Ender |
03-26-2008 07:26 PM |
I agree that a lot of stories posted are very stupid, either simply because the OP refuses to make sense, tell the truth, or type legibly, but perhaps what we (everyone) need to do is redefine what is actually stupid. Not just pointless, not just wasteful of gas and in a 'quiet' area (God forbid a car could actually make some noise once in a while. People move next to a highway then bitch about how noisy it gets? *rolls eyes*), but unsafe. So unsafe that it is significantly more risky than driving the same path with less acceleration and probably lower speed. Law enforcement is NOT out to protect the public, especially traffic enforcement. Yes, some unsafe activity and a few proven unsafe individuals are pulled off the road, but that is merely a side effect of enforcing the numerous and unnecessarily strict traffic regulations. Don't forget the countless people who get screwed by the system, either. Cops enforce when and what they want to. If you're a good cop, that simply means that you choose to enforce when it's most appropriate.
So what if you happen to line up at a stop light with an Integra at a HUGE intersection and 20 cars behind you, no cars turning into your path, and no cars ahead for at least a quarter mile, not even coming from the other direction. When the light goes green you both rev enough to make for a mild launch and take off at the same time. You both run through second gear then bring it down to the speed limit and cruise until you hit a red light, at which point you briefly discussed a couple details about your cars, then go about your own business.
How stupid would that be? How unsafe would that be? Would it be measurably less safe than taking off at the light at Joe Shmo's pace, only to have all ten cars right behind you tailgate? It could have been described much less safe, for example what if the test had been taken up near/past the triple digits and if there was more traffic in the way? What is so wrong with discussing an event like that, unsafe or not? You don't have to like it, you don't have to encourage it, and it presents an opportunity to instruct people for their faults and encourage them for their strengths.
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