The mind of a moton; how does it work, if at all?

[leemo]

Recently I posted that I must stop remonstrating with drivers and I seem to be getting there.

This morning some guy in a 4x4 overtakes me, although this is not your usual overtake. Im keeping up with the vehicle in front and so his overtake consists of drawing along side me and then gradually pulling in to the left forcing me to drop back. As its heavy morning rush hour traffic, just several hundred yards later he has to slow down so I get in front and this time hold an ultra-primary to defend against his manouevers.

I keep up with the traffic for a while and eventually a gap opens up in front and I pull into secondary. This guy then overtakes and gets to the inevitable queue of rush hour traffic 10 seconds before me. As I go past I give a little ping of my bell and he shouts out of the window to, well as this is a decent forum I shall say, "foxtrot oscar".

I felt quite satisfied with myself for maintaining full control of my mood, not remostrating and just cycling in a safe and assertive way. I had a decent commute, and I suspect I was in a better mood than this moton.

But I am curious, what is going through this moton's head? He's cut me up, I dont retaliate, and the fact he is stuck in a queue is nothing to do with me. Im probably reducing congestion for him by cycling! Why does he tell me to FO?

 

[BentMikey]

LOL, lovely story that. You can stay all happy and serene. I would imagine he thinks you're holding him up and slowing down his journey, but only because he doesn't have the perspective to realise that he's very lucky you're not in a car actually holding him up, and that your presence made no difference at all to his journey time.

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Because he is stuck in heavy traffic, of which he is part, he's going to be late for work ... again ... those bast "bravo"s in front won't get out of his way, he hasn't had any exercise for at least 10 years, his waistband is cutting into his huge belly, and he hates the whole world. The people in the other steel boxes can't hear him, and you are the only one he can take it out on. Add to that your smug little bell, whose sound is amplified in his mind to Big Ben proportions, coupled with the fact that he read at the weekend that you will live at least 5 years longer than him, and he ABSOLUTELY HATES YOU!

Other than that - no problem.

 

[400bhp]

But I am curious, what is going through this moton's head?

Nothing, literally.

 

[jonny jeez]

sounds great ....right up until you rang your bell...why so?

up until that point you were just riding, and possibly showing him that riders need to take these positions. Ringing your bell lowered the whole thing back down to a competition, which you clearly felt you had won.

Better, in my opinion to have given a wave of thanks as you held primary.

But your getting there, well done

 

[BentMikey]

Jeez, Jonny!!!

 

[jonny jeez]

Jeez, Jonny!!!

that's me...no hold on...Me that's

 

[benb]

I felt quite satisfied with myself for maintaining full control of my mood, not remostrating and just cycling in a safe and assertive way. I had a decent commute, and I suspect I was in a better mood than this moton.

But I am curious, what is going through this moton's head? He's cut me up, I dont retaliate, and the fact he is stuck in a queue is nothing to do with me. Im probably reducing congestion for him by cycling! Why does he tell me to FO?

Because he's an ignorant c*** consumed by self loathing. He's projecting, basically. It's himself he's really telling to f*** off.

 

[Mad at urage]

Because he is stuck in heavy traffic, of which he is part, he's going to be late for work ... again ... those bast "bravo"s in front won't get out of his way, he hasn't had any exercise for at least 10 years, his waistband is cutting into his huge belly, and he hates the whole world. The people in the other steel boxes can't hear him, and you are the only one he can take it out on. Add to that your smug little bell, whose sound is amplified in his mind to Big Ben proportions, coupled with the fact that he read at the weekend that you will live at least 5 years longer than him, and he ABSOLUTELY HATES YOU!

Other than that - no problem.

This

 

[pshore]

This morning some guy in a 4x4 overtakes me

.... Why does he tell me to FO?

His ego and manhood is crushed every time you overtake him because he spent all his money on an image-enhancing 4x4 and now you overtake him on a cheap bike ! And you are unemployed, scrounging off the state, and you paid no road tax, and you RLJ, and ride on pavements. Let him past and do it again!

 

[Jezston]

Could we please stop using the term 'moton'?

1. By focusing on the motorist aspect it dehumanises the target and perpetuates an "us and them" attitude between people riding bikes and people driving cars.

2. It's a bit of a rubbish sounding word. Why use the weird and clunky sounding 'moton' when 'moron' sounds better, or even other excellent words such as 'idiot', 'muppet', 'f***wit', 'd**khead',' c**tspaniel', 's***breakfast', 'tw*thammer', 'm***dlev***s', 'clethe*****s****', '****** *** ************** *** ****' or 'semprini'.

 

[leemo]

sounds great ....right up until you rang your bell...why so?

Not exactly sure. Maybe it wasnt the best thing to do. I think the intention was to emphasis that I have just caught him up and passed him and hopefully he will question what is the advantage of the aggressive overtaking.

 

[Mad at urage]

Not exactly sure. Maybe it wasnt the best thing to do. I think the intention was to emphasis that I have just caught him up and passed him and hopefully he will question what is the advantage of the aggressive overtaking.

"Hello" with a friendly wave would have achieved that.



He's still likely to tell you to FO though

 

[Bicycle]

I'm with Jezston on not much liking the term 'moton'.

But I well understand the frustration of the OP.

I have been that frustrated driver in a hurry and it is a stressful situation.

I hope I've never taken it out on other road users, but I recognise in angry drivers the frustration I've often felt myself.

I just hope that I channel it differently.

I see the same thing in delayed airline passengers who have 'vital meetings' and are obnoxious to airport staff.

Similarly, people queuing at banks, Post Offices and supermarkets.... Even people using their supermarket trolleys as rams...

The difference on the road is not in the mentality, it's that the cross person is in charge of 1500 non-bendy kg of steel at 30, 40 or 50 mph.

Every time they have close-passed a cyclist without hitting them, it may have confirmed to them what an excellent driver they are.

We live in an X-Box world now, where we play tennis on Wii (not me).

I fear that the way to deal with these things is to accept that they are so. It is hugely frustrating to experience selfishness in other road users, particularly when it is dangerous...

But the majority of drivers are courteous, safe and civilised. As are the majority of supermarket users, airline passengers and so on...

 

[jonny jeez]

Could we please stop using the term 'moton'?

1. By focusing on the motorist aspect it dehumanises the target and perpetuates an "us and them" attitude between people riding bikes and people driving cars.

2. It's a bit of a rubbish sounding word. Why use the weird and clunky sounding 'moton' when 'moron' sounds better, or even other excellent words such as 'idiot', 'muppet', 'f***wit', 'd**khead',' c**tspaniel', 's***breakfast', 'tw*thammer', 'm***dlev***s', 'clethe*****s****', '****** *** ************** *** ****' or 'semprini'.

+1...and +1 for all the other times you, I or others have asked this.

It's irrelevant that this particular chap drives, in the same way that its irrelevant how he dressed, what accent he had...what's next "Black Moton".

If he is a moron, then he is a moron, stop segregating drivers.