People in Utah are generally nice and easy to get along with…until it comes to traffic. That’s when all the jerks come out. I’ve seen the finger more times here in Utah than anywhere else in my life–even as a missionary in California. After living here for a while, it starts to irk you.
So tonight, as I was waiting to turn left on the corner of Canyon and Bulldog, just as the light turns green a jogger runs out in the road. Predictably, the oncoming traffic honks at him, but what does he do? He flips them off.
I turned left to cut through the RB/SFH parking lot on my way home, and realized that the jogger was running the same way. Since his disrespectful gesture had rubbed me the wrong way, I decided to slow down, roll down my window, and confront him.
So, while he continued to run, I drove parallel to him and we had this conversation:
Me: Hey, why did you flip that guy off?
Jerk: Because he was being a prick!
Me: But you were the one who ran across the road.
Jerk: Yeah, but I have the right of way!
Me: Not when you’re running a red light.
Jerk: Oh yeah? Pedestrians always have the right of way, retard!
Me: So I’m a retard? Is this how you plan to get through life, by being rude to everyone?
Jerk: <laughs> EXACTLY. That’s exactly how I plan to get through life.
Me: That’s not a very good way to live. You should control your temper.
Jerk: Yeah, whatever. <waves me off> Later, dude.
Me: So now you’re just going to run away from what you did?
Jerk: <runs up to car window> Look, do you want to make this a little more serious? <threatens to punch>
Me: Not really. I just want to hold you accountable for what you did.
Jerk: <runs off again> Whatever, dude. I’m just trying to exercise.
Me: And I’m doing you a favor. You should learn to control your temper. <drives off>
I don’t know if I accomplished anything by this (or even what I wanted to accomplish), but it felt satisfying knowing that one less jerk in Provo got away with his rude and disrespectful behavior. I hope that guy remembers this conversation for a while, even if it only makes him madder. One day, he’ll learn.
Danny and I read this together and nearly died laughing! We were talking about how pedestrians always have the right of way, and Danny’s comment is, “Technically, yes, but I’m going to put my money on the car!” He said that your response was probably much better. Mostly we just enjoyed how philosophical you were. Danny really appreciated how calm and polite you were the whole time. I thought it was hilarious how LONG this exchange went. I said the first few things you said were really good, and Danny said ALL of the things you said were really good! Go go go Joseph! If it turns out that you were chewing out the one non-mormon at BYU, maybe you’d feel a little bad, but the chances of THAT…after all “that’s against the hooonor code…”
It always bothers me when people are rude like that. How do they live with themselves? It’s embarrassing. If my automatic reaction to a honk was to flip someone off, I would have to do a whole lot of self-searching. I hope you did make him mad, anger is often a cover-up emotion, since it’s easier to deal with. You never know how such a simple conversation could actually affect him. So, thank you on his behalf. I’d be too scared to do it, being on the smaller side and a girl, but I wish there were more guys like you out there. Lots of road rage in San Diego (why? It’s so beautiful here!)
All I can say is “Way to go.” You said what all of us think, but none of us have the courage to opportunity to say. I wish there was some way to track the results of your conversation.
P.S. – Through an informal Google search, I discovered that pedestrians do not have the right of way when pedestrian traffic signals are installed. Thus, if the orange hand is displayed “blinking or not,” it is illegal for the pedestrian to enter the intersection. So if Mr. AngryJogger had a Don’t Walk signal, he was in the wrong. Pedestrians only have the right of way if (A) there is no signal at the intersection, or (B) if the signal is indicating for them to walk. Regardless of the law, however, I think the bigger problem is anger, as illustrated by your anecdote.
Yeah, I was going to say the same thing as Stephen. No, the pedestrian did NOT have the right-of-way.
Wikipedia’s no lawbook, but it says, “A pedestrian signal permits a pedestrian to begin crossing a street during the ‘Walk’ display; the pedestrian is usually considered to be “jaywalking” only if he entered the crosswalk at some other time.”
The jogger’s legal rights aside, I’m glad you said something. If nothing else, it made him think for two seconds.
So this is what we would call an aggressive jogger, right. Where I live pedestrians only have the right of way when they are in a cross walk. If there is a light it must be green before they have the right of way and they can receive a hefty fine should they be arrested. Should they be hit, maimed or killed while crossing illegally they have no legal remedies or ways to be compensated for their injuries. Sad as it may seem an “accident” is the only teacher some pedestrians will learn from.
On one level I cheer what you did, but mostly I just think what you did was childish and foolish. I don’t quite see how what you did was much better than what the pedestrian did. Wasn’t it anger or at the very least annoyance that led you to confront him in the first place?
What if mister jogger just happened to be hiding a small gun in his jogging shorts. Would you still be gloating about it on your blog? I’m not saying what you did was right or wrong. Just wondering if there really is anything to be satisfied about.
I have to agree with Mary.
I totally have to disagree with Chuck and Mary. I think that Joe was not “gloating” about it on his blog, for one. I think he was just sharing a ridiculously hilarious situation. For two, it’s hard for me to imagine that the main motivating factor for his conversation was anger. Sure, annoyance, maybe even a lack of social normalcy (sorry Joe), but I really don’t think he was angry. Maybe I’m wrong. Were you angry, Joe?
If I were Joe, I would be satisfied for two things: a really hilarious topic to blog about, and the multiple comments complimenting the guts to say something.
I don’t understand Mary and Chuck’s comments. Why would anyone feel the need to defend that guy?
Meh. I might have been a bit immature. I just didn’t want to let the guy off the hook for doing something so rude. It didn’t feel right to me–not when I had a chance to confront him. If he’d had a gun…well, I don’t know what I would have done. I doubt a shooting like that would happen in Provo, though.