I have expanded my venue into yet another blog space. You can check it out on http://50000feet.wordpress.com/
Just more of my thoughts on the world around me.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Who? Me?
If you're like most readers reading this blog, you are pretty sure the term "Road Rage" means somebody else, right? You're not guilty of irrational, impatient behavior on the road, are you?
Well, maybe that's true. You may be the driving saint that provides an exemplary example of what to do and what not to do on the highway.
In the off chance that there may be a spark of rage hidden somewhere deep inside of you, just waiting to pop out at just the right moment, consider some ways to control your own behavior in traffic. Edmunds.com is a great site for just about anything car related and that includes, surprisingly enough, tips for the road.
What types of aggressive road behavior are you guilty of committing? What can you do about it? What will you do about it?
Well, maybe that's true. You may be the driving saint that provides an exemplary example of what to do and what not to do on the highway.
In the off chance that there may be a spark of rage hidden somewhere deep inside of you, just waiting to pop out at just the right moment, consider some ways to control your own behavior in traffic. Edmunds.com is a great site for just about anything car related and that includes, surprisingly enough, tips for the road.
What types of aggressive road behavior are you guilty of committing? What can you do about it? What will you do about it?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Road Rage On Foot - Sidewalk Rage
Just when you've decided to give up driving and start walking to your destination, we see a growing incidence of (would you believe it?) Sidewalk Rage. It seems that not everyone is walking fast enough to suit others on the sidewalk. Some refuse to give the right of way to those walking at a speedier pace. And it doesn't just take place on sidewalk. Apparently grocery stores, airports or just about anyplace you find people moving from one place to another is enough to incite a riot.
Sidewalk ragers behave in much the same way as road ragers. They scowl. They mutter obscenities. They make nasty gestures. In short, they have an anger problem and a bit of a control issue.
How do you rate on the Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome Scale put out by Dr. Leon James? You may find it amusing; you may find it disturbing. You will find it enlightening.
Sidewalk ragers behave in much the same way as road ragers. They scowl. They mutter obscenities. They make nasty gestures. In short, they have an anger problem and a bit of a control issue.
How do you rate on the Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome Scale put out by Dr. Leon James? You may find it amusing; you may find it disturbing. You will find it enlightening.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Historical Perspective on Road Rage
Just when you thought road rage and irrational driving practices were a device of the overpopulated world and highways of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, there comes along a moment of levity to let us know that drivers of the 1940's (take a look at this link!) weren't without their idiosyncrasies. Levity, only in the fact that the idea of anyone actually thinking their position on the road outweighs that of any other occupant of the road is absurd.
Road rage isn't just an act of aggression between the driver of one car and the driver of another car. Aggressive drivers target bicyclists, pedestrians, children playing in playgrounds, you name it. Not surprisingly, a good deal of psychological study has been done on the topic of road rage and what sort of distorted thinking overtakes the mind of someone acting out on the road.
Interestingly enough, one of the major components of psychological behavior, projection, fits quite well into identifying what leads some people towards acts of road rage while others maintain their cool (at least most of the time). Are you capable of road rage? If you think your behavior on the road is simply a reaction to someone else's bad behavior, you may be. The first step in changing behavior is awareness that it exists.
When another 70 years of history have passed by, what do you think will be the cultural equivalent to the drivers of the 1940's poster?
Road rage isn't just an act of aggression between the driver of one car and the driver of another car. Aggressive drivers target bicyclists, pedestrians, children playing in playgrounds, you name it. Not surprisingly, a good deal of psychological study has been done on the topic of road rage and what sort of distorted thinking overtakes the mind of someone acting out on the road.
Interestingly enough, one of the major components of psychological behavior, projection, fits quite well into identifying what leads some people towards acts of road rage while others maintain their cool (at least most of the time). Are you capable of road rage? If you think your behavior on the road is simply a reaction to someone else's bad behavior, you may be. The first step in changing behavior is awareness that it exists.
When another 70 years of history have passed by, what do you think will be the cultural equivalent to the drivers of the 1940's poster?
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sometimes the Bad Brings Out the Good
One of the strange enigmas of life is the way people will react in different situations. Sometimes stress and difficulties can bring out the best in people, instead of the worst. The past two days have seen some pretty treacherous winter weather in many parts of the United States. Actually, many parts of the country could tell quite a few tales of winter despair this year.
This is one of those times where it is heartwarming to see just how much people can come together for the common good. Many people who, on any average day don't even recognize their fellow human beings on the street, will go out of their way to push a car out of a ditch, lend a hand in shoveling snow or otherwise help others as they struggle to deal with threatening weather conditions and obstacles.
Suddenly those other vehicles aren't simply interferences on the highway; they are human beings in need of help. As much as the extremes of winter weather can bring us down, it is good to know that most of us still have a compassionate heart.
This is one of those times where it is heartwarming to see just how much people can come together for the common good. Many people who, on any average day don't even recognize their fellow human beings on the street, will go out of their way to push a car out of a ditch, lend a hand in shoveling snow or otherwise help others as they struggle to deal with threatening weather conditions and obstacles.
Suddenly those other vehicles aren't simply interferences on the highway; they are human beings in need of help. As much as the extremes of winter weather can bring us down, it is good to know that most of us still have a compassionate heart.
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