Search
Forum Home | Login
SanChonino
SanChonino
Join Date 12/2005
+104

Put the phone down and WALK. AWAY.

or; damn you, and the horse you rode in on.

January 26, 2007 10:39:54 AM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
I almost died three times yesterday in a fifteen minute period.

Seriously, my life flashed before my eyes thrice, as I saw my short 23 years coming to an end. (It wasn't that interesting and not nearly long enough, but that's a discussion for another article.)

I saw cars running amok across four lanes, cutting off, clipping bumpers, and just generally driving like asswipes. Why?

Cell phones.

The roads were very, very nice; conditions were awesome; the sun was shining, the birds were out, and the world was happy. The nasty haze that has filled the valley for so very long has finally started to clear out. I was excited for the drive home from school, because I finally felt like the world was right, and it was worth driving.

So I jumped in Rocinante, my sweet lil' Hyundai Accent (which was rocking with some of the tunes mentioned here, go read please. Yes, I'm being an attention whore. Just go read), started her up, got the cool air blowing in my face, and pulled out of the parking lot and onto the highway.

Now, I'm accustomed to Utah drivers (who by and large suck, by the way) and was expecting to see some general monkey business on the way home.

And they did not disappoint. The second I got on US-89, I was cut off by someone driving like an absolute idiot. Curious (and wanting to see if they appeared cogent, or of there were drips of drool hanging from their lips), I moved to the other lane and pulled alongside.

Typical.

The girl had a frakking cell phone strapped to her head. Surprised? Not really.

So I set out down the highway, cautiously getting forward in traffic. Not driving recklessly in the remostest, but in a bit of a hurry; I had to be at work in half an hour, and I didn't have shirtsleeves and a tie on, just a t-shirt, so I needed to hurry home and change.

And it happened again! A different ass this time, but the same malady - cellphoneitis. (Did I just invent that? Yes. Should it be an actual disease? Probably.)

Now, if it had just been the two very (read: too) close cuttings off, then I wouldn't have too much to complain about. But It happened a third time, and this time the frakking IDIOT behind the wheel, hand on cell phone, texting or checking his damn e-mail or something pointless, cuts me off, gets too close to the car behind, and slams into the back of them.

They both go spinning off into the median. I barely escaped getting clipped. (That's the time I realized my life hasn't been nearly interesting enough to die at this point.) I pulled over, asked if everyone was okay - they were. I got in my car to drive home (I know you're supposed to wait for the cops, but I needed to be to work, dammit) and saw the dude who had been texting or something was on the phone.

With the cops? Of course not. With his girlfriend or something.

Nobody was calling the cops.

I walked over and said, "hey, numbstick, you need to call the cops before your frakking girlfriend."

He looked at me like I was the numbstick.

Forget this, I thought to myself, washed my hands of the situation, and got back in my car to drive away.

Barely made it to work on time yesterday.
Locked Post
Search this post
Advanced Search
Subscription Options
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
SanChonino
Join Date 12/2005
+104
Reply #1 January 26, 2007 11:15:49 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
For the record:

I have a cell phone. When I first got it, I was as infatuated as the next guy with it. I would talk on it or text all the time.

But now, it sits in my pocket for days at a time, only being used when I look at it, see the battery is almost dead, and plug it in the charger. Which is really a shame, because I've got a really, really sexy phone they don't even sell here in the states. I mostly just pull it out to look at it when I'm bored.



PS Review on the phone is forthcoming.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
BlueDev
Join Date 12/2003
+16
Reply #2 January 26, 2007 11:27:33 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

It is insane the way some people use their phones.  Put the phone down and just drive.  Of course, I am arrogant enough that I have done it a time or two myself, but I try to keep it only to times when I really need to.  And even that is an exaggeration.  I realize that.

Man, I am glad you are safe.  Nice job telling that loser off.

Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
SanChonino
Join Date 12/2005
+104
Reply #3 January 26, 2007 11:32:29 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Man, I am glad you are safe.


I'm glad I'm safe too. I'm too young to die yet!
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
Zoologist03
Join Date 04/2004
+52
Reply #4 January 26, 2007 12:21:27 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Yikes...crazy jackasses. When will people learn that it's not a good idea to try and multitask while you're driving...unless of course you're me, because I can read a book, sleep, drive at the same time. Okay...I don't do that...otherwise I'll crash my precious 1992 Chevy Lumina that's red with a grey hood and leaks oil like an old person leaks urine.

Too bad you didn't have more time to chew that guy out some more....oh, and glad you didn't die. (Maybe that part should have come earlier?... )

~Zoo
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
SanChonino
Join Date 12/2005
+104
Reply #5 January 26, 2007 3:50:35 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Too bad you didn't have more time to chew that guy out some more


If only I could have . . . what a sight that would've been.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
Shovelheat
Join Date 07/2004
+1
Reply #6 January 26, 2007 5:21:11 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
I have a cell phone that I keep with me 24/7 and not because I want to but because I have to! It goes with my job blah, blah. At first I hated it and considered it a tether, but...kinda got use to it as it does come in handy sometimes. At least the boss says I can use it for all the personal calls I want!
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
foreverserenity
Join Date 06/2004
+76
Reply #7 January 26, 2007 5:30:12 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
OMG!!! That's awful! I'm glad you're alright. Today I almost got clipped by someone wih the kids in the car too. I had the right of way, good thing I was paying attention! Idiots!
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
Dr Guy
Join Date 09/2004
+129
Reply #8 January 26, 2007 5:33:23 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Do you really want a driver 'walk' away?

For the record, I do not answer my cell phone either while driving. When I first got it, I use to do that, until one day I found myself stopping at a green light!

Quoth the Raven, Nevermore!
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
SanChonino
Join Date 12/2005
+104
Reply #9 January 26, 2007 7:00:30 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
but...kinda got use to it as it does come in handy sometimes.


I agree that it does come in handy, but it's still a tether. And I still don't like it that much.

When I first got it, I use to do that, until one day I found myself stopping at a green light!

Quoth the Raven, Nevermore!


Amen!
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
dynamaso
Join Date 09/2004
+69
Reply #10 January 30, 2007 7:10:04 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
Hey mate,

I too am glad you arrived home unscathed. In Australia, it is an offence to be using a mobile phone while behind the wheel of a car, regardless of whether you're talking or texting. It is just too much of a distraction. The fines are very hefty and also include loss of license. There is also talk of introducing similar laws for Ipods etc.

I too have a mobile. It stays in my pocket while I'm driving. Haven't people heard of voicemail, fer gawd's sake?
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
SanChonino
Join Date 12/2005
+104
Reply #11 January 30, 2007 7:18:00 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
In Australia, it is an offence to be using a mobile phone while behind the wheel of a car, regardless of whether you're talking or texting. It is just too much of a distraction. The fines are very hefty and also include loss of license. There is also talk of introducing similar laws for Ipods etc.


When I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, there were laws such as this. They were AWESOME. Now, if only the rest of the country would catch up . . .
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
InBloom
Join Date 10/2004
+29
Reply #12 January 30, 2007 7:39:48 PM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums


When I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, there were laws such as this. They were AWESOME. Now, if only the rest of the country would catch up . . .


I definitely think this law should be seriously considered. I am sure there are people who can manage the driving and the chatting, but those who can't...well, they are pretty scary to be around.

Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
EmperorofIceCream
Join Date 09/2004
+9
Reply #13 February 4, 2007 5:04:39 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
If you had stoved his skull in with that phone, you'd have done the world a favor. Obviously, he didn't learn a thing from the accident he'd just caused.
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
SanChonino
SanChonino
Join Date 12/2005
+104
Reply #14 February 5, 2007 11:58:30 AM
from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums
toothpaste for dinner
toothpastefordinner.com
Reason for Karma (Optional)
Successfully updated karma reason!
View all recent posts
Mark all posts as read Delete cookies created by the forum Return to Top
Stardock Forums v        Server Load Time:   Page Render Time:
Facebook Twitter YouTube Google+