Things you wish you'd said or done...

[Twenty Inch]

Just had a run-in with a skip lorry driver in Sarf Lunnun. He cut me up badly, pulling in before he was past me, then nearly front-ended an oncoming bus, nearly hit a pedestrian, and forced an oncoming car to brake.

I caught up with him at the junction, and said "you're an idiot mate, you're a really bad driver, you know that?"

Him "Am I?"

Me "Yeah, you're a **** as well" before cycling off.

Later on up the road, it occurred to me that I could have handled the situation better.

I could have added "Yer, you're only fit for driving lorries, and you're no farkin' good at that". Calling someone a **** is offensive, but it doesn't insult what he is, whereas taking what he is, i.e. a lorry driver, and making that into an insult, is far more effective. The above remark would have gone straight to every failure, missed opportunity and bit of self-doubt in his soul, and rankled for weeks.

Or I could have taken his photo with my phone, without saying anything, and rattled his paranoia cage. Who was that? Was he a copper? Will they come knocking and breathalyse me? Will they find the cash-in-hand jobs that I've been doing? Will I lose my license and have to go back to dealing drugs and beating people up again?

The Germans call this "Treppengedenke" - things that you think of when you're going down the stairs after the argument.

Anyone else like to share their Treppengedenke?

 

[spindrift]

Those Germans have a word for everything!


Skip lorry drivers are mouth-breathing monsters on the road, they are paid per load and take absurd risks. Scaffolding lorries are their satanic brothers and black cab drivers their b@stard offspring.

 

[domtyler]

Not a good look mate, what is wrong with choosing to be a lorry driver for a job?

 

[Twenty Inch]

Aw Dom, you're on my ignore list. But thanks for posting anyway, petal.

 

[spindrift]

"Ideal Scaffolding" of Woolwich employ reckless thugs who flick gum and fag butts at cyclists on Hackney Road, then hang up if you call to complain. Mysteriously one of their lorries had the tyres slashed shortly after.

 

[walker]

Those Germans have a word for everything!


Skip lorry drivers are mouth-breathing monsters on the road, they are paid per load and take absurd risks. Scaffolding lorries are their satanic brothers and black cab drivers their b@stard offspring.

is that an insult or a fact spinners?

 

[domtyler]

Those Germans have a word for everything!


Skip lorry drivers are mouth-breathing monsters on the road, they are paid per load and take absurd risks. Scaffolding lorries are their satanic brothers and black cab drivers their b@stard offspring.

Yeah, but what do you actually think of skip lorry drivers though?

 

[zimzum42]

Was it Economic Skips by any chance?

Yellow and blue livery?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Not a good look mate, what is wrong with choosing to be a lorry driver for a job?

Yes, I agree.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

"Ideal Scaffolding" of Woolwich employ reckless thugs who flick gum and fag butts at cyclists on Hackney Road, then hang up if you call to complain. Mysteriously one of their lorries had the tyres slashed shortly after.

Don't talk cobblers lad. Even if you could get through the casing, the sudden release of 130psi would probably blow your head off.

 

[spindrift]

Who says anyone was there when they were slashed, my drug-driving friend? All it takes is four six-inch nails welded together and slipped under the tyre, job's a good 'un!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Fair enough, that would work. Probably surprised the driver too!

 

[zimzum42]

I love trucks! If the job paid I'd do it in a flash!

 

[Twenty Inch]

Nothing wrong with driving a lorry for a living. Lorries bring and take away things, and life would be a lot more difficult without them.

But I wanted to insult a specific lorry driver, and this would have been a good way to do it. I know the argument is a subtle one, Dom, don't feel too bad that you can't get it.

It was Raven Skips of Croydon.

 

[domtyler]

Nothing wrong with driving a lorry for a living. Lorries bring and take away things, and life would be a lot more difficult without them.

But I wanted to insult a specific lorry driver, and this would have been a good way to do it. I know the argument is a subtle one, Dom, don't feel too bad that you can't get it.

It was Raven Skips of Croydon.

I would hardly call that subtle 20", you are effectively saying that lorry drivers must be thick as that is all they are good for. As I said, this is insulting to a whole range of people, not least some of the fine, upstanding cycle chat members we are lucky to have here who also happen to be lorry drivers.

What do you do for a living anyway? You don't exactly come across as one of the worlds greatest minds.