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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!zinfandel!dave
From: dave@zinfandel.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: life with cars - (nf)
Message-ID: <1529@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 10-Jun-84 04:18:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: zehntel.1529
Posted: Sun Jun 10 04:18:24 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Jun-84 00:54:12 EDT
Sender: root@zehntel.UUCP
Organization: Zehntel Inc., Walnut Creek, CA
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#R:gargoyle:-14500:zinfandel:20500004:000:1358
zinfandel!dave    Jun  8 09:57:00 1984

It is indeed very tempting to 'be articulate' with motorists that
have shown a lack of good judgement.  It has been my experience,
however, that all this serves is to make the both of you angrier
and more prone to do the same thing next time. 

On those rare occasions where I have the opportunity to speak with
an offending driver, I try to be civil and tactfully point out the
error of his/her ways.  This approach almost never results in an 
apology, but hopefully the driver will walk/drive away with a little
better understanding (after thinking about it for a while).

Being hostile only illicits a hostile response -- that is perfectly
natural human behavior.  Chances are excellent that they will 'do it
again' next time, if for no other reason than increased hostility 
towards bicyclists in general.

This approach, of course, could only work with people who show a basic
lack of good judgement, as opposed to people who are downright malicious
(beer bottle throwers, people who deliberately run you off the road).
As you point out, there is nothing you can do with this sort anyway,
so why rise to the bait and give them the one finger salute?  This
only heightens their satisfaction.


Dave Funk
Zehntel, Inc.
2625 Shadelands Drive
Walnut Creek, CA  92598
(415) 932-6900 x309

     ....!decvax!sytek!zehntel!dave
     ...."zehntel!dave"@BERKELEY