As I was tooling down the road on Sunday morning, I noticed some dude in his driveway doing... something... with a gas-operated power tool of some kind.
When I was close enough to see what he was doing, it was too late to avoid the barrage of little rocks and grit his turned-90-degrees weedwacker was pitching into the road.
Getting hit with little rocks and high velocity dirt sucks. And it sucks even if you're in a car - little rocks aren't known for their paint-enhancing qualities.
I was torn between stopping and rending unto the tool-operator (emphasis on tool), and continuing on my merry way. I chose the latter option, since I've learned that confronting a jerk is like heaving a bowling ball onto a trampoline - the actual results are never the desired results.
I'm not sure if this is a problem everywhere, or just here in the desert, but I've been peppered with road-detritus by more jerks with leaf-blowers and other obnoxious devices than I can count.
How hard is it to stop blowing crap around when you see a biker? I know most of them have seen me - in a lot of cases, we've made eye contact.
So are these people stupid, apathetic, or willful asshats?
9 comments:
Asshat is an asshat is an asshat is an asshat.
You run into these guys all the time - it's the guy who drives through the curb-side puddle and splashes you, the woman right in front of you who let's the shop door swing shut on your nose, the jerk who cuts across 6 lanes of traffic in 100' to make their exit.
Sure, some of them are asshats, but most of them are so totally self-absorbed all the time they have no clue about what's going on around them. And saying something will only get you a stunned look in response (or worse).
Ignorance is not bliss, it's the norm!
A sensible man would assume others to be sensible as well, but common sense isn't really all that common.
Examples are all around us daily. You were Lucky enough to find one of those idiots.
They are total asshats! They should pause, even for cagers.
All of the above. Love the thing about throwing a bowling ball onto a trampoline. At least I can explain what happens to me, now!
By the way, a fellow instructor and good friend just moved to Phoenix. He couldn't find work here, he said. Now he landed the Director of Engineering position with KPHO-TV CBS 5. Our loss is your gain.
He's fairly large and wears a Hi-Viz 'Stich. Which is a lot of yellow. He'll either be on a BMW GS or a silver Ducati. Pretty sure he'll wave, even to a zombie hater like you!
I think it was wise you didn't stop. Granny always said to never argue with a fool, someone might walk by and not be able to tell you apart :)
-Peace
Dear Sir:
The stones and bits of rock fragments can be very annoying. How about a guy with a lawn tractor blowing a acre of grass clippings out into the road, on a blind curve?
The fun never ends.
Fondest regards,
Jack Riepe
Twisted Roads
Asshats. But not like the asshats that look you right in the face and then turn in front of you. With the Harley Davidson bumper sticker no less.
Yeah, an asshat is an asshat is an asshat...
Need we say more.
Shame it has to be that way though
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