People getting weird these days

[dreamaker]

I have an incident that happened to me today and I don’t understand their reaction, help me out here.
OK! I am going down a residential street at the proper speed; the street is barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other. Way up ahead, I can see a person in the street appeared to be going in to their SUV parked in the street. They open their driver side door wide open and left it that way, as I approached I slowed down thinking they would close the door by the time I got there. I finally came to it and had to stop because of the door fully open, it appeared it was a women fumbling in the vehicle searching for something. Now I can see a car behind me, so after about 20-30 sec., I taped my horn to let her know I was there and wanted to get by. This woman came unglued, she was screaming at me, waving her arms, I mean she was really pissed. After about 10 sec. of that, she finally slammed the door, and as I passed, she was still screaming at me, and I am hoping she wouldn’t hit or kick my car, which she didn’t. I was totally speechless and my mind was a blank trying to figure out what just happened. I tried to figure out, what I did wrong, but I was totally blind sided on that. Are people getting so whacked out that they come unglued over common courtesy. Glad she didn't have a gun, may be that is what she was looking for. LOL!

[John Schmidt]

Strange coincidence....I had the same thing happen to me just a couple weeks ago. Down the street from us it takes a 90 deg. turn and there are No Parking signs on one side with arrows pointing in both directions. Just as I came along in my car, this young guy pulls up and parks in the opposite direction, directly across from a rather large pickup truck. I couldn't get through and tooted at the guy while pointing at the No Parking sign. The only reaction I got was a hand signal of his IQ so I figured I'd fight fire with fire and called the local constabulary. When I explained the situation to them I added it was also impossible for a fire truck to get through on that corner with cars parked there. At that time I simply backed up and parked, waiting for the next move. Sure enough, here comes Johnny Law, pulled up behind the wise guy's car with his lights running, got out and started putting his displeasure in writing. The dude comes running out, yelling at the cop...big mistake, 'cuz the cop simply pointed to the sign and then added "why do you think we posted that sign there?"  Then the guy spotted me, said something to the cop and started walking toward my car. The cop yelled at him which stopped him in his tracks, the next mistake he made was to continue yelling and when the cop asked him to sign the ticket....he refused. The car got towed and the wise guy got a free ride. For some reason we haven't had any problem with parking in that area since. 

[gordonv]

Love it. 

His com-uptance. Karma!

I'm surprised the cop showed up.

[dreamaker]

Is those a preview, of the new normal for these days?

[Jess from VA]

My little pearl of wisdom it that while some humans are relatively trustworthy, many are not.  And there is simply no reliable way to know you are dealing with a defective unit when just meeting them.

Be prepared (Boy Scouts).

Improvise, adapt, overcome (Gunny Highway)

Be nice..... until it's time not to be nice. (Dalton the bouncer)

[Michvalk]

I have had people try and go off on me, when I honk the horn. I just lay on it, and hold it down until they move, or try to come towards me. I wait until they are a couple of steps away, then show them the hardware. I have never had to use the hardware.

[old2soon]

Maybe it were her time of month! Maybe her old man or girl friend pissed her off a few ago. Or maybe she IS just a pure dee ass bitch. Maybe to her you looked like a criminal type. Wrong place Wrong time. Jess got it Right. RIDE SAFE.

[Firefighter]

I think some people are unstable and dangerous. It would be best not to push them too far. The old days you got the finger, now days they might follow you home or ram your car. I don't know if they are more stressed or what? We have a lot of road rage now, wouldn't suggest challenging some cooks while on your scooter. I have seen my share of stupidness and have had words with some of them. I also carry all the time, and that is one reason I try to keep my cool.

[John Schmidt]

Love it. 

His com-uptance. Karma!

I'm surprised the cop showed up.

They have had a number of calls for parking issues all up & down that street. When you drive through sometimes it's like a slalom course....cars either parked across from each other or separated slightly but you still have to zig zag. A fire truck or our fire rescue vehicles can't get through, and the street isn't really that narrow. It's the idiots that park on it....one side is supposed to have no parking and it's posted.

My good neighbor across the street just sold his house and there is a fire hydrant directly across from our driveway. When the dozens of lookers came, guess where they parked? I spoke to a few of them and got ignored usually. Problem is, if they park there(posted no parking on that side) when I leave my driveway I can't get out unless I go over a section of the curb. If I don't, I'll hit one of those cars. Guess I'll have to train the new owners on that one as well.

[art]

My little pearl of wisdom it that while some humans are relatively trustworthy, many are not.  And there is simply no reliable way to know you are dealing with a defective unit when just meeting them.

Be prepared (Boy Scouts).

Improvise, adapt, overcome (Gunny Highway)

Be nice..... until it's time not to be nice. (Dalton the bouncer)

Defective units should be dissembled and trashed. Donate the usable parts.

[DirtyDan]

My little pearl of wisdom it that while some humans are relatively trustworthy, many are not.  And there is simply no reliable way to know you are dealing with a defective unit when just meeting them.

Be prepared (Boy Scouts).

Improvise, adapt, overcome (Gunny Highway)

Be nice..... until it's time not to be nice. (Dalton the bouncer)

+1

Dan

[dreamaker]

Maybe it were her time of month! Maybe her old man or girl friend pissed her off a few ago. Or maybe she IS just a pure dee ass bitch. Maybe to her you looked like a criminal type. Wrong place Wrong time. Jess got it Right. RIDE SAFE.

It's funny you mention that about the criminal type.  With my beard, when I am on the Valk. people treat me like the biker bad boy, give me thumbs up.  But when I am on my bicycle they treat me like a homeless person, and turn their backs on me, and act a little rude!

[MarkT]

Love it. 

His com-uptance. Karma!

I'm surprised the cop showed up.

They have had a number of calls for parking issues all up & down that street. When you drive through sometimes it's like a slalom course....cars either parked across from each other or separated slightly but you still have to zig zag. A fire truck or our fire rescue vehicles can't get through, and the street isn't really that narrow. It's the idiots that park on it....one side is supposed to have no parking and it's posted.

My good neighbor across the street just sold his house and there is a fire hydrant directly across from our driveway. When the dozens of lookers came, guess where they parked? I spoke to a few of them and got ignored usually. Problem is, if they park there(posted no parking on that side) when I leave my driveway I can't get out unless I go over a section of the curb. If I don't, I'll hit one of those cars. Guess I'll have to train the new owners on that one as well.

I might buy an old ghetto sled and start hitting the cars.  Would for sure call for tickets to be issued. Just speculating I realize you have to live with your neighbors.  But if they are un-neighborly, they set the game in motion...

[Bighead]

I have had people try and go off on me, when I honk the horn. I just lay on it, and hold it down until they move, or try to come towards me. I wait until they are a couple of steps away, then show them the hardware. I have never had to use the hardware.

Yeah that will show them when they call the LEO'S on you for pulling the hardware   maybe they should have looked at you before changing  the SSA rule.

[Hooter]

People that park opposed to traffic on a busy street to get their mail really piss me off. Can't park 20' away and walk to the mail box. To istitute an action that disrupts the normal flow of traffic is against the law.  Opening a car door into traffic is also illegal in most areas for the same reason.

[cookiedough]

face it, for several decades now, more so than in years past,  people just do not give a crap about their property or others.  They could care less if their car door is ripped off by your car door driving by thinking it will be YOUR fault for being too close while they think they have a right open their car door all the way.

I would be pissed ONLY if I had to stop and unable to go around if an oncoming car was coming my way on a busy street.  I would keep blarring my horn until he/she got the hint to close their darn car door.

Thus,  I try to avoid traffic as much as possible and park in parking lots far, far away from others even if it means walking another 100 yards or so.  I need the exercise anyways..

[CajunRider]

Are people getting so whacked out that they come unglued over common courtesy.

Yes.

I'm seeing it more and more.  People believe the world revolves around them and the rest of us are here only to please them. 

It's sad that this is how some people have become, and it appears it may soon be the norm.

[DirtyDan]

Lets add 3 more "jerky boy" well one jerky girl driver in past 2 days. No one else exists but.........THEM

Dan

[Robert]

I believe here in Florida its illegal to block a driveway by parking behind it and regular patrols by cops giving tickets to the people parked on the wrong side will help the situation. I would suggest tow signs be placed on the street also.

I think people stopped caring about other people and force of will is the new right way.

Was on 95 the other day and in the left lane a guy was going 10 under traffic. Well finally got tired of waiting and went around and guess what he was doing, TEXTING. Clearly holding up the phone above the dash so could look at traffic and text in the left lane. I motioned whats up and put the phone down guy could care less and I pointed to those behind him. Took off and others got on his tail and finally he moved over to text in another lane.

Unfortunately people dont learn by stupidity till it costs them something most times.

[solo1]

I have been carrying for years. However, I have to remind myself that brandishing a gun can easily get you in trouble in this day of smart phone cameras.  "Officer, he pulled that gun on me for no reason and here's the proof!"  The first liar WINS!

My advice to myself is Avoid, Avoid, and Avoid. Call the LEO's and let them handle the problem. 

In this age of incredibly stupid and antagonistic people, it's hard to do.

[Jess Tolbirt]

I have an incident that happened to me today and I don’t understand their reaction, help me out here.
OK! I am going down a residential street at the proper speed; the street is barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other. Way up ahead, I can see a person in the street appeared to be going in to their SUV parked in the street. They open their driver side door wide open and left it that way, as I approached I slowed down thinking they would close the door by the time I got there. I finally came to it and had to stop because of the door fully open, it appeared it was a women fumbling in the vehicle searching for something. Now I can see a car behind me, so after about 20-30 sec., I taped my horn to let her know I was there and wanted to get by. This woman came unglued, she was screaming at me, waving her arms, I mean she was really pissed. After about 10 sec. of that, she finally slammed the door, and as I passed, she was still screaming at me, and I am hoping she wouldn’t hit or kick my car, which she didn’t. I was totally speechless and my mind was a blank trying to figure out what just happened. I tried to figure out, what I did wrong, but I was totally blind sided on that. Are people getting so whacked out that they come unglued over common courtesy. Glad she didn't have a gun, may be that is what she was looking for. LOL!

very simple, you scared the sh** out of her and musta done a great job the way she acted..maybe next time she will close the door when she gets in, LOL

[dreamaker]

To clarify a couple things, it wasn't on my street, people in my area fairly decent. When I tapped the horn not beeped it,  she did not jump, she slowly turned to me a gave me a death stair for a split second, before she went off on me.

Now a days you have to stay in control, never react in anger.  Take a couple of deep breaths, and tell yourself you are the better, stronger person, when it is over you feel good about yourself. I carry pepper spray in my car, for extreme conditions.

[Jess from VA]

This certainly varies by state (interpretation of different language in the various laws), but while carrying concealed, simply lifting your shirt or moving your coat aside, letting an aggressor see your holstered weapon, is the least likely method to be labelled as brandishing (though it might still be considered brandishing under your state law).  And it is certain that you did not point one at them (though they may still say you did, if it gets to the reporting stage).   Drawing but holding straight down on your leg in plain view is the next least threatening action (but may be considered brandishing in more jurisdictions yet) (this is what I did twice, years ago; it was dark and lifting my shirt/coat would not have been seen)

This goes against common (good) wisdom of never showing a firearm unless you really have to, or intend to use it.  But when someone is coming right at you, closing the distance, and you do not want to let them get to grabbing (or stabbing) distance, showing without drawing may be a reasonable action.  Under the using the least amount of force necessary to avoid a violent confrontation rule.

Of course, simply stating in a command voice that they should STOP (left hand up, flat palm out) because you are armed (right hand covering concealed pistol), may work, but a determined aggressor may not believe you, or care, and keep coming.

Of course Wayne is right; the first person to call the cops and report an incident always has the upper hand.  And most of us who might show a firearm would be very reluctant to call the police and report it, especially if the guy stops, mutters and goes away.  But he might be going for a phone.  

Both times I showed a weapon, they went away, which is what I wanted.  Had I called the cops, I had very little detailed information to report about the guy (other than general size, age and race), no plate number (to the point that I would have just been wasting their time.... but maybe covering my ass), and I would have been very reluctant to state I showed a firearm (especially since this was so long ago, there was no permit available, and I didn't have one).  So I didn't do it.  Neither did he, as far as I know.

So, if you carry, make an effort to know your state law on brandishing.
  
Virginia:
 § 18.2-282. Pointing, holding, or brandishing firearm, air or gas operated weapon or object similar in appearance; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to point, hold or brandish any firearm or any air or gas operated weapon or any object similar in appearance, whether capable of being fired or not, in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another or hold a firearm or any air or gas operated weapon in a public place in such a manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured. However, this section shall not apply to any person engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense. Persons violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor or, if the violation occurs upon any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, including buildings and grounds or upon public property within 1,000 feet of such school property, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

So you can see, in VA, just holding the firearm in any position starts out being a crime, but you have a self defense exception..... if you can prove it. 

  

[dreamaker]

This happened in the past, I was in kind of an ugly situation, I did see a way out, so I put my hand in my in the back of my pants.  The persons asked me why I had my hand back there, I said no reason, I acted confident and they backed off quick. It was a gamble, but it worked! Now a days, people are getting stupid, that would probably get me shot.

[DirtyDan]

This happened in the past, I was in kind of an ugly situation, I did see a way out, so I put my hand in my in the back of my pants.  The persons asked me why I had my hand back there, I said no reason, I acted confident and they backed off quick. It was a gamble, but it worked! Now a days, people are getting stupid, that would probably get me shot.

Without knowing the back story anytime some is asking about YOUR hands is a BIG A$$ RED FLAG !

The concealed hand may hold great power. It has worked wonders for me in the past. When dealing with predators.

Dan

[bagelboy]

I hope you don't have to Michvalk. I have been carrying for years, and practice all the time. I pray all the time that I never have to use my handgun. Laying on the horn, waiting for someone to come over that's in a rage, only to show you are carrying, is not something I believe in. I avoid a confrontation. To me, you are hoping for one. You may not agree with me, and that's fine, but I do pray you stay safe!