, but didn't notice that the lane they're turning into is backed up, so even when they have an opportunity to go, they can't, and instead end up blocking at least one lane, thus making the stupid law necessary via the universal constant of "this is why we can't have nice things".

I didn't know some places you're not suppose to be part-way in the intersection for a left turn. I mean. How else do you actually make a left turn? Hello!

 

[Schizoid]

It's legal here, but then again people keep going through when the light turns red anyway.

 

[helel ben shachar]

Why does management feel they need to get involved in details that don't concern them? F'ck. I've got an email sitting in my box that kind of reads like:

Hey, I don't know if you're in the loop or not....

Of course I'm in the loop, you're writing me because I am the loop that needs to get involved in the first place

Now I paraphrase the email: There is this thing happening and I think we should do 'x', but not the 'x' you did earlier this week that I have no idea you already did, by in my version of 'x' you should spend a lot more money, and instead to doing the job one time, I'd like you to do it a total of four more times. I'm currently not aware this makes for much more work all around, and that it costs more and in the end will not accomplish one iota more than the original plan, buy hey I'm a manager and need to stir shit up that doesn't concern me. Also, PS: I'm all about spending money when it's not coming out of my budget.

Now I have to go find this person and somehow talk him out of this damn idea that's supposed to solve some problem that has already been solved, solved for less money and far less time, but this guy wants to be the 'take charge and get things done' idiot who is literally tilting at windmills for glory.

 

[Paladin]

Why does management feel they need to get involved in details that don't concern them? F'ck. I've got an email sitting in my box that kind of reads like:

Hey, I don't know if you're in the loop or not....

Of course I'm in the loop, you're writing me because I am the loop that needs to get involved in the first place

Now I paraphrase the email: There is this thing happening and I think we should do 'x', but not the 'x' you did earlier this week that I have no idea you already did, by in my version of 'x' you should spend a lot more money, and instead to doing the job one time, I'd like you to do it a total of four more times. I'm currently not aware this makes for much more work all around, and that it costs more and in the end will not accomplish one iota more than the original plan, buy hey I'm a manager and need to stir shit up that doesn't concern me. Also, PS: I'm all about spending money when it's not coming out of my budget.

Now I have to go find this person and somehow talk him out of this damn idea that's supposed to solve some problem that has already been solved, solved for less money and far less time, but this guy wants to be the 'take charge and get things done' idiot who is literally tilting at windmills for glory.

My reply to that would be:

"Oh great idea! Unfortunately, we just finished up the implementation on that issue and are in the phase of reviewing the solution as already complete. I'll get back to you if we find any loose ends that your proposed solution can help tie up. Thanks for the great suggestion!"

 

[Vastamious]

Okay, I got into a car accident with you two weeks ago because you a) completely ran (not rolled through) the stop sign and b) did so while making a left turn. Why did you feel the need to *almost* do it again at the same place, same time? Sorry you had to slam on your breaks but damn man. Stop sign. Stop. It's the first and only word on the sign.

 

[Paladin]

So here is an example of something that pisses me off and it's been done to death: 'Poor drivers who do (X) terrible thing.'

Yeah, skip down if you don't want another story of a horrible driver.

My wife is learning to drive, she has her learner's permit and is about 2 months in now. She's doing ok but the freeway still makes her super nervous. She tends to stick to the right lanes even though I have repeatedly told her that the middle-ish lanes have less 'churn' and will feel more calm and will present more options for avoiding people doing stupid stuff. She just has this feeling that the right lane is safer or more calm or whatever.

Anyway, driving home yesterday, we were on the freeway and coming up to an exit ramp area. She was doing great, holding speed just over 70 mph (limit is 70 but everyone does 75-80 under normal conditions) and cruising in the right lane. Not our exit so no need to worry about changing lanes. I noticed it was a bit congested ahead as people were doing the normal idiot moves of trying to get to the exit way later than they should but no real problems. Traffic wasn't terrible and people were moving fine. The road behind us was mostly open for at least 4 car lengths or so, similar but a bit more crowded ahead. There was a full size truck (probably an older F150 or similar) about 3 car lengths ahead of us on our right, in the exit lane for the off-ramp. He was slowing for the ramp (already on it really but it's a nice long ramp) and behind that full size truck, there was one of those awful Dodge Journey minivans that wants to pretend it's an SUV now or something. The Dodge Journey was about even with us, just slightly ahead.

We were coming up on passing the Dodge and the full size truck as we were at freeway speed and the off ramp traffic was slowing significantly.

Just as we were about to pass the Dodge, suddenly the eeediot in the Dodge decided he simply must overtake the full size truck, on the freeway exit ramp that is already marked for 40 MPH at this point. He pulled to his left, almost hitting both us and the full size pickup as he entered our lane. I thought he was getting back on the freeway. Nope! He then accelerated hard and cut back in front of the truck and proceeded to go down the exit ramp that immediately lead to a stop light anyway. For a second, I thought he was going to lose control and end up on the gravel embankment on the side of the exit but he just barely kept it on the road and braked for the light.

This fool came very, very close to potentially ending the lives of 4 people (including himself) so he could get in front of another truck at the stop light. :facepalm:

You really just have to wonder what is going on in that person's head.

It's amazing.

My wife was basically solid through the experience and kept the car under control, just braking a bit and letting off some choice words, and continued on the way home. I was pretty proud of her.

 

[OminousPonderer]

So here is an example of something that pisses me off and it's been done to death: 'Poor drivers who do (X) terrible thing.'

Yeah, skip down if you don't want another story of a horrible driver.

My wife is learning to drive, she has her learner's permit and is about 2 months in now. She's doing ok but the freeway still makes her super nervous. She tends to stick to the right lanes even though I have repeatedly told her that the middle-ish lanes have less 'churn' and will feel more calm and will present more options for avoiding people doing stupid stuff. She just has this feeling that the right lane is safer or more calm or whatever.

Anyway, driving home yesterday, we were on the freeway and coming up to an exit ramp area. She was doing great, holding speed just over 70 mph (limit is 70 but everyone does 75-80 under normal conditions) and cruising in the right lane. Not our exit so no need to worry about changing lanes. I noticed it was a bit congested ahead as people were doing the normal idiot moves of trying to get to the exit way later than they should but no real problems. Traffic wasn't terrible and people were moving fine. The road behind us was mostly open for at least 4 car lengths or so, similar but a bit more crowded ahead. There was a full size truck (probably an older F150 or similar) about 3 car lengths ahead of us on our right, in the exit lane for the off-ramp. He was slowing for the ramp (already on it really but it's a nice long ramp) and behind that full size truck, there was one of those awful Dodge Journey minivans that wants to pretend it's an SUV now or something. The Dodge Journey was about even with us, just slightly ahead.

We were coming up on passing the Dodge and the full size truck as we were at freeway speed and the off ramp traffic was slowing significantly.

Just as we were about to pass the Dodge, suddenly the eeediot in the Dodge decided he simply must overtake the full size truck, on the freeway exit ramp that is already marked for 40 MPH at this point. He pulled to his left, almost hitting both us and the full size pickup as he entered our lane. I thought he was getting back on the freeway. Nope! He then accelerated hard and cut back in front of the truck and proceeded to go down the exit ramp that immediately lead to a stop light anyway. For a second, I thought he was going to lose control and end up on the gravel embankment on the side of the exit but he just barely kept it on the road and braked for the light.

This fool came very, very close to potentially ending the lives of 4 people (including himself) so he could get in front of another truck at the stop light. :facepalm:

You really just have to wonder what is going on in that person's head.

It's amazing.

My wife was basically solid through the experience and kept the car under control, just braking a bit and letting off some choice words, and continued on the way home. I was pretty proud of her.

Whenever I see stupid driving like that (and it's waaaaaay too frequent...), I usually complain to my wife about not being allowed to drive a tank on public roads. I'm always joking about it, but the freedom to just drive right on through the car that tried to merge through the space I'm occupying would be awesome. Maybe a Mad Max future isn't entirely terrible?

More seriously, when I see driving like that, the driver is invariably distracted with a cellphone. Every. Single. Time. I have thought occasionally of starting to report drivers like that to the state police non-emergency line, but I don't know if that will have any effect, and it will definitely make me that guy. "Oh look, another report from that crank... toss it in the round file in the corner with the rest."

 

[Drizzt321]

More seriously, when I see driving like that, the driver is invariably distracted with a cellphone. Every. Single. Time. I have thought occasionally of starting to report drivers like that to the state police non-emergency line, but I don't know if that will have any effect, and it will definitely make me that guy. "Oh look, another report from that crank... toss it in the round file in the corner with the rest."

Do up video cams that show a 360 view, or at least front 270 so that you can see from the side cams what the person is doing, and then as they transition to the view from the front cam what stupid/reckless/illegal shit they pull including the license plate.

 

[OminousPonderer]

More seriously, when I see driving like that, the driver is invariably distracted with a cellphone. Every. Single. Time. I have thought occasionally of starting to report drivers like that to the state police non-emergency line, but I don't know if that will have any effect, and it will definitely make me that guy. "Oh look, another report from that crank... toss it in the round file in the corner with the rest."

Do up video cams that show a 360 view, or at least front 270 so that you can see from the side cams what the person is doing, and then as they transition to the view from the front cam what stupid/reckless/illegal shit they pull including the license plate.

... and then pick the dumbest and post them to Youtube, so that Russia has at least token competition for the title of stupidest drivers on the internet.

I haven't yet bothered with a dashcam, mainly because (like so many other things) I want to over-engineer it. I've seen some of the built-in driver assist cameras on other vehicles that merge multiple cameras into a useful 360-degree overhead view, and think it would be great to have that, with the side benefit of loop recording for police/Youtube evidence. And then I look at my list of project ideas, and realize that most of them won't happen without both winning the lottery and quitting my job.

 

[thekaj]

After experiencing the wrath of an psycho aggressive driver a few years back, I got a windshield mount for my GoPro. That only lasted a couple weeks, as every time I got out of the car, I felt the need to take the thing down, so it wasn't a blinking "BREAK INTO MY CAR AND STEAL ME!" sign. I also would then need to clear out the memory card every other day. And I realized that I've had maybe 5 incidents of "I wish I had a camera to record that!" in my 25+ years of driving. So the low odds of me recording one now were outweighed by the daily setup needs.

 

[Drizzt321]

Websites which link back to themselves instead of correctly taking you to the study they cite. Even though at the end they (nicely) give the DOI. Oh, and then prevent you from trying to copy & paste because "this is copyrighted material". @#%!#&*(Y!$@#&*HE(!@&~GE(^&*@NF@#*()N)~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Technarch]

When my wife fails to do the grocery shopping and I have to make an emergency grocery run to Target after working all day.

When I see a guy walking his (obviously not a service) dog on a leash in the grocery department.

When I see a couple rolling another dog through the grocery department in a shopping cart.

When there are lines at the registers even though it's almost 9pm because only two registers are open and one of them is having some sort of problem.

When I'm standing in one of these lines and my wife texts me with a last minute shopping item and I have to go all the way back into the back of the store to get it.

When I finally get home and she complains that I bought the wrong celery.

When I wake up in the morning.

 

[krimhorn]

So here is an example of something that pisses me off and it's been done to death: 'Poor drivers who do (X) terrible thing.'

Yeah, skip down if you don't want another story of a horrible driver.

My wife is learning to drive, she has her learner's permit and is about 2 months in now. She's doing ok but the freeway still makes her super nervous. She tends to stick to the right lanes even though I have repeatedly told her that the middle-ish lanes have less 'churn' and will feel more calm and will present more options for avoiding people doing stupid stuff. She just has this feeling that the right lane is safer or more calm or whatever.

Anyway, driving home yesterday, we were on the freeway and coming up to an exit ramp area. She was doing great, holding speed just over 70 mph (limit is 70 but everyone does 75-80 under normal conditions) and cruising in the right lane. Not our exit so no need to worry about changing lanes. I noticed it was a bit congested ahead as people were doing the normal idiot moves of trying to get to the exit way later than they should but no real problems. Traffic wasn't terrible and people were moving fine. The road behind us was mostly open for at least 4 car lengths or so, similar but a bit more crowded ahead. There was a full size truck (probably an older F150 or similar) about 3 car lengths ahead of us on our right, in the exit lane for the off-ramp. He was slowing for the ramp (already on it really but it's a nice long ramp) and behind that full size truck, there was one of those awful Dodge Journey minivans that wants to pretend it's an SUV now or something. The Dodge Journey was about even with us, just slightly ahead.

We were coming up on passing the Dodge and the full size truck as we were at freeway speed and the off ramp traffic was slowing significantly.

Just as we were about to pass the Dodge, suddenly the eeediot in the Dodge decided he simply must overtake the full size truck, on the freeway exit ramp that is already marked for 40 MPH at this point. He pulled to his left, almost hitting both us and the full size pickup as he entered our lane. I thought he was getting back on the freeway. Nope! He then accelerated hard and cut back in front of the truck and proceeded to go down the exit ramp that immediately lead to a stop light anyway. For a second, I thought he was going to lose control and end up on the gravel embankment on the side of the exit but he just barely kept it on the road and braked for the light.

This fool came very, very close to potentially ending the lives of 4 people (including himself) so he could get in front of another truck at the stop light. :facepalm:

You really just have to wonder what is going on in that person's head.

It's amazing.

My wife was basically solid through the experience and kept the car under control, just braking a bit and letting off some choice words, and continued on the way home. I was pretty proud of her.

Whenever I see stupid driving like that (and it's waaaaaay too frequent...), I usually complain to my wife about not being allowed to drive a tank on public roads. I'm always joking about it, but the freedom to just drive right on through the car that tried to merge through the space I'm occupying would be awesome. Maybe a Mad Max future isn't entirely terrible?

I usually lament that there never seems to be a cop around to witness those assclowns. But when there is, and the bubblegum machine flashes on, I give out a "Hah! Got 'em!" on the officer's behalf.

 

[elitegimp]

I usually lament that there never seems to be a cop around to witness those assclowns. But when there is, and the bubblegum machine flashes on, I give out a "Hah! Got 'em!" on the officer's behalf.

I was in FL a couple weeks ago, on a stretch where I-95 was three lanes wide but approaching a stretch where only two lanes were open because the left lane was due to construction on the left shoulder. I was in the right lane going 60 or 65 (speed limit dropped from 70 to 60 in construction zone) and a couple thousand feet ahead of me in the middle lane was someone going a smidge faster than I was. Checking my mirror, I see someone else was flying down the left lane, seemingly oblivious to all the "left lane closed ahead" markers. We enter the (couple mile long) construction zone, they pass me without moving out of the obviously closed lane, and then, hugging the right side of the giant construction barrels halfway into their lane, they pass the only other car visible on this stretch of road (who, for unknown reasons, had decided to stay in the middle lane instead of moving right).

15 or 20 miles later, I recognized the car that had ignored the fact that their lane had been closed on the left shoulder, parked in front of a state trooper with his lights flashing. I assume he was just getting a speeding ticket (no construction zones for a while by that point), but it still put a big smile on my face.

 

[thekaj]

Yeah, one of my best feelings of satisfaction was when I was something like car #7 in a line of vehicles driving along on a one lane street. Car #8 was an asshole in some sports car riding RIGHT on top of my bumper. I swear, I could have taken my foot off the gas and he would have tapped me. But again, we're way in the back of this line of cars in a no-passing zone. I have fuck all to do with his predicament of being forced to drive the speed limit. This goes on for about 5 minutes, where I'm white-knuckling that he's right on my tail. Finally he decides there's enough space to pass (despite it not being a passing zone) and he rockets past all of us.

As this is about satisfaction, yes, just a few miles down the road, state patrol had him pulled over. I hope the trooper didn't get upset that I honked my horn in joy as I passed them. I couldn't help it.

Now an opposite feeling was one day I was sitting at a light, with a cop right next to me on my left. The left turn light goes green for the opposing traffic, and they start making their turns. As one semi is slowly making his turn, the light for us goes green. Fine, whatever. But then the semi behind him goes. Again, the light for us has already turned green, and there's no way the driver didn't notice his light is red. There was enough space. And after THAT, a woman in a minivan makes the turn behind him. Although granted, she was following close enough behind him that she probably didn't see that the light was red. Still, not an excuse. So we've been sitting there for a good 15-20 seconds with our light green, and three vehicles who have clearly run a red light. I'm all happy that at least one of them is going to get busted by this cop. I even wait to go forward, JUST so he could turn on the lights, and go around me to get them. Nope, bastard just cruises on forward. I was so pissed that there was finally a cop when you needed one, and he couldn't be bothered to actually enforce the law, even when it was inconveniencing him.

 

[hanser]

Lots of people in this thread who get angry at dumb stuff. I used to be the guy who raged at assholes who park their SUVs in the compact car spots or who looked OK but parked in handicap spots, or who raged behind me flashing their lights or whatever, but not anymore. There's just no reason to. Just let it go. Use that energy for something else.

You don't know what battles people are fighting. If it makes you feel better, assume the asshole has a chronic illness and they're having a good day or bad day--whichever explanation makes the situation OK--and just let it go. Or there's a medical situation you don't know about. Just let it go. It doesn't matter.

<Facebook story>

If you have to ask, they're not your friend. I don't know why you even messaged him. Just ignore/decline and move on. Why spend any thought on it at all?

 

[OminousPonderer]

Lots of people in this thread who get angry at dumb stuff. I used to be the guy who raged at assholes who park their SUVs in the compact car spots or who looked OK but parked in handicap spots, or who raged behind me flashing their lights or whatever, but not anymore. There's just no reason to. Just let it go. Use that energy for something else.

You don't know what battles people are fighting. If it makes you feel better, assume the asshole has a chronic illness and they're having a good day or bad day--whichever explanation makes the situation OK--and just let it go. Or there's a medical situation you don't know about. Just let it go. It doesn't matter.

You have a good point with using the energy for something else - the counter to that is that in almost all these cases, the other driver having a "good day" or a "bad day" is irrelevant. They're making a choice that directly endangers others, usually in contravention of laws that provide the framework for how vehicles interact on the road. Around here, the law requires that one stop at a stop sign... "I was having a bad day" won't (and shouldn't) get one out of a ticket for that.

I try to have empathy for others in most aspects of my life. That generally ends when their choices directly endanger other people. If the only impact of texting while driving or driving impaired was to the person choosing to do so, then I wouldn't care about it. That's not the case - choices made on the road can have a huge impact on people with no input to that choice.

EDIT: For your example of people who park poorly - that doesn't get me angry. It's a source of entertainment in showing me new and surprising ways that people fail at basic tasks. Parking in handicap spaces without a tag doesn't make me angry either, but I think it's well on the wrong side of the jerk/not-jerk threshold.

 

[hanser]

You have a good point with using the energy for something else - the counter to that is that in almost all these cases, the other driver having a "good day" or a "bad day" is irrelevant. They're making a choice that directly endangers others, usually in contravention of laws that provide the framework for how vehicles interact on the road. Around here, the law requires that one stop at a stop sign... "I was having a bad day" won't (and shouldn't) get one out of a ticket for that.

My wife with pre-eclampsia is giving birth. Get the fuck out of my way. I came home to my son in a diabetic coma. Get the fuck out of my way. My infant daughter's airway is blocked, and there's a 911 outage (happens). Get the fuck out of my way.

See? It works for that, too. You cannot know what the situation is. Just get out of the way and let it go.

 

[OminousPonderer]

You have a good point with using the energy for something else - the counter to that is that in almost all these cases, the other driver having a "good day" or a "bad day" is irrelevant. They're making a choice that directly endangers others, usually in contravention of laws that provide the framework for how vehicles interact on the road. Around here, the law requires that one stop at a stop sign... "I was having a bad day" won't (and shouldn't) get one out of a ticket for that.

My wife with pre-eclampsia is giving birth. Get the fuck out of my way. I came home to my son in a diabetic coma. Get the fuck out of my way. My infant daughter's airway is blocked, and there's a 911 outage (happens). Get the fuck out of my way.

See? It works for that, too. You cannot know what the situation is. Just get out of the way and let it go.

That's exactly what hazard lights/horn/flashing high-beams are useful for - signalling others to expect not-ordinary behavior. And I would argue that it's pretty obvious if it's truly an emergency, as there's a huge visible difference between that and "opportunistic crappy driving".

EDIT: I'm not trying to be combative, just pointing out that there's enough terrible driving out there to state that the emergencies you're highlighting are the tiny minority.

 

[hanser]

Yeah, that's what I said.

or who raged behind me flashing their lights or whatever

How many people would react passive-aggressively when someone is flashing their lights, honking their horn?

 

[OminousPonderer]

Yeah, that's what I said.

or who raged behind me flashing their lights or whatever

How many people would react passive-aggressively when someone is flashing their lights, honking their horn?

I've been guilty of that on occasion. Usually I'll just maintain my speed and complete my pass... it's only in poor weather/road conditions (usually ice/snow) that I'll slow down when they drive right up to my bumper. I also try not to put myself in a situation where I'm moving over in front of someone going faster than me, unless I'm going to speed up to match them.

Related annoyance - passing people who can't maintain a constant speed. Speed limit is 70, they're doing 65, and I move over to pass. So of course they speed up to 75. I can then either downshift and blow past them at 80+, or I can move back over to where I was behind them. If I pick the second (the non-jerk approach), they'll inevitably drop back to 65 once I'm back behind them. It's like being passed is a mortal insult and shall never be allowed, or something.

 

[thekaj]

Related annoyance - passing people who can't maintain a constant speed. Speed limit is 70, they're doing 65, and I move over to pass. So of course they speed up to 75. I can then either downshift and blow past them at 80+, or I can move back over to where I was behind them. If I pick the second (the non-jerk approach), they'll inevitably drop back to 65 once I'm back behind them. It's like being passed is a mortal insult and shall never be allowed, or something.

I think there's just an unconscious herd mentality that almost everyone has, that makes them match speed with the person next to them. It's why you end up with packs of cars on the freeway, with gaps of empty space in between. Although sure, there are people who consciously can't stand to be passed. I'll almost always just give it a bit more gas when I end up having someone decide to start pacing me, when I'm trying to get clear of them. If I'm going say 67, I'll bump it up to 72 for about 10 seconds. The other person seems to realize at that point that they're subconsciously speeding up, and they'll drop back down to whatever speed they were doing before, I'll get past them, and we'll both be on our merry way. Otherwise, either we'll both be the jerks taking up two lanes going the same speed, or as you say, you get back behind them, and invariably, they'll slow back down to the speed that made you want to pass them in the first place.

Things would be a whole lot better if more people used cruise control when driving long distances on the freeway. There will be times where I'll basically rubber band with a person, as they speed up and slow down to stay either ahead or with me. I just want to make a sign I can put up in my window that says "I've got cruise control on. I don't know what your problem is."

 

[Drizzt321]

Related annoyance - passing people who can't maintain a constant speed. Speed limit is 70, they're doing 65, and I move over to pass. So of course they speed up to 75. I can then either downshift and blow past them at 80+, or I can move back over to where I was behind them. If I pick the second (the non-jerk approach), they'll inevitably drop back to 65 once I'm back behind them. It's like being passed is a mortal insult and shall never be allowed, or something.

I think there's just an unconscious herd mentality that almost everyone has, that makes them match speed with the person next to them. It's why you end up with packs of cars on the freeway, with gaps of empty space in between. Although sure, there are people who consciously can't stand to be passed. I'll almost always just give it a bit more gas when I end up having someone decide to start pacing me, when I'm trying to get clear of them. If I'm going say 67, I'll bump it up to 72 for about 10 seconds. The other person seems to realize at that point that they're subconsciously speeding up, and they'll drop back down to whatever speed they were doing before, I'll get past them, and we'll both be on our merry way. Otherwise, either we'll both be the jerks taking up two lanes going the same speed, or as you say, you get back behind them, and invariably, they'll slow back down to the speed that made you want to pass them in the first place.

Things would be a whole lot better if more people used cruise control when driving long distances on the freeway. There will be times where I'll basically rubber band with a person, as they speed up and slow down to stay either ahead or with me. I just want to make a sign I can put up in my window that says "I've got cruise control on. I don't know what your problem is."

Not just that, but cruise control will keep a constant speed when there's the small slopes up and down. People going 70+ suddenly are going <=65 and I have to slow down, and then on the down slope all of a sudden they're doing 75+, then back down to <=65 on the next immediate up slope. I'm not talking real mountains, just somewhat hilly terrain.

Also, people on a 4-lane where lots of trucks are in the right lane who just barely inch by going a whole 1 or 2 mph more than the trucks/cars in the right lane. If you're going to pass someone, freaking pass them. Then slow back down to where you want when you get back to the right lane. I'm looking at you I-5 through the Central Valley. Ugh. They have GOT to widen that to a 6 lane. It's got enough constant traffic to be reasonable to do so.

 

[mhac]

Things would be a whole lot better if more people used cruise control when driving long distances on the freeway. There will be times where I'll basically rubber band with a person, as they speed up and slow down to stay either ahead or with me. I just want to make a sign I can put up in my window that says "I've got cruise control on. I don't know what your problem is."

Not necessarily. Standard cruise control doesn't behave the same across make/model/years. Additionally, they'll be creep from making turns and other physical factors. You'd basically have to maintain a cruising speed slightly less than the person in front of to ensure the gap doesn't close. If there's a decent amount of traffic, I feel like I'm always fiddling with the cruise control.

One of the features I really wish I had in my current vehicle was adaptive cruise control. Uses the sonar and/or cameras to make adjustments to speed and keep you a set distance from traffic.


-mhac³

 

[Deleted member 129457]

cruise control will keep a constant speed when there's the small slopes up and down.

Raises hand. Nope. Not always.

My cruise control can ramp up anywhere from 2-5 MPH depending on the grade up the hill; then revert to normal operation once leveled out. Have had to disengage it if I get too close to another vehicle.

I've yet to see it drop down, though, on even steep down grades. I usually still have to apply the brake. It seems to do some slowing down, as it does maintain the speed limit on small down grades and don't need to use the brake.

 

[Drizzt321]

Things would be a whole lot better if more people used cruise control when driving long distances on the freeway. There will be times where I'll basically rubber band with a person, as they speed up and slow down to stay either ahead or with me. I just want to make a sign I can put up in my window that says "I've got cruise control on. I don't know what your problem is."

Not necessarily. Standard cruise control doesn't behave the same across make/model/years. Additionally, they'll be creep from making turns and other physical factors. You'd basically have to maintain a cruising speed slightly less than the person in front of to ensure the gap doesn't close. If there's a decent amount of traffic, I feel like I'm always fiddling with the cruise control.

One of the features I really wish I had in my current vehicle was adaptive cruise control. Uses the sonar and/or cameras to make adjustments to speed and keep you a set distance from traffic.


-mhac³

Oh yea, that was a must have feature when I got my new (well, lightly used) car was adaptive cruise control. It's surprising how many people just won't spend the extra money (granted, it's like $1500+) for the technology package for that. Even more surprising is on a fairly pricey Volvo, which makes it not _that_ much additional % and is such an awesome feature.

 

[thekaj]

Things would be a whole lot better if more people used cruise control when driving long distances on the freeway. There will be times where I'll basically rubber band with a person, as they speed up and slow down to stay either ahead or with me. I just want to make a sign I can put up in my window that says "I've got cruise control on. I don't know what your problem is."

Not necessarily. Standard cruise control doesn't behave the same across make/model/years. Additionally, they'll be creep from making turns and other physical factors. You'd basically have to maintain a cruising speed slightly less than the person in front of to ensure the gap doesn't close. If there's a decent amount of traffic, I feel like I'm always fiddling with the cruise control.

One of the features I really wish I had in my current vehicle was adaptive cruise control. Uses the sonar and/or cameras to make adjustments to speed and keep you a set distance from traffic.


-mhac³

True. Although what I was envisioning are the people who are going about 2-5 MPH slower than you, you get into the lane to the left of them, and as you get even with them, they match speed. And if you speed up a little bit, they'll continue to match speed. Only when you either gun it, so there's no question that you're accelerating, or you get well over their previous speed, do they suddenly realize what they're doing, and they throttle back to whatever they were driving at. Definitely not some issue of the cruise control variation. More likely something in our lizard brains that decides that matching the speed of the thing next to you is a good thing to do.

 

[helel ben shachar]

Along the lines of other vehicles matching speeds, I find this annoying myself. Not so much that they're matching my speed, but because a lot of people position themselves on my rear corner panel which is normally on someone's blind spot*. My kid is just learning to drive and I've pointed this out before in order for him to be aware that people tend to do this and it is a potential hazard.

* I adjust my mirrors to eliminate blind spots. For years I did it like I had always been taught, adjusting them down so you could see down the side of the vehicle. It wasn't until listening to Click and Clack, the Tappit brothers (Car Talk for the uninitiated), that I realized I was doing it wrong. (Jeeze, this was the late nineties or early '00 I think)

Car Talk mirror .PDF

 

[Drizzt321]

Along the lines of other vehicles matching speeds, I find this annoying myself. Not so much that they're matching my speed, but because a lot of people position themselves on my rear corner panel which is normally on someone's blind spot*. My kid is just learning to drive and I've pointed this out before in order for him to be aware that people tend to do this and it is a potential hazard.

* I adjust my mirrors to eliminate blind spots. For years I did it like I had always been taught, adjusting them down so you could see down the side of the vehicle. It wasn't until listening to Click and Clack, the Tappit brothers (Car Talk for the uninitiated), that I realized I was doing it wrong. (Jeeze, this was the late nineties or early '00 I think)

Car Talk mirror .PDF

Oh yea, I'll still occasionally catch an airing of one of their old shows and still love them. Wish they could have gone on forever, but alas, we are but mortals be.

 

[SuperDave]

Shopping at Walmart. Yes, I shop at Walmart; their clothing is excellent especially at the price ($16 Wranglers FTW!) and I wear little except shoes and jackets that come from somewhere else.

But the shopping experience? Rather like navigating a corn maze where the openings are constantly changing while you move towards them. Plenty of moments where you literally can't move in any direction, and can't say "excuse me," because the offending party does not speak English and won't understand, even if it's their native tongue. And when you finally get to the register, ten minutes to cross the forty feet between you and the line, chances are the cashier is overwhelmed by the complex task of removing a buttoned shirt from a hanger and has to stare at it for a bit in a poor imitation of "cognition."

And then you discover you grabbed the last example of the shirt off the rack in your size, and it doesn't have a tag....

Walmart is adjacent to the store at which I work, and I generally time my visits for nights when I'm closing, so I walk in at 11PM. That helps with everything except the cashiering, which is exacerbated by them being dog-tired in addition to having reached their Peter Principle moment in their current job.

Sigh.

 

[Kaiser Sosei]

Sorry man, but yeah, shopping at Walmart sucks. I won't claim I never shop there, but it's usually more out of "I absolutely need <item> and it's on the way home" than "Yeah, that's where I want to do my shopping".

There was a short period where they were decent, but like everything else with Walmart, it's been a race to the bottom.

 

[Wheels Of Confusion]

Shopping at Walmart. Yes, I shop at Walmart; their clothing is excellent especially at the price ($16 Wranglers FTW!) and I wear little except shoes and jackets that come from somewhere else.

But the shopping experience? Rather like navigating a corn maze where the openings are constantly changing while you move towards them. Plenty of moments where you literally can't move in any direction, and can't say "excuse me," because the offending party does not speak English and won't understand, even if it's their native tongue. And when you finally get to the register, ten minutes to cross the forty feet between you and the line, chances are the cashier is overwhelmed by the complex task of removing a buttoned shirt from a hanger and has to stare at it for a bit in a poor imitation of "cognition."

And then you discover you grabbed the last example of the shirt off the rack in your size, and it doesn't have a tag....

Walmart is adjacent to the store at which I work, and I generally time my visits for nights when I'm closing, so I walk in at 11PM. That helps with everything except the cashiering, which is exacerbated by them being dog-tired in addition to having reached their Peter Principle moment in their current job.

Sigh.

Yours has registers? The one near me has done everything possible to funnel people into the self-checkout pit.

 

[SuperDave]

Shopping at Walmart. Yes, I shop at Walmart; their clothing is excellent especially at the price ($16 Wranglers FTW!) and I wear little except shoes and jackets that come from somewhere else.

But the shopping experience? Rather like navigating a corn maze where the openings are constantly changing while you move towards them. Plenty of moments where you literally can't move in any direction, and can't say "excuse me," because the offending party does not speak English and won't understand, even if it's their native tongue. And when you finally get to the register, ten minutes to cross the forty feet between you and the line, chances are the cashier is overwhelmed by the complex task of removing a buttoned shirt from a hanger and has to stare at it for a bit in a poor imitation of "cognition."

And then you discover you grabbed the last example of the shirt off the rack in your size, and it doesn't have a tag....

Walmart is adjacent to the store at which I work, and I generally time my visits for nights when I'm closing, so I walk in at 11PM. That helps with everything except the cashiering, which is exacerbated by them being dog-tired in addition to having reached their Peter Principle moment in their current job.

Sigh.

Yours has registers? The one near me has done everything possible to funnel people into the self-checkout pit.

In the inner city, self-checkout is an invitation to shrink. "My" Walmart doesn't have self-checkout. Imagine a dozen registers open at once, and all of them nonstop all day. That's what retailing in Philadelphia is like. I can't imagine what that store's gross is like - it has to do well over $100 Million. One of my co-workers is a Walmart transplant from another store in town; at his place, $200k was a short day.

 

[Scotttheking]

Being able to push emergency alerts to all cell phones is generally good. Overriding do not disturb can make sense. But pushing out a flash flood warning at 4:30am just pisses me off.
*grumbles and tries to go back to sleep*

 

[Drizzt321]

Being able to push emergency alerts to all cell phones is generally good. Overriding do not disturb can make sense. But pushing out a flash flood warning at 4:30am just pisses me off.
*grumbles and tries to go back to sleep*

Um. Why? That's actually even more important of a time to push out the alerts.