11 ms·

Given the amount of bad encounters I've had driving post-2020, and interacting with strangers, I think it's seeping into the real world as well. The way people

by goles 3y ago

Given the amount of bad encounters I've had driving post-2020, and interacting with strangers, I think it's seeping into the real world as well. The way people act and speak in public feels noticeably different than even a few years ago, let alone 10-20. People are very short with each other now. Even more disturbing, I think I can feel the change in myself too at times.

kdmccormick 3y ago
Driving brings out the worst in people. You're all trying to get somewhere, you're all a danger to one another, and, critically, you can't see faces well. So, you end up receiving offenses against you as if they're personal (because you're you!) but commit offenses as if they're impersonal (because others look like cars, not human beings). Would you rudely shove youself in front of someone at the market to get the next spot at the cash register? Probably not. But, would you block oncoming traffic by tailgaiting the person who took a left in front of you, instead of just waiting one more light cycle? Absolutely.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- spacebacon 3y ago
  Yes and the others specifically look like large and aggressively styled combatants. The aesthetic of the automobile and the embodiment of that automobiles essence clearly has an influence within the sensitive and suggestible human experience. Design drives behavior.
  - DonHopkins 3y ago
    Trump Fans Harass Biden Bus in Texas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWjK_Eu8uME https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWjK_Eu8uME The FBI is investigating an incident of alleged harassment by Trump supporters of a Biden campaign bus in Texas, the Texas Tribune reported, citing a local law enforcement official. The campaign bus was en route from San Antonio to Austin on Interstate 35 on Friday when a caravan of vehicles with Trump signs and flags veered close to the bus and yelled profanities. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, were not on the bus and no one was hurt, although local law enforcement was called to help the bus get to its destination. The campaign scrapped an event scheduled in Austin for Friday after the incident. President Donald Trump tweeted a video of the incident on Saturday night with the comment, “I LOVE TEXAS,” and briefly mentioned it during a campaign rally in Michigan on Sunday. Tariq Thowfeek, Texas communications director for the Biden campaign, said the Trump fans “decided to put our staff, surrogates, supporters, and others in harm’s way” rather to engage in a conversation about the candidates’ different visions. Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said Sunday she hadn’t seen the whole video and couldn’t comment on the part where one of the cars appears to almost crash into the bus. “Certainly we don’t want harm and we shouldn’t be hurting other people. The president would not endorse that,” McDaniel said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” The White House and Trump campaign didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Donald Trump Jr, the president’s son, appeared in a video on Twitter last week encouraging supporters of the president to show up for one of Harris’s events in Texas. “It’d be great if you guys would all get together, head down to McAllen and give Kamala Harris a nice Trump Train welcome,” Trump Jr said.
- stef25 3y ago
  It's always someone distracted by his phone, trying to find first gear, stuck in reverse. I despise people blocking you from doing what you need to do. So yeah I absolutely will show myself in front of you if all you're doing is blocking the way. At the same time I'll be very courteous to people behaving correctly and give right of way every time I'm required to.
spacebacon 3y ago
I can relate to this point of view. The highways have been somewhat of a barometer for mental health weather. The best thought leaders can do is not participate in the hate. Drive the speed limit, let cars out, be courteous and non reactive on the roads. Each small good example plants a seed that won’t immediately resolve our worldly issues but will lead others to water in due time with persistence.
switch007 3y ago
I’ve found drivers way way more rude now. Jumping red lights is epidemic. Drivers regularly wait on crossings. I had to literally put my hand out today to stop a taxi driver edging towards me when the crossing light was green. It’s really common. There has definitely been a shift in driving behaviours since the pandemic. As a pedestrian in the UK I’ve never been so afraid of cars
hydrok9 3y ago
I have a theory that the covid experience is behind this. We all got used to being implicitly afraid of people because of social distancing. We also became so incredibly angry about people either forcing us to do things like wear masks or about people not doing those things. On top of that we were encouraged to drive our personalities into the internet even further, and we became even more used to being isolated from other people and being able to have all of our needs fulfilled without having to actually connect with a human being. In short we were encouraged to dehumanize each other and we really haven't stopped thinking that way because it's way more convenient to not have to take other people's feelings into consideration.
- anigbrowl 3y ago
  I think it certainly exacerbated it, but the trend started long before.
  - hydrok9 3y ago
    yeah I should have qualified it with that. definitely it didn't start with covid. but I myself have noticed this kind of strange general coldness that is persisted since and I have noticed many comments on Hacker News about it too.
Shocka1 3y ago
Anecdotally I noticed the same back in 2016-ish, especially when driving on the freeways in the city. It's astonishing what people can turn into behind the wheel of a car or a keyboard.

by goles 3y ago

kdmccormick 3y ago

Driving brings out the worst in people. You're all trying to get somewhere, you're all a danger to one another, and, critically, you can't see faces well. So, you end up receiving offenses against you as if they're personal (because you're you!) but commit offenses as if they're impersonal (because others look like cars, not human beings). Would you rudely shove youself in front of someone at the market to get the next spot at the cash register? Probably not. But, would you block oncoming traffic by tailgaiting the person who took a left in front of you, instead of just waiting one more light cycle? Absolutely.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
spacebacon 3y ago
Yes and the others specifically look like large and aggressively styled combatants. The aesthetic of the automobile and the embodiment of that automobiles essence clearly has an influence within the sensitive and suggestible human experience. Design drives behavior.
- DonHopkins 3y ago
  Trump Fans Harass Biden Bus in Texas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWjK_Eu8uME https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWjK_Eu8uME The FBI is investigating an incident of alleged harassment by Trump supporters of a Biden campaign bus in Texas, the Texas Tribune reported, citing a local law enforcement official. The campaign bus was en route from San Antonio to Austin on Interstate 35 on Friday when a caravan of vehicles with Trump signs and flags veered close to the bus and yelled profanities. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, were not on the bus and no one was hurt, although local law enforcement was called to help the bus get to its destination. The campaign scrapped an event scheduled in Austin for Friday after the incident. President Donald Trump tweeted a video of the incident on Saturday night with the comment, “I LOVE TEXAS,” and briefly mentioned it during a campaign rally in Michigan on Sunday. Tariq Thowfeek, Texas communications director for the Biden campaign, said the Trump fans “decided to put our staff, surrogates, supporters, and others in harm’s way” rather to engage in a conversation about the candidates’ different visions. Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, said Sunday she hadn’t seen the whole video and couldn’t comment on the part where one of the cars appears to almost crash into the bus. “Certainly we don’t want harm and we shouldn’t be hurting other people. The president would not endorse that,” McDaniel said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” The White House and Trump campaign didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Donald Trump Jr, the president’s son, appeared in a video on Twitter last week encouraging supporters of the president to show up for one of Harris’s events in Texas. “It’d be great if you guys would all get together, head down to McAllen and give Kamala Harris a nice Trump Train welcome,” Trump Jr said.
stef25 3y ago
It's always someone distracted by his phone, trying to find first gear, stuck in reverse. I despise people blocking you from doing what you need to do. So yeah I absolutely will show myself in front of you if all you're doing is blocking the way. At the same time I'll be very courteous to people behaving correctly and give right of way every time I'm required to.

spacebacon 3y ago

I can relate to this point of view. The highways have been somewhat of a barometer for mental health weather. The best thought leaders can do is not participate in the hate. Drive the speed limit, let cars out, be courteous and non reactive on the roads. Each small good example plants a seed that won’t immediately resolve our worldly issues but will lead others to water in due time with persistence.

switch007 3y ago

I’ve found drivers way way more rude now. Jumping red lights is epidemic. Drivers regularly wait on crossings. I had to literally put my hand out today to stop a taxi driver edging towards me when the crossing light was green. It’s really common. There has definitely been a shift in driving behaviours since the pandemic. As a pedestrian in the UK I’ve never been so afraid of cars

hydrok9 3y ago

I have a theory that the covid experience is behind this. We all got used to being implicitly afraid of people because of social distancing. We also became so incredibly angry about people either forcing us to do things like wear masks or about people not doing those things. On top of that we were encouraged to drive our personalities into the internet even further, and we became even more used to being isolated from other people and being able to have all of our needs fulfilled without having to actually connect with a human being. In short we were encouraged to dehumanize each other and we really haven't stopped thinking that way because it's way more convenient to not have to take other people's feelings into consideration.

anigbrowl 3y ago
I think it certainly exacerbated it, but the trend started long before.
- hydrok9 3y ago
  yeah I should have qualified it with that. definitely it didn't start with covid. but I myself have noticed this kind of strange general coldness that is persisted since and I have noticed many comments on Hacker News about it too.

Shocka1 3y ago

Anecdotally I noticed the same back in 2016-ish, especially when driving on the freeways in the city. It's astonishing what people can turn into behind the wheel of a car or a keyboard.