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by WTVT_Boex

Last Post 67 days, 2 hours Ago

Bumper stickers = road rage?

Jun 17, 2008 | 11:42 AM
Category: News

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There's a new study out (isn't there always) about road rage. Seems that people with bumper stickers are more likely to commit such acts of aggession.

Story from Nature.com: http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080613/full/news.200
8.889.html

Sounds like a bit of a stretch to me, but I did enjoy this tidbit:

"What's more, only the number of bumper stickers, and not their content, predicted road rage — so 'Jesus saves' may be just as worrying to fellow drivers as 'Don't mess with Texas'."

Any thoughts on this? I don't have any bumper stickers, save a logo from my alma mater. But I'm willing to betyou've seen examples from both extremes.

19 Comments | Add a Comment

Jun 17, 2008 | 11:55 AM

I just get mad when I see a whole rear window filled with stickers for everything under the sun! So much so that they cant possibly see what's behind them!

Now that I have your attention, when are they going to fix the email notifications? I'm still not getting any and it's driven off a couple of regulars here. Please give me some feedback.

WTVT_Boex

Jun 17, 2008 | 12:04 PM

I'm afraid I don't know. They are working on it (see the Traffic blog section: http://community.myfoxtampabay.com/blogs/sfrothFox/2008
/06/08/Test_emailing).

Hopefully soon.

thebradleys

Jun 17, 2008 | 1:48 PM

The only "jewel" I've noticed is the big ole trucks with the classy chrome bull testicles dangling down in the back - they seem to really enjoy tailgating.

There's a joke in there. But I am dead serious.

Neanderthal

Jun 17, 2008 | 6:40 PM

"...isn't there always...?"

thebradleys

Jun 17, 2008 | 6:45 PM

o.O

Procreate101

Jun 17, 2008 | 8:43 PM

While I am not cool enough to slap a bumper sticker on my vehicle, I do have a U.S. Paratrooper license plate. My vehicle has been kicked, keyed, been hit (vehicular), and soft drinks spilled on it (none of which I have been present for). I personally have been flipped off yelled at and to be run off the road (almost). While I try to blame it more on my driving and savvy parking skillz I know that it is not always true. ….All I can do is shake my head and try not to escalate the situation by pulling out my .45 from the consol.

yellowdog

Jun 18, 2008 | 6:51 AM

I would let you inline if I saw your tag, Pro...but i'm old fashioned about respecting our vets.

I had a guy follow me into a parking lot and get in my face a few years back over his perceived insult on the road (he ran a red light at my intersection and I caused him concern when I do not give way).

Little did he realize that I had a pistol (legal of course) in my pocket. His fate was in my hands since his aggressive action could have resulted in his unexpected demise, had I not walked away.

Be careful who you pick on, the old guy (or gal) may be packing a piece.

sandieb

Jun 18, 2008 | 1:35 PM

When I was younger I had a bumper sticker that said... If you don't like the way I drive then get the hell off the sidewalk and the another one that said my other ride is a broom. Then my father explained that by having any kind of sticker on your car means that you can't hide someone that knows your stickers will know that,that is your car.

MoonOwl

Jun 18, 2008 | 5:31 PM

I have a couple, but I'm not prone to road-rage.

Tho, when I see a W04 sticker I do think 'there goes one of the people who got us into this mess' ;)

yellowdog

Jun 18, 2008 | 9:34 PM

Why don't the '04 people at least cover it up with a " my child water-boarded your kid" bumper sticker?

thebradleys

Jun 19, 2008 | 5:20 AM

oooooooo laughed out loud on dat one YD.

Bad bad..... :D

Neanderthal

Jun 19, 2008 | 5:44 AM

Why would you want to draw attention to yourself or your vehicle? Some near-sighted Senior who can barely see over the steering wheel might be tempted to move in too close in order to read the message..."rear ended!"

MoonOwl

Jun 19, 2008 | 6:39 AM

hehehehehehehehehe...... I laughed out loud too.

Good one YD.

I had "Born-Again Pagan" on my old car. Right after Jerry Falwell's comments on which people caused September 11th, I was driving my kid to preschool when I noticed this dude right on my bumper waving & pointing. As I turned into the parking lot, this guy just stopped his car in the road, got out and started ranting and shaking his fist at me until the cars behind him started honking (at least there'd have been witnesses). Considering I transported my kid in that car, I wheezed and I covered that sticker up with a "Proud to be an American" sticker. It was either that or keep my gun in the car in case I have to fend off a whackjob thinking September 11th was all my fault cuz Jerry & Pat told him so.

Some people are just insane. I didn't get close enough to see if he had all his teeth, but he was obviously missing some marbles.

I'd shoot ubl on site given the chance. I wonder what this guy would do? Call Pat Roberston? Pray to God to strike him down? Rant at him and shake his fist? The world is full of morons.

MamaRaptor

CrankyMan

Jun 19, 2008 | 4:00 PM

I try not to have anything on my car that could cause people to attempt to damage it, inluding political, religious or social messages. As well, I don't have dealer stickers, parking stickers or anything that would identify me.

At one point I had a vanity license plate that identified me by the name of my daily newspaper column, but when a TV sportscaster in our town was shot by a nutcase, I thought that I might be better off with a more discreet plate.

Neanderthal

Jun 19, 2008 | 6:52 PM

As required by Army Post regulations, I had a bumper identification and expiration number on my car in the 1960-1970's. That "sticker" earned me a broken windshield and tail light back in the "good old days." Why tempt fate?

yellowdog

Jun 19, 2008 | 7:29 PM

I earned the moniker "crazy old man" from my loving daughter when I put my ACLU sticker on the left side of back window and my NRA sticker on the right side (I am actually a member of both..but that's another story).

I have never had any problems, I suspect that the RWNJ's are too confused to react and the LWNJ's believe that their pot smoking days must have corrupted their eyesight.

It could be the big 12 gage hanging inside too? That discourages road rage.

yellowdog

Jun 19, 2008 | 7:31 PM

Hey, where have you been crank?

We are sadly lacking sophistication when you are away.

thebradleys

Jun 20, 2008 | 5:53 AM

YD, you have exemplified the innate Southern ability to justify a life lived cheerfully amidst conflicting ideas - and ideals.

(Remember illegal booze/dry counties but the co-exisiting booze tax? Kept the 'shiners AND the Baptists happy.) The list is long.

Drives the folks up North crazy.

randomstring

Jul 22, 2008 | 4:38 PM

I don't get road rage anymore. Per Say. I've had stickers, mostley without. I usually just want to get around slow drivers, when I get next to them, they're usually on the phone, totally oblivious to anyone or anything around them.

Interesting how bumpers stickers lead to four of you talking about your guns. Uhm yeah, that's a normal progression of topic. Bumpers stickers to guns... and threats. Must be that aggression they're speaking of.

I wonder what they'd find in studying how many people... who find the need to carry a gun in their car, are baiting people to start trouble? And this somehow makes us all safer? Yeah right. I just hope you folks find each other.

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WTVT_Boex

MyFox Tampa Bay moderator.

Member Since: 6/30/2006

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