Good grief. Where do you people live that get this kind of treatment by
other drivers?

Jim

On Apr 4, 2004, at 2:05 PM, Jeff Oxroad wrote:

> In a message dated 4/4/2004 10:09:45 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> Dieselslave@WMCONNECT.COM writes:
>
>
>> Just as a rusty old Pinto attracts police like a donut shop, the
>> Vanagon
>> seems to enlist other drivers to speed up and tailgate, give the the
>> quick
>> pass
>> then get in front of you, invoke the horn or even the 'finger'.  I
>> have even
>> found a bunch of repeat offenders or 'regulars' as I call them. (I
>> hope it's
>> not my driving) I take it all in stride and get a good laugh on the
>> way to
>> work
>> every morning.  They should know it's a Vanagon, not a NASCAR.
>>   In my opinion I don't think the older air-cooled vans get
>> disrespected by
>> the general gum-chewing public as much as the Vanagon.
>>   I get no respect.
>>
>
> I'm sure many of us driving a bus suffer the same fate. You have to
> wonder
> about these people who are in such a hurry to get around you to have
> you pull up
> right behind them--or better--next to them at the next light. Really
> it's
> sad, because clearly it's not actually about getting there faster,
> it's some kind
> of deep-seeded self-hatred that fuels their actions and manifests
> itself when
> forward motion gets slowed-- if only for a moment in a cosmic sense. I
> think
> they called it projection in college--blaming your own problems on
> someone or
> something else, or finding fault in others to conceal your own
> maladity, the
> eternalization of blame, guilt, or responsibility as a defense against
> anxiety.
> I want to help these people--in such a hurry to get away from
> themselves--
> live a happier life. My bumper sticker would say:
>
> "It's nothing personal. It's just slow."
>
> I just feel so bad for those people with their projection, flipping me
> off
> and and screaming at their rear view mirror once they've passed.
> Everyone knows
> the healthy way to deal with life is with sublimination and denial.
> When will
> they learn?
>
> Although I have to say I think driving a bus is a way of life. A kind
> of "I'm
> happy where I am right now," rather than an "are we there yet," or
> "I've
> gotta get somewhere else" attitude. I base this on the fact that when
> driving my
> remarkably clean VW Fox which has plenty of power, a five speed manual
> transmission, a sporty design, and a GTI steering wheel, people still
> pass me, scream
> at their rear view mirror, and give me the finger. I just smile at
> them when I
> catch up at the next light pretending everything is good and nothing is
> wrong. Could be I'm right.
>
> I'm sure glad I'm not them.
> Best,
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
>