To the angry besuited man driving a silver turbo BMW that powered past me on my bicycle with inches to spare this morning, and with whom I traded insults at the next set of traffic lights when I (inevitably) caught up with him – I’m sorry but you are an arse. You’ve just waited two minutes at the lights, is me holding you up by 5 seconds over the next 150 metres really going to make all that much difference? (And me on my ebike going at least 30kph) “Move over to the side and let me through!” you said. How was I going to achieve that, pray? When I discover a technique to cycle right through a row of parked cars, you’ll be the first to know, believe me.
At least I’ll give you credit for being an equal opportunity wanker, though. I’m sure if I’d been a man you’d have been just as much of a twat. This in contrast to the man in the big diesel truck who shouted at my daughter and I to put our dogs on their leads when we were walking harmlessly past the other day. Not content with shouting and waving his fist, he actually stopped his pollution emitting engine and put on his handbrake in the middle of the road, looking threateningly at us and ready to berate us closer at hand, if we didn’t do what he wanted straight away. He was probably well pleased that we were completely terrified by that time. Was he disappointed that we obeyed him so quickly? Did we rob him of the chance of intimidating a couple of small women in closer proximity? He would probably be pleased to know that at least one of us cried when we got home.
Does it make me happy to know that these righteous bullies are likely to die young due to an excess of testosterone? Not really. I’d just really like to be treated with more respect, frankly.
……
Saw angry BMW man again today – this time very annoyed at a bus that was holding him up. Honestly! What a way to live.