Sorry if you would consider this bullying. Wanting to politely discuss someone's bad behavior is NOT bullying.

Here is a definition of bullying:

bul·ly

noun
1.
a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates people.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not quarrelsome, blustering, or overbearing. I don't think this qualifies as "habitually" badgering someone.

In any event:

1. I would have just as certainly chased a man if he had been the one to flick me off. Bad behavior is bad behavior, regardless of gender.

2. This woman almost caused an accident and then had had the nerve to flick me off for her incompetence. Don't you see anything wrong with that?

3. If we continue to condone bad behavior in TV, bad behavior will continue.

4. I just wanted to discuss the issue with her, as where I come from real women don't flick men off, especially when the woman is in the wrong. I just wanted to understand WHY she would behave so inappropriately.

It would seem to me that it is time to stop making excuses for bad behavior (saving seats in the square, rude driving behavior, etc.) and start standing up to those who obviously were not raised properly.

LOL, if that's what you want to believe:1rotfl:

there is NO excuse to ever chase anyone. thats why we have law enforcement. im sure you would not want anyone chasing down your wife or loved one for anything this trivial!!!

We will have to agree to disagree.

Law enforcement does not need to be around for everything. The police really have no jurisdiction in private parking lots anyway. What we need is for people to be able to politely discuss perceived bad behavior, not to condone (ignore) it.

My wife and loved ones would NEVER flick someone off if they were at fault and almost caused an accident.

You might consider it trivial, but I am really getting tired of the bad behavior I see in TV. I just got back from Publix. The check out lines have an express lane for 10 items or less. I had a diet coke and a bag of celery. The woman in front of me had over 25 items (I stopped counting after 25). The cashier didn't say anything. If no one says anything the bad behavior goes unchecked and continues.

I truly believe that by continuing to ignore bad behavior there is no reason for the offending party to change. I am not saying a physical confrontation is necessary, but when we start letting people step all over us we are allowing civility in our society to slowly erode.

my only comment is dont be chasing people!!!

Yes, smoke alarms etc. but they have never allowed him to indicate that we have a serious and growing problem with driving accidents, habits/issues here in the TV. For all of us, it is a problem that should be aired (aside from on TOTV) and needs to be addressed and the TV media would seem to be a logical starting point.

Probably not the "growing" problem of accidents etc....but he has written about safely driving carts, also the roundabouts etc. I venture to say that I've wondered exactly how many folks have read his column.

And my only comment is for you to deal with rude behavior in your way (I would never presume to tell you how to deal with rude people) and allow me to deal with rude behavior in my own way.

Now that's got to be one of the dumbest driving stories since Redwitch posted about being hit by a golf cart and the driver blamed her for being there.

Sheesh. Don't people know that they are not supposed to leave their brains at home when they get behind the wheel?

The presupposition beneath the reason for chasing after someone to discuss, is that the other person is interested or capable of discussing the issue. Usually actions like flipping someone, are triggered by emotions that have no real rationale that is based on reason and therefore are difficult to really discuss. The pursuer usually feels better, after having done something in response, rather than feeling like they have been walked on, but in truth, the flipper probably won't change as the action of flipping was emotion driven and not a thoughtful response to a situation. And there is the distinct possibility that the situation could escalate into a major confrontation as emotions get more heated. IMHO it is usually best to not take the flip as personal (as the flipper probably flips anyone who gets in his/her way) and pat yourself on the back for staying out of his/her drama. Also thank your stars that you don't have to live with him/her!


LW888

Since you were right there, did you say anything to her about her inappropriate behavior. At least, you didn't have to chase her down.

Just sayin . . .

Unfortunately she was in a SUV with her windows rolled up. I was in a LSV and I tried to communicate with her, but after flicking me off she accelerated at a high rate of speed out of the parking lot. It simply wasn't possible (although I wish it was).

Cautious
 

I find myself second guessing my own driving.

Is it just me or do others feel this way. I believe I am going thru the roundabouts correctly and like others post I am cut off.

The Honking if you don't Gun it away from a light or stop sign.

And this has been covered before the danger of carts being waved on and allowed to cross in front or a car at the gates.

It seems if I attempt to drive more careful others get more agressive and rude.

She just flipped you the bird. It's not likely she was going to politely discuss anything.

You raise a very cogent and very legitimate argument, and I truly appreciate your rational approach.

In many cases, I would tend to agree with you, but in this case I was faced with two distinct choices.

I could have ignored her rude behavior. She almost caused an accident and then demonstrated unacceptable behavior, offending both my spouse and myself. If I ignore it, the chances are she continues to drive wrecklessly and continues to mistreat people. She has no consequences to her actions.

I could try to confront her and nicely explain that I thought her actions were out of line. You are correct in stating that she might not have listened to what I had to say. Very possible, even probable. On the other hand, I am an eternal optimist and I can't help thinking that perhaps we could have had a meaningful dialogue. Even if she became defensive, I can't help hoping that perhaps in the future she would think twice before mistreating others. I felt I had to at least try.

As for it escalating, I wouldn't let it happen. While very few on this board know me personally, those that do know that I speak in a quite, respectful voice and that I don't lose my temper. She could "escalate" all she wanted to, but I would have remained calm and collected--it is my nature (on the other hand i might have had to restrain my wife, who has more of a temper than I).