argh...brought to you by the people that ruined "shell shock"

What about "Slow asshole in the passing lane" syndrome?

Intermittent my ass, get out of my way.
Or stay off my ass.
Or just move to another country ass hole.
Stay off the sidewalk if you don't like the way I drive.
It's Clinton's fault. He couldn't drive for shyte. In fact he cheated. I hate a golfer that cheats.
Arsehole.

So much bullshit.

If it weren't for the fact that kids are getting it even worse, I would be more pissed.

Buck the pharms! Control your own life!

Down with mood drugs! Return to nature!

another excuse made for people who are so selfcentered that they beleive self control should not apply to them.

"...people who are so selfcentered that they beleive self control should not apply to them."

Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling?

Hans

an asshole is an asshole is an asshole.....
the problem with dealing with these assholes at the time is that you dont know what caliber he might have under the seat and with medical revelations like this, you would be the one who got punished if not shot because you triggered something in the asshole that MADE him shoot you..............

but to those of you who mentioned the guy in the passing lane......when you say going slow......surely you arent saying that you break the posted speed limits because that would mean that you would be a .....law BREAKER......and no liberal ever does that as far as I have read on here........no way...none of you would ever exceed the posted law ....

should have added that I have never done that.........well there was the time that the ASSHOLE was on my ass and I had to go 75 in the 55, officer.....he made me do it by staying too close and forced my foot down on the accelerator......

I wonder if this "study" will be used by pharmaceutical companies to create another 75 drugs with minimal R&D and excessive advertising.

"Do you get angry while driving?

Do you sweat in your car?

Do you sometimes feel as though you'd like to scream at other drivers?

You could have a serious condition.

An 'intermittent explosive disorder,' even.

Talk to your doctor about Trilomax.

You should not take Trilomax if you are under 30, over 40, like to read books, or hope to ever experience sexual arousal.

Side effects may include jaundice, liver failure, loss of teeth, and birth defects."

(cut to scene of person behind steering wheel with head in hands)

"It doesn't have to be this way.

Talk to your doctor today."

Here's my thing about road rage...

If you were just walking and someone came running up behind you and walked 2 inches from your ass you would get upset. If someone cut in front of you in a movie line you would get upset. If without looking first another person comes around a corner and almost barrels over you, your wife and kids you would be furious. Its a natural human reaction and it doesn't matter where it happens... car, plane, walking yachting... Now if you are just walking around the streets looking to fight anyone for the smallest inconvenience imposed on you, you aren't diagnosed with 'Intermittent Explosive Disorder' you are called an ASSHOLE! Again, to be termed an asshole is not dependent on your mode of transportation. I should know... I'm a 4th Level Grand Master Asshole.

So THAT'S what roadside IEDs are!

If I'm behind another car and a line of traffic, I don't give a rat's ass how close you are to my bumper; what do you want me to do, ignite rocket boosters and KITT over the cars in front of me?

If it's just me, and I'm going five or 10 mph over the speed limit, fuck you. If I'm going below the limit, and conditions warrant it (e.g., snowstorm, giant frogs raining down), fuck you. If I'm traveling below the limit for no apparent reason, I'll speed up to be considerate (what the fuck is that?).

If you're just an angry asshole, I'll try to let you by.

I think driving is indicative of overall intelligence. If it takes you more than two seconds to figure out the order at a four-way stop, you're an idiot and you shouldn't be allowed to drive.

Maybe the problem is that we just have more stupid people on the roads (driving to church, no doubt... doh! Okay, driving to their young Republican meetings... double-doh!). This needs to be a "syndrome"? Gimme a flippin' break!

Honestly, I think road rage basically stems from the fact that we're all driving big machines that have the ability to suddenly go very fast (or, in the case of Buick sedans, consistently very slow), we're mostly all in a hurry to get somewhere (except, again, for those afflicted with Slow Buick Syndrome [TM]), and each of us has our own distractions - music, cell phone, spouse, kids, being in the wrong lane, unsure where we're going - and then there are ALL THESE OTHER DAMN PEOPLE IN THE WAY.

The subtleties of common civility go out the window, and the false comfort of anonymity replaces it. It's easy to flip the bird at an anonymous machine that's IN YOUR WAY.

'What about "Slow asshole in the passing lane" syndrome?'

If someone wants to drive 10 MPH slower than the rest of traffic in the left lane, backing up the highway for miles and nearly causing dozens of accidents as people pass on the right, that is your problem and not theirs. They don't legally have to show any consideration for other people by doing the common sense thing and getting over. And you shouldn't try to pressure them into doing so.

IED (fitting) applies to just more than road rage. Like that chick who stabbed my friend over a sandwich.

Jersey now let's Hybrids with single passengers in the carpool lane on the turnpike. This is the most frustrating and envokes my rage. These pillow-biters wouldn't know 60 miles an hour if that was the thrust rate of their partner who was mounting their gay asses, let alone the 85 mph the rest of us would like to do. Since the HOV lane is usually the only one moving there is no possibility to pass. Very frustrating.

Rob, your last post illustrates your handle very well. Nice to have yet another hole in which to pidgeon, ain't it?

Sully, I realize the point you're making is that people lack common courtesy when behind the wheel. The rule of the road, however, is keep right except to pass; it's not just courtesy. And I will pass on the right if I can do so safely.

CBob, good post!

I saw Ian McKellon on some show the other day, and he made a good point about how the whole concept of commuting and using autos to travel is one of the biggest obstacles to social mingling, getting to learn about other people, etc. Hurts us that we're so expansive and our government invests pitifully little into mass transit.

commuting and using autos to travel is one of the biggest obstacles to social mingling, getting to learn about other people, etc

social mingling gets you raped and stabbed in the real world. Right the PATH into NYC and make eye-contact with some savage... you'll see what I mean.

Whoops that would be "Ride the PATH..." not "Right the PATH..."

Ever look through the DSM? There's a disorder for everyone there. And frankly, I think these guys make this shit up. It's just a feeble attempt at job security.

Thanks, Eva.

I've been preaching mass transit for quite some time, mostly falling on deaf ears. I'm not anti-car - I think that's not realistic, plus I have a thing for speed. But ... all of us who favor true energy independence need to realize that there are a multitude of ways to achieve it without relying on some magical new fuel to replace gasoline. High-speed train travel should be a consideration. Upgrade current freight tracks or build new ones right alongside the interstates. I'd use 'em, for sure.

Another no-brainer is development that reduces our dependence on car trips. Return to smallish neighborhood schools - you'd reduce the Columbine effect, if nothing else, but you'd also improve neighborhood cohesion and reduce or eliminate all those miles traveled on schoolbuses. Make new developments that are more friendly to pedestrians and bikes. Make sure your town allows TND zoning (traditional neighborhood developments), which permit mixed uses - housing, office and commercial together - so you could, at least in theory, bike to work or the store. You could even live above your business in TNDs. Did you know that in most cities and towns, traditional developments are AGAINST THE LAW?

"Sully, I realize the point you're making is that people lack common courtesy when behind the wheel. The rule of the road, however, is keep right except to pass; it's not just courtesy. And I will pass on the right if I can do so safely."

You're right. But that rule is never enforced.....

I pass on the right all the time. Sometimes I look over at the other driver and shake my head. And occasionally, that shames them into getting over (but usually, they are oblivious). That's about as road raging as I get these days. I used to be bad but now I start to laugh at myself if I let it get to me too much.

Intermmitent Explosive Disorder has been in the DSM since at least DSM III. Why is it news that some moron looked in the DSM and found a diagnosis that could be applied to road rage. People like to think that just because it is a DSM diagnosis, it is considered a 'disease'. Rather, it is just a way to catagorize a type of behavior that causes problems in peoples functioning so it can be discussed. Just because you get pissed off or give someone the finger, doesnt mean you are diagnosed as having IED.

Ive worked with adolescents diagnosed as IED (interesting acronym, eh?). These are kids that will be smiling one second and trying to stab you with anything close at hand the next for some incredibly minor perceived slight and not in control of their own actions. To classify the general motorist who gets pissed off and flips the bird as IED is stupid and one more step in the pop culture minimizing everything to the lowest possible understandable denominator.

I'm not speeding. I'm qualifying. GO NASCAR!

I thought the I-295 sign was a speed limit sign.

I was on my way to vote.

Double decker buses: Never sit on the upper deck. There's no driver.

Driving is only acceptable at designated locations: PGA.

Sometimes I wish stupid people would have to drive in their own lane. With one way signs facing each other for every two stupid drivers. (Can't remember the comedian who said this - ?)

This "disorder" is fueled by the anonymity of being in one's own personal space and not having to deal with people face to face. You can see the same thing anywhere such circumstances exist. Here at the Drudge Retort, we experience all kinds of name calling and anger that would not be expressed if these discussions were occuring face to face.

Did anyone catch "House" on the telly last night?
Ironic.
A tumor was the root of a violent criminal's Intermmitent Explosive Disorder.
go figure...

Right on, Gargoyle.

The level of hostility seen at the DR is sometimes amusing and sometimes disturbing. I talk to co-workers who disagree with me on politics, cultural issues and work-related things, and we just talk about them. Like adults. Imagine that. We don't call each other buttmunchers or gay or stalker or whatever the insult of the day is. Sometimes one of us makes the other say, hmm, good point. Usually we continue to disagree. But we try to remain civil to each other.

Speaking of IED, what's the deal with Ann Coulter? She's sounding even crazier than usual these days, bashing the 9/11 widows. Has somebody started a thread on that?

So when we get a cure for 'IED', can we slip it into the Baghdad water supply?

The only reason, CBOB, that no one is calling each ____ is because it is illegal and you could lose your job.

Now, take this discussion down to the bar at the corner. Been there - it's just as ugly as here.

Petrous-

Could lose my job, yeah, but you know what? I actually want to stay on good terms with my co-workers. Even though a couple of them are far more conservative than I, I like being able to find common ground. I like being able to change their minds, or even learn something myself. I never grow tired of learning and I don't pretend to know everything. It's called humility, something that seems to be in desperately short supply in most public discourse today.

'Intermittent Explosive Disorder'

I thought that was for diarrhoea