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Monday, August 30, 2010

High speed texter not very excited

Posted on Monday, August 30

You've probably read this rant a thousand times from others, so please bear with me (though it may be edited, or not posted). This morning, 8/30/10, I saw a white Volvo S-80 clip a blue Honda Accord on I-20, in the Columbia corridor. I had observed both drivers text messaging, prior to the accident. The white Volvo tried to merge into the lane where the Honda was, very abruptly, with no turn signal. After the impact (which was fairly minimal, save for the loss of the Honda's right mirror), the Volvo fled the scene, at over 100 mph, starting off in the breakdown lane. It happened so quickly that I couldn't even get a tag number. When I passed the Honda, the woman driving was STILL text messaging, apparently unaware that her right mirror was gone, and that her car had sustained damage. At that point, she was doing around 45-50 mph, straddling two lanes. As I passed her, she showed no excitement, no gestures, anything. I honked my horn, trying to get her attention, but she was oblivious to everything around her. In frustration, I continued, as I wasn't aware of the *HP feature on my cellphone, to call it in to the Highway Patrol (a friend on Facebook told me about this feature, later). I never use my cellphone while driving, unless I'm parked - even with a headset. Here's the deal, folks - technology is a wonderful thing, enabling us to perform many tasks, and to help organize our lives. However, there are too many Americans that have become over-dependent on this form of technology - to the point of having short-term memory loss, as well as being diagnosed with having ADD/ADHD, since their attention spans are so short, thanks to television, the Internet, video gaming, et cetera, providing instant gratification on a regular basis. My point, is this: people have become so unaware of others, in a social sense; they've become self-absorbed, to an unnatural degree. The rights, and lives of others, are becoming endangered by this behavior. Laws may be passed, as the NTSB has data of many car accidents, showing smartphone use as the primary cause. More human rights are going to disappear, due to the bad judgement of a few. People need to wake up, and stop this madness, pronto. We already have speedcams at many intersections, and laser technology is giving law enforcement more effective tools. George Orwell gave us a glimpse in his novel, 1984. If we allow people to continue on this destructive path, social skills will be utterly gone. Home-schooling will become the norm for children, further isolating human beings from social interaction, learning good manners, etiquette, and common courtesy. It is happening all around us, people. Technology is turning many people out there - into 'droids'. We all need to acknowledge this problem, or this nation will become just like the Roman Empire. I hope that this missive finds everyone well, and if you've made it this far - thanks for reading.

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I've been trying to put as eloquently as this for months. I'm astounded each and every commute, every day how badly it has become, and not only here, but everywhere! There is no consideration for human life! When the majority of our fellow human beings get into their car, they are 20ft. tall and bullet proof. That is until they kill themselves(good riddance), or someone who tries to drive safely! Who am I kidding? The reality is that we risk our lives more and more each and every day! As much as I would like to rip certain fucksticks heads off and rip out their soul on a daily basis on the road?...... What can we do, honestly, to fix it?

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Posted by doris the finkasauraus on August 30, 2010 at 6:58 PM

"The reality is that we risk our lives more and more each and every day! As much as I would like to rip certain fucksticks heads off and rip out their soul on a daily basis on the road?...... What can we do, honestly, to fix it?"

try dealing with your anger issues!

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Posted by CHADAMAN on August 30, 2010 at 8:03 PM

I agree that the dependence on technology now days is atrocious. I was applauding you all the way up to the point you reduce homeschoolers to unsocialized neanderthals incapable of appropriate social interaction. I home school my children and I for one can tell you that the manners and etiquette of most homeschooled children are far superior to their public/private schooled peers. Just because a family schools at home does not mean that they never leave home. A common misconception from those who are ignorant about the way most homeschoolers are educated. Homeschoolers actually have more time to socialize and to interact with the public than their peers. Why? Because most parents/homeschool teachers value volunteering and giving back to the community in which they live and therefore make it part of their curriculum. Also there is a large homeschool community in which to exchange or co-op different subjects and activities. Most people who homeschool tend to raise their children in traditional ways lacking much of the intrusion of electronics. No we do not allow our children to be technologically ignorant but we do control the amount of exposure. Technology is not used to babysit the children like so many other population demographics allow. I completely agree that the current generations' dependence on tech is destroying our humanity and fueling narcissism at an epidemic rate. However, to degrade a way of life without knowing that lifestyle is completely out of line and further fuels prejudice against said lifestyle.

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Posted by taustin on August 30, 2010 at 8:04 PM

This reminds me of a lady I saw driving down the BUSY road READING a book to her "child" while he laid across her lap...I had the pleasure of following this lady until she parked and got out...the "CHILD" was about 10 years old!!!!!!!!

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Posted by JBOAT on August 31, 2010 at 5:59 AM

I used to think that people talking on cell phones were bad, until I started seeing people driving while deeply involved in texting. I mean, there is a level of detachment (exemplified in the OP) that I've just never seen. Blasts of horns, veering off the road, even actual collisions... it is like a fortress of solitude, except that it is moving down the road somewhere between 40-80mph. Moving, that is independent of the speed limit.

Of course it is anecdotal but I don't think I've seen drunk drivers that top texting drivers in terms of oblivious negligence. Legislation won't change this... it is basically impossible to police without a direct, "caught in the act" observance.

Just make the personal choice: "I won't text while driving."

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Posted by factoryconnection on August 31, 2010 at 9:51 AM

This is what I do to texters...I pull up to them while hugging their blind spot, I then stand on my horn and scoot back into my lane as the texter has a coronary I wave as if I know them and drive on as they wish they had packed a clean pair of underwear and are sweeping the floorboards looking for the phone they just dropped.

The look is priceless...

PS I drive a red 1992 GMC Suburban K2500...

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Posted by ericloz on August 31, 2010 at 10:32 PM

I'm with you ericloz...99 Tahoe. The bigger and more manacing the vehicle the better the "OH SHIT" looks become!

Bottom line...it should be illegal and strictly enforced. I'm pretty sure if I'm cruising on 26 around 65 reading the City Paper while driving a SC State Trooper is gonna have some choice words and a few blue copies for me! These inconsiderate idiots are taking our lives and the lives of our loved ones into their full and "off the wheel" hands!

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Posted by Grimm on September 1, 2010 at 1:55 AM

VERY VERY AWESOME!! I have been trying to deal with the fact that more and more technology will make us less and less of a person. Very well put. Couldn't have said it better!

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Posted by ogre on September 1, 2010 at 6:47 AM

As per Taustin's comments on home schooling, I think you misinterpreted my judgement. Home schooling is not a bad thing. My kids were home-schooled, for a brief period, and my daughter even finished her high school education, with honors, online (over one year early, in fact, and she had been a student at Charleston School of The Arts, with a 3.89 GPA). All that I was trying to explain is that more social isolation, whether it be from technology, or other choices, is creating a generation of people who won't know true social interaction, as I remember it, being close to 50 years of age. The idea of school recess comes to mind (kids yelling 'COOTIES', and running away), and of course, there are bad memories for many who dealt with the school bullies, as well, so, home schooling may be an attractive option for some people. Home schooled kids are not Neanderthals. I never wrote that. However, just like back in the 1980s, when parents of that time started over-protecting their kids from electrical outlets, staircases and the like, I believe that the kids of the PlayStation generation, and beyond, will not know what the real boundaries in life are, due to being isolated, over-protected, and home-schooled - not to mention being incorrectly diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, due to what present-day life, and the technologies, are offering our society - in other words, being over-stimulated, and desensitized, simultaneously. It is all about being responsible, and accountable for one's actions - which, I'm sad to say, even home schooling will not help, with that - you can't learn about life, unless you live it - around others, however imperfectly. That is my point, people. Text messaging while driving, is merely one of the plethora of society's problems in the early 21st century. Family, community, and ultimately our body public - carries the lion's share of blame - for all of our present problems. We need to communicate, and to start loving one another, as in generations past.

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Posted by BoneFishDarel on September 1, 2010 at 3:45 PM

It's ashame that SC will not pass a law against text messaging (as if it would do any good). If driving while texting is worse than being intoxicated then it should be law. What is sooooo fucking important that you can't wait to get out of your car to read/write back a text. All of you who text while you drive (you know who you are) you are endangering my life and if I could get your attention on the road, I would tell you to stop fucking texting to your face!!!!! Assholes!!!!

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Posted by mm on September 2, 2010 at 11:42 AM

we don't need new laws on the books...we just need to enforce the ones already there.

There are several "impairment" laws that can be amended to include texting, they just ned to do it. While they are at it, make it a primary offense so the officers can intervene or pull them over if witnessed in the act.

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Posted by ericloz on September 3, 2010 at 10:49 AM

mm -
Well put - they (the driving folks, who text message at the same time) are endangering our lives, to be certain, and it is totally frustrating to be out and about on the road - when someone nearly t-bones you, while text messaging (this happened to me, two months ago...!). Ericloz, our state government can't handle the correct appropriations of the 'bailout' that SC received... our public educational system here is still abysmally screwed, and our state and local infrastructures also suffer (call 911 on James Island - you'll see what I mean... hurry up, and wait!). Everyone talks about state's rights versus the Fed here in SC, but it is really about time for this fair state to join the rest of civilization, and address all of these polarizing issues that divide us. Be well, everyone.

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Posted by BoneFishDarel on September 17, 2010 at 1:38 PM
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