People screaming from cars

Does this happen much to anyone else, or just me? Every now and then when I'm riding a car drives by and an occupant of the car (always male) screams at me to try and scare me. Why oh why do there have to be ****heads like that in this world?

My personal experience suggests to me that the screamer (not ALWAYS male, btw) has self-esteem issues; so many people in America equate car ownership with the "I made it" status, so anyone riding hasn't 'made it'. It's all about the car -- a phallic symbol for some, a leveling of the playing field for those with the ethereal 'phallic envy'. In short, it's either a.) "I'm a MAN -- look at my car!" or b.)"I'm just as good as a man -- look at MY car!"

If you don't buy into that with all your being, you emasculate each and every one of them; they don't like that. They yell, they curse, they call you out of your sexuality (sometimes, anyway, so I've heard), because they are afraid of you and what you stand for. You're outside the norm, not one of the 'team' who 'gets it'....

There's also the immature 'me first' attitude that is so prevalent -- you're in their way, they can't get where they want to go as fast or as easily as they want to. You are an obstacle. So, from the safety of their steel steeds, they hurl invective at you, knowing they can escape before you hurt them.

It's the illusion of 'manhood', that even women fall victim to; they are all so desperate to be accepted, anything that they even THINK interferes with that is something to be attacked.

They yell at you because they know, deep down where they live and let no one else see, that you are more grown and mature than they are. You are exposing them for the trifling turds that they are.

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"you may only be one person in the world -- but you may just be THE WORLD to one person."

Strange, but I live an New Jersey and have never been screamed at (yet).I have had some cars pass rather close to me but noone screamed at me yet. Oddly (well maybe not so oddly) enough, the only real argument I ever had was with a morbidly obese woman at a local tavern. She was telling me that all we "bikers" do is get in her way. The best part was when a guy at the bar yelled over to her "Lady look at you....what that ass someone is always going to be in YOUR way!"
The place busted up and she sheepishly finished her drink and left. I was in hog heaven after that.

Cheers,

Brian

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Well put. That's basically what I've always thought too. That and also they're probably insecure wimps that love the opportunity to **** with someone bigger than them (I'm 6'4" and weigh over 250) and get away with it. I must say it does put me in a bad mood for a while when it happens. I just make sure I don't respond.

Great post, but for me the quote above especially rings true. I've never understood the incessant need of some individuals to be accepted, particularly at the expense of others. I'm just not wired that way, but I see it in others quite often.

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I have to admire bigpedler's analysis. I think that he is correct in describing the motivation of many of these "non compus menti". Yet I suspect that in some cases there is a far more violent, and sociopathic motivation, that being the desire to see you fall and injure yourself. In those cases yelling probably substitutes for the lack of something at hand to throw at you.

Very well said.

I don't get that as much as I use to. Maybe it's because I don't ride as much, but it seems since Lance left the scene, there is less of it. Although a few weeks ago some kid walking with his buddy said "keep riding that bike" as if to jeer me. Teenagers in general just love to be antagonistic. I actually like when it happens now. I use the aggression from it for my workout.

I visited Dallas suburbs recently and noticed how polite drivers were to me. I didn't have one close call or anyone bothering me. Too bad the roads are boring for road biking there.

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Have to say I'm surprised at so much agreement out there -- thought I was the only cynical a$$hole out there!

Pretty much, it's in the same category as racism -- people hate what they fear, and they fear everything that's different than them, mainly because of two things:
1.)that strange thing might hurt them;
2.)that strange thing means 'their way' isn't the ONLY way.

Yes, it's the manic need for acceptance, the pack animal syndrome; it's also the lack of self-esteem, the belief, deep down, where they barely admit it to themselves except under the bedcovers, that they aren't as superior as they claim to be. Insecure, they are driven to scoff/belittle/insult all that makes them shake.

May they all get publicly teabagged.

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"you may only be one person in the world -- but you may just be THE WORLD to one person."

I can never understand what they're saying. I choose to believe its something nice.

I don't think the screaming jerks fear us, or are jealous of us. I think they really regard adult cyclists as nerds, wimps, fairies, or oddballs.

Yup. I don't think they fear anything about riders. Like good Americans, they just like easy targets.

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Although I never really see the people doing this, I do believe they're always teenagers, and male. And seem to usually be in a pickup or SUV.

However, I was once followed by a car full of teenage girls one night in the dark in my suburban area. I kept losing them, but then they'd find me again until I just stopped and looked at them as they drove by. They then pretended they were looking for an address, saying "hmm I think it's around here some place." That was just funny, but kinda weird.

I forgot to mention this sometimes also happens when I'm running or walking on the sidewalk, usually at night. So, I guess if you're not on a bike, you're an even easier target. There's no way you could catch up to them.

I do try to remember the vehicle, but am never quick enough to get the license plate number.

Guys, the screaming and shouting I can put up with, but try touring in Cambodia, Laos or Vietnam. They will reach out of their vehicles and slap you on the back. It once happened to me 3 times in Cambodia in one day! I understand that the folks believe they are encouraging, but wtf I don't know.

The shouting is usually good natured in Southeast Asia, the slapping I could do without....

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After a while you get used to the screaming idiots. I don't know if they are insecure or if they just think that it is funny, but either way it is just something for you to ignore.

Now a days the only thing that really bothers me that a driver may do is throw something out their window at me. But that has only happened once or twice.