Ya'll tell me what you think...

I was on my way home this morning and I ran into some traffic. It is a 2 lane road with a turn lane in the middle, and I decided to do a u-turn and go back another way. There were a few others doing the same so I actually used my blinker, pulled into the turn lane and waited for a few cars to go buy. I saw a chevy blazer (I think) pull out and I knew that the lane was blocked, so I went. Unfortunately, I didn't quite make it and had to back up a bit.

This is where things got a bit crazy...it happened so fast that I didn't have time to get angry, I was just stunned. Someone laid on their horn just as I was starting to move forward. I didn't think it was the guy I knew was coming up behind me, because he just did a u-turn, too. I though I had gotten too close to a car in the other lane when I was backing up. As I am looking around to see what's up, I tapped the brakes out of pure startled subconscious reaction. This is when I saw (and realized) that it was the guy behind me on the horn and he was now yelling at me to pull over so he could kick my a$$. Anyway, at the same time he started to pull around me in the turn lane. I floored it, got in front of him and pulled into a left turn lane...where I was headed in the first place. He pulled up beside me in a median area, got out of the car and started yelling at me again, kicked the passenger door, got back in his car and turned right at the light. I followed and called 911 on my cell. I guess he saw me and figured out what I was doing, because he pulled into a parking lot. I pulled into the next lot, parked and was talking to the dispatcher when the guy pulled into the lot and parked next to me.

To shorten my long story a bit, he apologized profusely and gave me his address and number promising to fix the damage. The cops showed up and asked me if I wanted them to haul him off to jail for road rage/assault. I said no...I am feeling a bit of the Holiday Spirit.

So...we all left and went our separate ways.

Before ya'll tell me I'm crazy, let me just say I had a realization while I was chatting with this guy and the cops were checking licenses, ect. While I have never jumped out of my car and threatened anyone, I am not always the most considerate person when I drive. I could have let him pass me and go on his way, but instead, I provoked him further. He could have started a fight...he could have had a gun...it's just not worth it.

I gauss I will be looking up Dent Wizard next week.

 

I would have had the cops follow it through.
We all lose our tempers occasionally but damaging somebody else's property in that way is just not on.
Imagine if it was a woman on her won, could have been very scary for her (bad enough for you I imagine).

 

Man, that was pretty nice of you...if it was me, I woulda dicked the guy over for assault/property damage and everything else I could get on the guy. And that's only the beginning.

You did get his license plate number right?

 

How big of a dent? Any pics?

 

Damn! I would have thrown the book at this jackass...would have made him think twice about being one again next time...but I understand about your unwillingness to do so. I have a zero tolerance policy for this kind of idiocy...

Remember that being an S2KCA member, you will be getting a 20 dollar off card good for use at any Dent Wizard in the world! Membership does have its priviliges!

You should have it by the end of next week...!

 

You showed big-hearted forgiveness. Good for you. I don't know if I'd have been that nice.

 

I agree, you did a good thing.

 

I agree too that you made a great decision. Hate and anger do nothing to help any situation. I myself have a big problem with anger and resentment that I have been trying to get better about.

If I may share a story about what sometimes happens to these kinds of road-ragers:
I once worked with a really nice, really good natured middle-aged guy that just happened to be very well connected due to his chaotic younger days. Most of his childhood friends were in prison or dead.
Anyway, one day his wife was driving alone and accidentally cut someone off. The idiot she cut-off goes absolutely nuts, and starts tailing her and causing trouble. She was very scared and pulled into a shopping center parking lot. He tailed her all the way there, gets out of his car, and starts yelling and screaming at her. She had rolled up her windows and locked her doors, and he ended up pounding on her windows for awhile as he was screaming his head off before he finally left. She was absolutely terrified.

However, she had the composure to get his license plate.

She tells her husband about this lunatic, he calls his friend in DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicles) to get this guys name and address, then calls some of his ex-convict friends to do him a favor. He ends the story by telling me that "they took care of that guy". I have no idea what that meant and I didnt' ask. (obviously they didn't kill the guy, because you don't go telling these stories in those cases.)

This story made me feel good , justice has been done.

As stated above, watch out who you mess with...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Shoyu Burner
[B][...]
She tells her husband about this lunatic, he calls his friend in DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicles) to get this guys name and address, then calls some of his ex-convict friends to do him a favor.

 

You are right, and believe it or not, i agree with you.

Let me re-quote myself "Hate and anger do nothing to help any situation. I myself have a big problem with anger and resentment that I have been trying to get better about. "

But some people just have to learn the hard way. I just imagined that if it were my wife, terrified and alone, I would want this bastard to pay. Primitive and savage, but what I would want.

I'm such a hypocrite. Damnit.