near miss

[jay]

No accidents enroute to work... it was close, though. On the onramp to 101, some bozo in a Mitsubishi compact with a huge rear spoiler pulled on to the closed left lane (construction) in order to cut in front of me and another car. Since this was clearly both disrespectful and a boundary violation, I responded by accelerating on to the shoulder and then cutting in in front of him at an angle such that he either had to let me in or lose his front bumper. As we traded one-fingered salutes while merging on to the freeway, I nearly tail-ended someone else backed-up from the 85 onramp... stopped just inches short. My right calf is still sore... but the Mitsubishi driver gave me a wide berth afterwards. Boundaries... enforced. :)

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I firmly believe that the reason people like that Mitsubishi driver do what they do is that (most) people let them.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Anyone that tries to bully me or push me around, in any context, automatically triggers a Pyrrhic reflex on my part... I'm willing to take risks if I can take the bully down with me.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Yes, but you seem to be running this equation with the assumption that you're entirely a free agent, without other responsibilities. By my count you have concurrent responsibilities to your family, your projects and staff, and your sweeties -- all of whom are affected if your action does not go as you envision. Is that risk really worth it, measured with these other factors?

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

If someone attacks me, I'm not going to just absorb it, even if that would logically be the financially and otherwise most-optimal path...

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Coming at this from another angle.

You can deal with it like a judoka, and deflect the aggression; or you can deal with it in a more classic Western style, by confronting and meeting with equal opposing force.

This is not an either/or proposition.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Also...I still see this as you saying, "I weigh resisting attack and countering with force to be more important than my other obligations."

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

It's a core self-respect, self-protective response, IMO... not being a victim anymore.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

If you were single, and employed in a position of less responsibility, I'd be more supportive of your actions to bolster your self-respect. I continue to suggest that you're using a flawed metric, here.

*SELF* protection trumping the responsibilities you have--I agree with "affix your own oxygen mask before aiding others", but there has to be a balance.