In article , "Kim W5TIT"
writes:

Hmmm, not only no, but hell no. I can be treaded on all "they" want. I've
declared war on the road, tell ya that. I travel a good number of miles to
work. And, it's so bad "out there" that when I do 70-75 (in a 60 zone),
there will be creeps that pull up behind me and start this moving to the
left so they're on the shoulder and can see the traffic around the front of
me; or flashing their headlights so I'll move outta "their" way; or pulling
up so close that all I see of their lights behind me is a halo because
they're only about 2' distance from my rear bumper.

What lane are you in when they do this?

Or, they'll do the
ultimate stupidity and pass then pull into the spot that I have created in
front of me so that they can start leapfrogging from one lane to the next.
Well, used to be I'd move. No more. I sit right there. And, they still go
around but now I creep up just ever so slightly (still maintain a safe
distance from the vehicle in front of me) and see if they'll still dare
slide in. Well, sometimes they do. So, since they've usually been behind
me flashing their headlights, I'll go the lazy man's route and just leave
mine on high beam--and I've got some bright lights.

And if an accident occurs, you'll hit them, and the judgement may be that it
was *your* fault!

I go on the "Duel" philosophy (from the old TV movie by Speilberg): I'd rather
have a nutcase driver in front of me, where I can watch him/her, than behind
me. I've actually pulled over and let 'em go by rather than have them follow
me.

Then, there's the folks in the store. You'll know who I'm talking about
here. The folks who walk up behind you and have a couple of things in their
hands and start practically doing calisthenics (sp) to careen in front of
you so you'll see they only have a couple of things and let them go ahead.

I haven't encountered that yet. Must be a Texas thing...

Used to do that, too. No more. It's my turn dammit and they can wait.
Now, don't get me wrong: if I happen to turn to one side or the other and I
notice someone patiently waiting their turn, I let them go ahead. But these
creeps who think that they are entitled to getting around just because they
are far more important than anyone else...nope, not doin' it any more. And,
depending upon how showy they are about how important they are is how slow I
am to slowly unload my cart, slowly find my checkbook, confirm the price
however many times it needs confirming, very carefully write my check, etc.

I use a different approach completely in stores. I call it the CQT (Cuteness
Queueing Theory) method. Works like this:

Whenever you're in a store that has two or more checkout lines, choose which
line to be in by how attractive/cute/sexy/whatever the checkout person is.
Doesn't matter how long the line is - get in the line with the checkout person
you find most attractive. For some reason, that line always seems to move the
fastest.

Or, the teeny-bopper eh-heh couple that thinks everyone wants to see them
practically making love in public. If we are all in a line at a store or
something and I see another person who is as dismayed by this as me, I'll
say something like, "thank goodness for birth control." The other person
will usually say something back (having just *waited* for the opportunity)
like, "doesn't look like they use it." Or some such thing. For some
reason, *that* is when these creeps get embarrassed.

I like that! Here's another, copied from the "Seinfeld" episode, but you have
to be with your SO to do it. Simply start talking all sweet to each other (the
episode had Jerry and his girlfriend calling each other "schmoopie"). Folks of
our age look ancient to many kids that age, and when we behave that way it
drives them nuts. Of course, it takes some discipline to keep a straight face
while calling each other "Bunny" and "Huggybear" and such, plus you hafta have
the right person with you to do it at all.

Then, there's what I call the "buddy" creeps. The philosophy is to shop in
pairs and have one stand in line while the other keeps going back and
getting things that were "forgotten." And, the one standing in line will
keep turning and saying please excuse us...giggle. I used to just throw a
fake smile. Not any more. Now I say, "no, I won't excuse you, you are
holding all of us up here and it's rude and inconsiderate of you."

I don't mind a thing or two, but after that it's a different story.

And restaurants. Oh my goodness how many times have you been at an eatery,
only to have some creep's misbehaving little future creep keep popping up
over the booth seat to let out a shrill of a scream with laughter right
behind--over and over and over again...or let the little tyrant run rampant
while the beautiful couple (yeah right) sits and eats in peace while their
monster runs to every table standing there like you're supposed to applaud
them or something. I used to grin and bear that, too. Now, I get up, and
I'll actually say something to the parents about how disruptive their
"child" (term used loosely) is being to everyone else's table--so can I sit
at theirs. That one there gets real sneers. Ask me if I care. They don't,
I ain't gonna.

Fortunately I haven't run into that very much. Yet.

Well, as I've been doing this more and more over the past 5-6 months or so,
I am also noticing that there are others doing this. I don't know that it's
always been done by others and I've just never noticed, but I notice that
there *are* others who are doing it. I am refreshed by that. I am tired of
always being the friendly, patient, kind one--just to keep getting stepped
on by the creeps...

Maybe we've all had it... grin

One can be assertive without being nasty, though.

It sure sounds like people are in one heck of a hurry down there, though...

73 de Jim, N2EY