Stupid or Civil? I had to draw.
- Thread starter chipperi
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Zesty
Member
IMNSHO, 100% bad draw. I won't beat a dead horse, but the only thing I can do is compare what you did to trying to stop a suspected DUI driver....it is a case where you caused certain danger in order to prevent potential danger. I mean, you say you straddled the double-yellow line of a two-lane road? On a very foggy morning? Did you stop and think you might cause and accident?
Kinda sounds to me like you broke the law to keep someone else from breaking the law....I know if one of my loved ones had been killed by running into your vehicle, I would have a lot stronger feelings.
*Edit* You sound like a very polite person, but to me there is NO WAY of not alarming someone by doing what you did, no matter how nice and calm your words are coming out. The act of physically getting in the way of his car is an aggressive act, and puts you, the other driver, and every other driver that is traveling in the oncoming lane at risk. This is why we have police who are trained professionals handing these types of things.
I feel that you were justified in drawing, but you created the situation that caused it. Not good.
Kinda sounds to me like you broke the law to keep someone else from breaking the law....I know if one of my loved ones had been killed by running into your vehicle, I would have a lot stronger feelings.
*Edit* You sound like a very polite person, but to me there is NO WAY of not alarming someone by doing what you did, no matter how nice and calm your words are coming out. The act of physically getting in the way of his car is an aggressive act, and puts you, the other driver, and every other driver that is traveling in the oncoming lane at risk. This is why we have police who are trained professionals handing these types of things.
I feel that you were justified in drawing, but you created the situation that caused it. Not good.
rjohnson4405
Member
Posts seem to be ignoring the knowledge of the OP about the farmer. He KNEW from firsthand experience that the farmer often was out in the middle of the road. What are the chances of the farmer getting hit that you draw the line? If he's out there several days a week that's too much of a chance for me to take. With that knowledge warning the other driver seems like the only option especially in a rural setting where it's common.
He could take the vehicle information and call the police, but that would've been too late if farmer was in the middle of the road. The only way to get someone like that to stop and talk to you is probably to block the road. If he pulls over the guy would've blown around him.
Anyway, in hindsight blocking him seems wrong, but if the farmer got hit that would seem wrong.
I'm going to stick to the criteria that no one was hurt so the OP did right.
-Russ
He could take the vehicle information and call the police, but that would've been too late if farmer was in the middle of the road. The only way to get someone like that to stop and talk to you is probably to block the road. If he pulls over the guy would've blown around him.
Anyway, in hindsight blocking him seems wrong, but if the farmer got hit that would seem wrong.
I'm going to stick to the criteria that no one was hurt so the OP did right.
-Russ
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The Tourist
member
MakAttak said:
That's not what I said and you know it.
However, if I'm driving home and a some citizen takes it upon himself to confront me then he is no longer a good guy.
Now, it sounds to me that you believe you have some form of "rights" to make decisions on the conduct of others. It also sounds to me that you somehow feel anointed to make this more "informed decision" because you now have a CCW.
I'm here to tell you that your opinion means nothing to me during a confrontation because I cannot read your mind.
Frankly, you shouldn't be confronting anyone. I think the cops who responded to this OP gave him a pass. To my knowledge, he is not a sworn officer, nor should he act like one.
And let me remove all doubt. I'm not the only one who feels this way. You have no right to stop me, block my path, question my motives or give me an opinion. Especially when armed.
Your CCW is for defense, not your ego.
You try this foolishness and you're just another townie with a smug opinion and a swagger.
Frankly, you shouldn't be confronting anyone.
Just lock yourself in your room and let the cops respond to this. To my knowledge, you are not a sworn officer, nor should you act like one.
And let me remove all doubt. I'm not the only one who feels this way. You have no right to stop an intruder, block his path, question his motives or give him an opinion. ESPECIALLY with a gun.
The police are there for your defense, not guns.
You try this foolishness and your just another vigilantie with a gun and a swagger.
Now, perhaps you would care to reconsider your responsibilities towards your fellow man. You have every right to let people die by the side of the road. That however does not make you a good person.
The Tourist
member
MakAttak said:
This is exactly what I mean by a "smug attitude." I don't care how you think. This isn't a nanny state--at least not yet--and I am under no obligation to honor, respect, comply or even keep a straight face when you proffer from the mount.
Point of fact, you have no responsibilities.
No less than the Supreme Court says that our most basic right applies to "just being left alone."
That applies to you, too.
Justice William O. Douglas
"The right to be let alone is indeed
the beginning of all freedom."
Legally I have no responsibilities.
The government should not require that you step in or enforce your views on someone else. (Nor should the government do that, either).
HOWEVER,
That does not mean that I do not have a responsibility to a fellow man.
If I see someone beating another man with a tire iron, you are correct, I have no legal responsibility to do anything. I will just quietly slip away, hoping I'm not noticed and tell the police all about it.
If I see a young child being tossed outside of a house in a speedo in the snow, beating on the door to be let back inside, I have no legal responsibilities and I will do nothing about it. I will lock my door and call the police to take care of the situation.
If I see someone driving erratically towards a playground, I'll just call the police and go my merry way. Those people are responsible for themselves.
Now, yes, I am being sarcastic. However, simply because there is no legal compunction does not mean you do not have a responsibility, a duty.
You may reject that duty, but that does not make you a good person. That makes you a selfish person.
Please note, I have no desire to force you to do what is right. You have the choice to do what is right and what is wrong. The original poster put his own safety in jeapardy because he realized that he lives in a community where he prefers to care for others even if there is a cost and a danger to himself. This makes him a good person.
He did not "meddle." He did not "stick his nose where it doesn't belong." I am sure, if he were on a highway and this moron behind him wished to take off at 100 mph, he would have let him go, knowing he is mainly a danger to himself.
He stepped in when this drunken fool endangered others. For you to insist you have every right to do whatever you wish AND ENDANGER OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR SELFISHNESS is the height of conceit.
Your rights stop where someone else's rights begin. Simply because you feel like endangering someone else does not mean you have the right to do so.
The Tourist
member
MakAttak said:
Then stay out of my way when I'm driving home or I'll treat you like any other mugger.
You still think you have some sort of higher power. And I don't care.
What you need to realize is that the world pretty much feels the same way. You are not anointed. We don't care.
Here's a little thing I want you to do. Now, it involves motorcycling, but that's not the issue here. In fact, I want you to look beyond the hardware.
Go to the Harley-Davidson home page.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/content/pages/home.jsp?locale=en_us
On the top tool bar you will find a segment marked "Riders." Under that, there is a short vignette of video called "Live By It." I'd like you to watch it.
There are millions of people in this country that don't give a rip about what you think and why you think it. Before you decide about your responsibilites, you'd better consider the rights and beliefs of others.
I believe you're on the wrong track. I know I wouldn't bend to a guy like you.
Huh, you keep talking about leaving other people alone, but seem to be defending someone who was a danger to others.
You can do whatever you want.
I am a firm believer in laissez faire.
But I will say again- your rights (including your right to be "left alone") end where someone else's begin.
Ride your motorcycle. Endanger no one but yourself and you can be sure you will have no interference from me. Leave your helmet off. Ride in cotton shorts. Pop a wheelie on a deserted street. I really don't care.
Now take off at high speed towards a group of people. You know you can stop, you're just having fun.
I will then step in here. You are willfully endangering other people for your own amusement. Your rights have ended. Hopefully, you will be jailed for this as well.
Just because you "didn't hurt anyone" doesn't mean you have the right to take risks with their lives.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
This one's gone off the rails, folks.
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