Will Australians please take a deep breath, and stop being so up themselves?

On the topic of road rage, I certainly don't condone it, but as a country we have been continually conditioned to believe that pretty much all things connected with vehicles and driving is bad and we should be ashamed that we don't walk.
This predisposes people to be less tolerant and understanding on one hand, but also to double down on indecision, caution, inconsideration and worse, vacillation. We all view acts daily on our roads that are not in themselves dangerous or wrong, just frustrating acts of lazy inconsiderate driving. I admit, I've wanted to beat down on nobbers that are just plain inconsiderate or lazy drivers because their lazy driving impacts so many other road users. Of course I don't, nor do 99% of the population actual beat down!
As our roads become more congested many folk still drive like it was, not like it is.
For example, the right turn arrow near me is green for 19 seconds in peak down to 10 off peak. It gets so frustrating when the first car in line consumes 8 of those seconds to move forward and then ambles around the corner! So where 8-10 cars 'should' be traversing the intersection, only 3 do plus one on amber/red. This of course happens every rotation thus delaying and clogging the peak even more. Yes, sometimes I want to beat down the perp! But I'm cultured.
Similarly, we all whinge about the right lane hog doing 3-10 below the limit. Again, not wrong or bad, just inconsiderate and lazy.

So, to end my rant, often I think that instead of pandering to the slower is better crowd, perhaps the answer is teaching drivers to be smart and not lazy!

Ralph

Very true.
I was amused to discover less road rage and more patient driving in genuinely congested Bangkok when I lived there than in relatively sleepy Brisbane, where impatient nobs rant about the slightest inconvenience.
Maybe it's social. We are a highly individualistic society, whereas Thais have the typical Asian group mentality. We should be less like Americans and more like Asians, I think.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Very true.
I was amused to discover less road rage and more patient driving in genuinely congested Bangkok when I lived there than in relatively sleepy Brisbane, where impatient nobs rant about the slightest inconvenience.
Maybe it's social. We are a highly individualistic society, whereas Thais have the typical Asian group mentality. We should be less like Americans and more like Asians, I think.

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When in Rome.....
We're not in America or Asia, thank goodness.

In regards to some of the comments in this thread. I myself have a nephew who is an active ice addict. When he is a clean addict( he will always be an addict wether active or not) he is one of the most caring loving man you could ever want to meet, but unfortunately for all and especially his wife and kids he has spent more time being an active addict then not. Every time he gets locked up or goes off to rehab we pray that he will be able to stay clean. Unfortunately not. I'm very much you do the crime you the time but jails these days are full of drugs and he came out this time worse then ever. So this drug destroys all that are touched by it. So no excuse from me, whatever his actions under the influence of ice he deserves to be punished and yes the laws need to be harsher. I also know we will get a call one day that this terrible addiction has taken his life.
MRS CHOPS

Thank you Chops for your realistic approach.
My motto is, "Do the crime, do the time",.....NO exceptions,.....the do-gooders will not agree.
Pickles.

[QUOTE=Chops;2756416]In regards to some of the comments in this thread. I myself have a nephew who is an active ice addict. When he is a clean addict( he will always be an addict wether active or not) he is one of the most caring loving man you could ever want to meet, but unfortunately for all and especially his wife and kids he has spent more time being an active addict then not. Every time he gets locked up or goes off to rehab we pray that he will be able to stay clean. Unfortunately not. I'm very much you do the crime you the time but jails these days are full of drugs and he came out this time worse then ever. So this drug destroys all that are touched by it. So no excuse from me, whatever his actions under the influence of ice he deserves to be punished and yes the laws need to be harsher. I also know we will get a call one day that this terrible addiction has taken his life.
MRS CHOPS[/QUOTE

I understand where you are coming from. Those who post negative quotes have no idea of the heartbreak, and constant sorrow of those close to those exposed to this terrible drug. Just one taste, is enough to send them down the road of despair. All those good old boys , up on their high horse, tough internet warriors all, should just hope and pray their nearest and dearest are not caught up in this nightmare. And the odds are, some will. This is not a drug that catches addicts, in the main. It catches mainly innocent kids, under peer pressure, much the same as back in my day, kids started drinking beer, then progressed to spirits, to be in the group. Wake up, you mob, before it is too late, not for Christs sake, but for Australia's sake. I feel your pain, Mrs Chops. And admire your courage for speaking out.

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Originally Posted by Pickles2

Thank you Chops for your realistic approach.
My motto is, "Do the crime, do the time",.....NO exceptions,.....the do-gooders will not agree.
Pickles.

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I'm just about over this crap " do- gooders". Explain who you mean by that statement. Are you talking about religious leaders, who are at the front in this fight? What, the Salvation Army? Do-gooders? They would agree. And their answer to your statement would probably be better to do good, than sit back and criticize and do nothing. How about those who supply the drugs? Should they be punished more than those who take them? Interested in your thoughts.

Mother allegedly on meth when Adelaide Hills car crash killed young son

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Very true.
I was amused to discover less road rage and more patient driving in genuinely congested Bangkok when I lived there than in relatively sleepy Brisbane, where impatient nobs rant about the slightest inconvenience.
Maybe it's social. We are a highly individualistic society, whereas Thais have the typical Asian group mentality. We should be less like Americans and more like Asians, I think.

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Ask any veteran about their return home, how the first thought is usually how Australians obsess on trivial matters. Self centred, selfish, ill mannered, the World owes Australians a living. [ not all, I know, but they stand out. ] We should be more like the Australians who did it tough, those who lived through the Great Depression. NOT Americans. And not Asians. Those people were our greatest generation.

At least some one is on the job.

Drugs worth $415 million seized by Australian Navy in Christmas season operation