Had one of those traffic rage incidences this morning. Had two guys run across the road on a red, it was green light for traffic to go. It was raining and I had to hit the brakes hard, almost wiping out to avoid hititng these to fucking idiot jay walkers. Then they scream “fuck you” in Taiwanese at me, like I was in the wrong. I gave them the bird and one of the guys calls me on. I was in the middle of the intersection, and was thinking should I do this, is it worth it? Plus, I knew the only reason this fucker was calling me on was that he had his buddy with him, so he knew I was out numbered. I rode about a few meters away thinking, fuck this, and stopped the bike and and was going to go back, but they were gone. By the time I was at work I was fuming, running scenarios in my head about how I could have handle the situation again. I’m sure I would have lost consider it was two against one, but I’m also sure I would have given them both a good hurting before it would have been over. But here’s the thing. Is it worth it? The possibility or being arrested, getting hurt, being sued, missing work, is it really worth it just to satisfy these two fuckers need to be total assholes. I don’t know. What do you guys think? I’m sure many of you have been faced with the same circumstance.
You can beat a person stupid but you can"t beat the stupid out of them.
I know, I’ve been on my own personal crusade for years.
Well then you left things as they were, rode away on your fabulous bike, probablly had a cup of coffee and thanked the gods
that you are employed, educated and loved by those around you. All of those things could have been taken away from just one
bad decision.
My advice, turn the other cheek and show them your ass.
[quote=“MotorcycleRider”]Is it worth it?[/quote]These kinds of situations are incredibly frustrating. But I think you already know the answer to your question, and even if you don’t I’m sure you know what my answer would be!
I might come across as very calm and tolerant on Forumosa. But I do get very angry about stuff like this (though I’ve never got in a fight). However, during the past year I’ve been consciously trying to be more patient, and to try to use situations like this as an opportunity for developing more equanimity. There is a sense of achievement in taking the higher ground – in not letting these people get to you. Plus, responding aggressively is just going to reinforce their own bad habits.
As regards changing others’ behaviour in a positive way, that’s very very difficult, and the chance to do it doesn’t come up very often.
I still aspire to the calmness of drivers such as MJB.
You’re both right. Me starting a fight would have not helped, and would just be another reinforcement for stupid Taiwanese behavior. I’ve calmed down a lot more and think more before I act now eversince I got married. And Bubba you are right. I did sit down for awhile and think, dam I have it good, why screw it up over assholes who will never have it as good us. So glad I’m beyond this now. Few years back it would have been a brawl at that intersection, but I’m sure I would have regretted after, even if I did win.
Considering that Bubba’s a total barbarian thug, he gave some spot-on advice. There’s just no point. Is a “gan ni” from some twat you’ll never see again worth the hassle?
SandQuaker wrote [quote]Is a “gan ni” from some twat you’ll never see again worth the hassle?[/quote]
Yes, sometimes. It’s harder getting into fisticuffs than you would imagine. The cowards almost always run away.
water pistol of orange paint kept at the ready in a handy handlebar holster.
but there is a risk you could spray your own bike… always use downwind of you 
Yes, sometimes. It’s harder getting into fisticuffs than you would imagine. The cowards almost always run away.[/quote]
Well, I was referring only to the specific situation described by Motorcycle rider. Of course if you have the opportunity to give the lads a smack or two without getting caught up in a rush-hour stooshie with rubber-neckers, witnesses, potential work disruption and all that, then sure, honour should be seen to be satisfied.
Hmm…so thats what “gan ni!” means…those rude bugger monkeys.
MC…nothing to gain with stopping. Bad weather and worrying about your bike if you do.
Quick flip of the middle digit, dual mode if you’re ‘continental’, and on about your business.
I always ask… what would the Flaming Lips do?
Thing is, there’s no safety net if things go wrong, you’re outnumbered, and the baseball bats and motorcycle locks come out. Conversely, it’s unlikely that the police will do anything if you instead get the upper hand. We’re pretty much on our own here, and that’s dangerous knowledge for people who can’t stay cool.
Is it worh the satisfaction to know one jerk is down after a kick in the nuts and the other has a broken jaw and has to live on soup for a few week’s? I simply would love to beat the living shit out off this people sometime, but so far only goten in 1 verbal figh and showed my midle finger a few times. Everyone trying to drive a car or motorbike here know this totla frustrationand the lust for blood.
I hope I can stay out off truble a litle longer and keep my agresion under control. I don’t concider myself as a agresive type, but they really get to me now and then.
[quote=“Stian”]…so far only goten in 1 verbal figh and showed my midle finger a few times.[/quote]Bear in mind that the middle finger seems to mean something quite different here from what it means in the west. Over there, it means “I’m pretty angry but I don’t want to take things any further”. Here, it means “I want a fight now.”
You’d be better leaving the middle finger out of it.
Yes. Stick the other four up at them, spread out in a kind of Spock-like gesture. That’ll confuse 'em nicely.
There are asshats everywhere. Of course it’s not worth it. If these dudes continue to jaywalk the way they do, nature’ll take care of things.
[quote=“Mellow Yellow”]There are asshats everywhere. Of course it’s not worth it. If these dudes continue to jaywalk the way they do, nature’ll take care of things.[/quote]With a little luck, they’ll go try this in China.
this may or may not be off topic (if so I’m sure i’ll be told!).
i lived in a small town in costa rica for a coupla’ years and i was told
the story from different sources.
you don’t “win” a fight:
a) you get beat up.
b) you beat up the other guy enough and it shows. he goes to the
cops and shows them. you get arrested and the ticos in jail beat you up
for beating up a tico.
c) you beat the other guy enough to make him run away home.
he rouses mother, father, aunts, uncles, cousins and grannies!
to hound you down and save family face (forget the spanish equivalent)
by thrashing you.
[quote=“joesax”][quote=“Stian”]…so far only goten in 1 verbal figh and showed my midle finger a few times.[/quote]Bear in mind that the middle finger seems to mean something quite different here from what it means in the west. Over there, it means “I’m pretty angry but I don’t want to take things any further”. Here, it means “I want a fight now.”
You’d be better leaving the middle finger out of it.[/quote]
Actually, I think this is one of those things which has been inflated over the years from one guy having some trouble to ‘showing someone the middle finger in Taiwan is tantamount to a self-inflicted death sentence!’
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again but come on… those of us who have given someone the finger and/or shouted through our window will know that the typical Taiwanese reaction is to immediately stare straight ahead and pretend it isn’t happening.
And yeh, like everywhere in the world some people are unhinged and get off on the sight of blood but If living in Taiwan means sitting motionless in my car like a scared lemon then I think I’ll beat myself up because at least I might feel alive for a few minutes.
[quote=“llary”]
Actually, I think this is one of those things which has been inflated over the years from one guy having some trouble to ‘showing someone the middle finger in Taiwan is tantamount to a self-inflicted death sentence!’[/quote]My experience is that 50% of the time I’ve given the finger to someone I have indeed gotten the confrontation I was expecting. The other 50% of the time they have been either unable to attend the fight due to a prior engagement or the results were skewed by them being outnumbered. IOW, the only time anyone has not come to the fight was because they were on the other side of a freeway divider, or when I had a bigger entourage than they did.
Maybe my fingers are more offensive than yours? 
[quote=“llary”][quote=“joesax”][quote=“Stian”]…so far only goten in 1 verbal figh and showed my midle finger a few times.[/quote]Bear in mind that the middle finger seems to mean something quite different here from what it means in the west. Over there, it means “I’m pretty angry but I don’t want to take things any further”. Here, it means “I want a fight now.”
You’d be better leaving the middle finger out of it.[/quote]
Actually, I think this is one of those things which has been inflated over the years from one guy having some trouble to ‘showing someone the middle finger in Taiwan is tantamount to a self-inflicted death sentence!’
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again but come on… those of us who have given someone the finger and/or shouted through our window will know that the typical Taiwanese reaction is to immediately stare straight ahead and pretend it isn’t happening.[/quote]I am saying that giving people the finger is not the same as shouting through a window. That it seems to provoke a more aggressive response.
And yes, I have done both on several occasions. And I’ve also read on Forumosa of a number of incidents, not just one, in which giving the finger provoked physical violence.
I am also saying that of the few times in which I feel I have been successful in getting other drivers to reconsider their behaviour, none has involved me giving someone the finger.
You can take or leave this advice. But to suggest that it is the result of a single incident getting blown out of proportion is plain rubbish. Giving people the finger here has different connotations than it does in the West, and this is apparent from a number of incidents.