Clarksville, TN – I continue to be amazed at how stupid we are sometimes. Me included.
We’ve all done stupid things, and we will continue to do stupid things, because we’re human. Our level of stupidity is only tempered with age, and wisdom, but I don’t think we ever quit doing stupid things, it’s just our nature sometimes.
Then again, some of us can’t help it.
But I digress.
Case in point: Texting and driving.
We’ve all done it. Texting while driving, or checking our phone with one hand on the wheel the other on Facebook. Some of us more than others. Our cell phones are our number 1 addiction. We can’t go five seconds without checking our phones. For some of us, we go into a serious case of withdrawals if we can’t find our phone, or become separated from it for a brief moment.
The cell phone causes us to be rude and obnoxious. We talk freely in the check-out lane at the grocery store, then look at the strangers around us and wonder, “what are you looking at?”
We talk on our device in the movie theater, even though we’re asked not to, or to at least, put our phone on “silent.”
People have actually been kicked off of airplanes because they refuse to turn their cell-phone off.
Now, how stupid is that?
We sit at the intersection reading our latest Facebook update, even though the light has turned green, and everybody is waiting for us to “move along now.”
And heaven forbid somebody would “honk” at you to let you know the light is green. That’s usually when you show us who’s “number 1.”
Now, I’m not about to preach to you or anybody else about the obvious, but I am a little concerned about our stupidity when it comes to something I encountered the other day.
First of all, I don’t have anything against motorcycles. I don’t own one now, but I don’t have a problem with “bikers.” There’s nothing like getting out and enjoying a ride in the country, (if you can handle all the bugs in your teeth, that is).
Which is why I don’t understand how we accept the idea that it’s ok to “text” and drive. Why do accept this distraction, when we know that an accident can happen in the “blink of an eye.” It’s stupid.
Case in point: Man on Motorcycle
As I was driving up the 41-a bypass this week, I encountered a genius on his motorcycle, who blew by me, getting wedged between another car and myself just as the three lanes turned to two. He was stuck in a line of traffic, doing the speed limit, with about 5 cars in the line.
With nowhere to go, he took this opportunity to show off his amazing, yet stupid, motorcycle skills. He proceeded to perform a variety of “wheelies” while “runnin and gunnin” his bike at the same time.
Very impressive sir.
Then, all of sudden he slows down, causing all of us behind him to hit the brakes to avoid him. Why?
He was checking his cell phone.
WHAT?
Yep.
There he was, head going up and down while reading his phone checking his latest updates. Then he swerved into oncoming traffic causing the oncoming vehicle to swerve and honk it’s horn, to which he promptly gave them the “finger” (yes, while holding his cell phone).
Touch of class.
Texting and driving KILLS people.
But on a motorcycle? Put this guy up for a Darwin Award.
As a result of this lunacy, I’ve become more of a defensive driver than ever before. I’m extremely attentive to those around me. I pay close attention to bikers, not because of THIS idiot, but because bikers are vulnerable and unprotected, and hard to see sometimes.
So please watch out for bikers of all shapes and sizes. They deserve every courtesy that anyone else on the highway deserves. I just don’t have time for guys like this.
“Ain’t nobody got time for that!”
Stop looking down and keep your eyes on the road. The rest of us are depending on you to pay attention.
Now, excuse me while I go get on my stationary bike, and pop a “wheelie.” (I’m living on the edge baby!)
