Rant - Road Rage

On May 11, 2008, a 20 year old man was stabbed to death in a apparent road rage incident. I've become furious at times by ignorant drivers, sneaking into a line, cutting you off, or generally driving self-importantly. But I've never been to the point where I would wish that person harm. Perhaps expensive car trouble or a ticket from one of the infuriatingly, absent Police cars. There's never one around when you want them,

It's becoming so common now. Someone decides they are more important than you, and pulls ahead of the obvious line of cars and then weasels their way in. This is irritating, but instead of hammering your horn or giving them the drivers salute, it ends up in someone injured or dead. Unfortunately it seems as though violence is becoming accepted or expected now. The thought of killing someone, to causing them harm, that their life or any life other than those you care about, isn't important.

I'm not sure how we got to this point, but the rise of violence and use of weapons is depressing. Is it video games, movies, music, parents? When did it become acceptable to gang up on someone? If you fight me, you fight all my friends. And it's not just guys, girls aren't immune to this either, it's become common to hear about girls ganging up on others and beating them. I think it's time to buy that cabin in the woods and leave society behind.

No one knows what happened to cause the death of that man (20 years old, more of a boy). We don't know the back story. Maybe the guy had just killed the attacker's grandmother and he was seeking revenge ala Rambo. Maybe he was a terrorist, and the killer was doing his civic duty to protect the nation, would be very honorable indeed. Or maybe he's just a sociopathic jerk, who has no respect or connection to real life.

If you cut someone off in traffic, at least give an apologetic wave, it's amazing how a little appreciation will calm the nerves.


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