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AIBU?

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Original poster

To call another driver a dick

36 replies

Lateliein · 12/03/2024 17:11

Busy petrol station, lots of cars queued up. Only way out is through the pumps (strange layout).

Car in front of me starts reversing back. When he was inches away from me I gave the horn a short beep in case he wasn't aware for whatever reason. Well. He stormed out the car looking furious and started shouting "I saw you! I SAW YOU!!!"... I opened my window and said, "sorry, I was just making sure". He spread his arms out and shouted the same thing twice, very aggressively, so I said "well I didn't know that". He shouted something else that I didn't hear and then I called him a dick.

I feel a bit embarrassed because I had my three kids in the car, so I know it wasnt the best example but I just saw red. I don't know why he got so angry. I was just making sure he knew I was there.

Sick of rude drivers but then I guess that's hypocritical as I am now one. It's also been a long day.

Incidentally the kids thought it was hilarious but I've told them not to repeat it to their dad. Would welcome thoughts on what others would do in that situation.

OP posts:
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Dbank · 07/05/2024 07:59

He was a dick, all he needed to do was put his hand up and acknowledge your warning.

I think you were justified in your response.

MissMelanieH · 13/03/2024 06:48

Because of the implication that I don’t check my rear view mirror before reversing my car and am therefore an unsafe driver

But the person in the other car doesn't know you, has no idea whether you can drive well and no way of knowing if you're usually very careful and safe. All they can see is you moving backwards at speed towards them and they make a judgement based solely on that...it's an odd thing to be offended by.

Op in an ideal world nobody would do road ragey swearing in front of their kids, in reality though most do (I know I do anyway) and the kids live to tell the tale.

And he WAS a dick!

FedUpMumof10YO · 13/03/2024 06:25

I'd have told him to fuck off 😂

LlynTegid · 12/03/2024 19:55

Given that 25% of drivers at least are unfit to drive, and some of the others will not have had a recent eye test, you were perfectly reasonable.

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 12/03/2024 19:55

You did exactly what most of us would have done.
Don't give it another thought!

Trinity65 · 12/03/2024 19:43

YANBU

Some Men are, indeed, Dicks

Rosestulips · 12/03/2024 19:36

Ghostgirl77 · 12/03/2024 17:20

Because of the implication that I don’t check my rear view mirror before reversing my car and am therefore an unsafe driver 🤷🏻‍♀️

Show quote history

But how or why would they know otherwise if they didn’t know who you were? No point getting offended, there are many unsafe drivers around, it’s not personal

Cherrysherbet · 12/03/2024 19:35

The only time I have sworn at people is in this type of scenario. Put some people behind a wheel, and they DO become absolute dicks.

I have been shouted at twice in the last couple of months whilst driving. Both times by men. Both times for no good reason, and both times I called them fucking twats……..I was not being unreasonable, and neither were you 😁

FOJN · 12/03/2024 19:29

Ghostgirl77 · 12/03/2024 17:20

Because of the implication that I don’t check my rear view mirror before reversing my car and am therefore an unsafe driver 🤷🏻‍♀️

Show quote history

And what if you did make the mistake of forgetting to check your mirror and reversed into someone? Wouldn't your first question to the driver behind you be, "why didn't you use your horn to warn me?"

Why would anyone assume you are a perfect driver? People care more about avoiding accidents than your feelings.

ohdamnitjanet · 12/03/2024 19:23

Lateliein · 12/03/2024 17:32

@Moveoverdarlin 😂🙌

Wish she had though 😆

Daffnee · 12/03/2024 19:22

He was a dick so fair enough.

Mumof2NDers · 12/03/2024 19:21

Some drivers are dicks!! I was at the traffic lights waiting to turn right but couldn’t move forwards without blocking 2 lanes of traffic. I was waiting for traffic to clear so I could go. The car behind me beeped me, I looked in my rear view mirror and he was angrily waving his arms about and indicating to me that he was waiting to turn left. I flipped him the bird and carried on with my day 😀

WhateverMate · 12/03/2024 19:13

There was a strikingly similar thread a little while back, except it happened in a drive-thru McDonald's I think.

YANBU.

swashbucklecheer · 12/03/2024 19:10

Oh and I think you were very restrained in your response! 😂

swashbucklecheer · 12/03/2024 19:09

My FILs brick gatepost was knocked down by a man in a BMW reversing into it. He said the sensors hadn't detected it.😐You can't always be sure of cameras/sensors

NowayJoséé · 12/03/2024 19:09

Don’t worry, I’m normally quite diplomatic but as soon as I get into my car and someone pisses me off, I have such a potty mouth. ‘You f**cking idiot’ is my most used phrase. It literally comes out of nowhere!

daffodilesque · 12/03/2024 19:06

To be fair, he was a dick.

RubiesandRose · 12/03/2024 19:04

I think you did fine! Your kids if they are old enough to remember it, will probably find it hilarious.

My mum is now in her mid 80's and very proper, I think I've heard her swear twice in her life and one of those times was at an arrogant male driver when I was about 10 years old, who appeared from nowhere and drove into a parking space she was indicating and waiting to pull into. I will never forget her 'why don't you just fuck off' retort to his face after she challenged him and he was rude to her.

We still laugh about it now 40 plus years later!

BoobyDazzler · 12/03/2024 19:00

I have a vast array of language that I only seem to use towards other drivers, cock head seems to be the most frequently used - I never utter it normally!

lots of other peoples driving infuriates me.

Yanbu.

Snowpatrolling · 12/03/2024 18:57

Some bloke cut me up on a roundabout a few months ago, I was on his right and already on the roundabout, he had to brake and started screaming at me, normally I’m very hot headed, but a laughed and said “at least my penis is bigger than yours” I don’t even know where that came from but it shut him up! I was quite proud of myself for not swearing!

GwinGwyn · 12/03/2024 17:42

afaloren · 12/03/2024 17:19

I remember being little and in the car and a guy driving another car did something to my usually very mild-mannered mum (I don’t know what) and she wound down the window and yelled DON’T BE A PILLOCK ALL YOUR LIFE, HAVE A DAY OFF.

I thought it was the most hilarious thing ever and I still smile when I remember it. Your kids will be fine x

I love this! 😂

Also, not unreasonable at all. A little beep to alert someone to your presence is better than them ploughing into the front of your car, not least when in collisions there tends to be the ‘driver behind at fault’ protocol. Sounds like he got a bit too close.

I am not sure I would have the cojónes to say something to a person’s face, but I regularly mutter under my breath things such as: “Nice car, next time fork out a bit more and buy the version that comes with indicators!” I have to be careful in the summer when my windows are down..! 😅

Original poster
Lateliein · 12/03/2024 17:32

@Moveoverdarlin 😂🙌

OP posts:
Moveoverdarlin · 12/03/2024 17:22

You should give yourself a pat on the back OP for not calling him a fucking dick.

Original poster
Lateliein · 12/03/2024 17:21

@Ghostgirl77 other drivers don't know you personally so it's nothing to take offence about. There are a lot of idiot drivers about. It makes sense to be safe and give a reminder.

It also sounds like you were a bit too close to another car tbh.

OP posts:
Dweetfidilove · 12/03/2024 17:20

He sounds like a dick. Sorry children ☺️