Comments on: Fool of the day http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/ notes from the revolution Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:47:13 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ray http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-474 Ray Sun, 30 Sep 2007 04:02:23 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-474 you can put his reg no. up on the site, but what good is it going to do just like all other crimes in this banana republic nothing constructive will happen.Lets see if any thing happens with our shady president and his shady police chief. you can put his reg no. up on the site, but what good is it going to do just like all other crimes in this banana republic nothing constructive will happen.Lets see if any thing happens with our shady president and his shady police chief.

]]> By: Althea http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-473 Althea Sat, 29 Sep 2007 18:47:40 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-473 I find myself most distanced from humanity while I'm in a car. Supermarket aisles can be just as irritating as roads - people park trolleys in the wrong place, they block the aisles, they make unexpected U-turns, they drive on the wrong side, the queues are long just when you need to get home. Yet look into the face of the person pushing the trolley, and their humanness touches yours. A smile and apology defuses the situation. This is a parent, a child, a granny, with needs and feelings just like yours. But get behind the glassy armour of the windscreen, and I can feel as rude and aggressive as anyone. I don’t see the human being, I see the stereotype. The black in the taxi, the old lady puttering about in the ancient Toyota, the smarty pants artisan in the bakkie, the flash guy in the BMW, the idiot pedestrians swarming like cockroaches in the road. Get out of my way before I set fire to you! It takes an effort of will to remind myself that these are real human beings, just like me. People in cars deserve the same respect, the same acknowledgement of their humanity, as anyone else. But it’s tough, damned tough. I find myself most distanced from humanity while I’m in a car.

Supermarket aisles can be just as irritating as roads – people park trolleys in the wrong place, they block the aisles, they make unexpected U-turns, they drive on the wrong side, the queues are long just when you need to get home. Yet look into the face of the person pushing the trolley, and their humanness touches yours. A smile and apology defuses the situation. This is a parent, a child, a granny, with needs and feelings just like yours.

But get behind the glassy armour of the windscreen, and I can feel as rude and aggressive as anyone. I don’t see the human being, I see the stereotype. The black in the taxi, the old lady puttering about in the ancient Toyota, the smarty pants artisan in the bakkie, the flash guy in the BMW, the idiot pedestrians swarming like cockroaches in the road. Get out of my way before I set fire to you!

It takes an effort of will to remind myself that these are real human beings, just like me. People in cars deserve the same respect, the same acknowledgement of their humanity, as anyone else.

But it’s tough, damned tough.

]]> By: BieBie Barbara Brits http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-472 BieBie Barbara Brits Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:22:54 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-472 No ideas but judging by the way that men are treating women on the roads, can you include sexism, too? And by the way, for all the testosterone-flooded motorists: science has PROVEN female drivers safer, more courteous and less reckless - so next time you wanna zapp a woman-driver, remember that scientifically you're the lesser sex regarding good driving behaviour! And quite frankly, I'll rather do the maximum speed allowance and get from point A to B relatively stress-free than drive a Mazda at 80% plus over the speed limit! No ideas but judging by the way that men are treating women on the roads, can you include sexism, too? And by the way, for all the testosterone-flooded motorists: science has PROVEN female drivers safer, more courteous and less reckless – so next time you wanna zapp a woman-driver, remember that scientifically you’re the lesser sex regarding good driving behaviour! And quite frankly, I’ll rather do the maximum speed allowance and get from point A to B relatively stress-free than drive a Mazda at 80% plus over the speed limit!

]]> By: Andrew Trench http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-471 Andrew Trench Sat, 29 Sep 2007 04:35:56 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-471 I think we need to design a journalistic experiment where we use road manners and such as a barometre of racism in our city. Anyone have ideas about how we could do this? PS, SMG, I have also seen this person in the Mazda carrying on a couple of times like a lunatic. I think next time I see the car it will be wrapped around a lamppost I think we need to design a journalistic experiment where we use road manners and such as a barometre of racism in our city. Anyone have ideas about how we could do this?
PS, SMG, I have also seen this person in the Mazda carrying on a couple of times like a lunatic. I think next time I see the car it will be wrapped around a lamppost

]]> By: SMG http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-486 SMG Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:07:16 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-486 Bottom line is, some people just don't have any culture. Brendan James I am sorry that happened to your mom - there is no excusing that kind of behavoir. Returning home Wed night driving towards Gonubie, some twit in a 'fancy' mazda sports car (ok, so not fancy at all) almost runs me off the road. I swerved into the left hand lane just in time and he still proceeds to pull a zap sign at me. Not only that, it was raining so the roads were wet.Turning the corner at the bottom of the freeway just before the Gonubie offramp, lo and behold an accident. How this twit missed crashing into the accident at the speed he was going, who knows, but it didn't make him slow down. Thank goodness there are still some of us left who show patience on the road!! Bottom line is, some people just don’t have any culture. Brendan James I am sorry that happened to your mom – there is no excusing that kind of behavoir.

Returning home Wed night driving towards Gonubie, some twit in a ‘fancy’ mazda sports car (ok, so not fancy at all) almost runs me off the road. I swerved into the left hand lane just in time and he still proceeds to pull a zap sign at me. Not only that, it was raining so the roads were wet.Turning the corner at the bottom of the freeway just before the Gonubie offramp, lo and behold an accident. How this twit missed crashing into the accident at the speed he was going, who knows, but it didn’t make him slow down.

Thank goodness there are still some of us left who show patience on the road!!

]]> By: Brendon James http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-470 Brendon James Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:27:12 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-470 I drive most of the day, and have seen some shockers. We all get a little mad on the road, especially with taxis, but some people take it to a new level. One incident, though on a personal level made me amazed at some peoples mentality and selfishness. My mom had to go to SARS offices and as she turned into the street she spotted a parking, and as parking goes this is a rare ocassion. There was a gentleman in a doublecab bakkie, double parked down the road. He was not indicating or anything. So she proceeded to turn in, turn off her engine, grab her bag and get out of the vehicle. As she did this he reversed and rolled down his window, " who the f**k do you think you are lady? he asked, that was my my F**king parking and you better F**king move your car or I am going to break all your windows and kick in your door." After trying to argue and terrified by the abuse, my now crying my mom got back in the car and moved her vehicle. I ask myself, does this guy get a kick out of verbally abusing 50 year old woman and threatening them. Well done you idiot, it was just a flipping parking. If thats how you talk to your own mom and wife, I feel really sorry for you, you need to deal with your issues. I drive most of the day, and have seen some shockers. We all get a little mad on the road, especially with taxis, but some people take it to a new level.
One incident, though on a personal level made me amazed at some peoples mentality and selfishness.

My mom had to go to SARS offices and as she turned into the street she spotted a parking, and as parking goes this is a rare ocassion.

There was a gentleman in a doublecab bakkie, double parked down the road. He was not indicating or anything.
So she proceeded to turn in, turn off her engine, grab her bag and get out of the vehicle. As she did this he reversed and rolled down his window, ” who the f**k do you think you are lady? he asked, that was my my F**king parking and you better F**king move your car or I am going to break all your windows and kick in your door.”

After trying to argue and terrified by the abuse, my now crying my mom got back in the car and moved her vehicle.
I ask myself, does this guy get a kick out of verbally abusing 50 year old woman and threatening them.
Well done you idiot, it was just a flipping parking. If thats how you talk to your own mom and wife, I feel really sorry for you, you need to deal with your issues.

]]> By: Mzala http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-469 Mzala Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:12:54 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-469 there is an email doing rounds in which it is alleged that a manager of Debonnaires Vincent has beaten up his employee in front of customers. The incident seems to be racial in nature from what i could pick up from the email! Anyone who has seen this? there is an email doing rounds in which it is alleged that a manager of Debonnaires Vincent has beaten up his employee in front of customers. The incident seems to be racial in nature from what i could pick up from the email! Anyone who has seen this?

]]> By: Mark Carrels http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-468 Mark Carrels Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:47:50 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-468 Hi Luxie! Sorry about your unfortunate experience. Can only imagine how deflated you must have felt at the time. And you are probably still now affected by it. But the more you mull over this person's (dare I even call him that) behaviour, the more you are giving him the benefit of the doubt. Some how or other this fool will have a price to pay. You hold the key, and that is to know you are a better person - by far. While the political landscape has indeed changed in this beautiful country, it is the racial prejudices that wrought so much pain on our society, which still linger unfortunately. This type of thing is probably happening frequently in our city. I myself have been witness to it - on more than one occasion! Hi Luxie! Sorry about your unfortunate experience. Can only imagine how deflated you must have felt at the time. And you are probably still now affected by it. But the more you mull over this person’s (dare I even call him that) behaviour, the more you are giving him the benefit of the doubt. Some how or other this fool will have a price to pay. You hold the key, and that is to know you are a better person – by far. While the political landscape has indeed changed in this beautiful country, it is the racial prejudices that wrought so much pain on our society, which still linger unfortunately. This type of thing is probably happening frequently in our city. I myself have been witness to it – on more than one occasion!

]]> By: kariemHassan http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-485 kariemHassan Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:20:33 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-485 It is a sad indictment of a society that we still have dinosaurs in our midst. I really thought this species is extinct, but I plead your forgiveness for my ignorance. I think it should be brought to the notice of Racistauris that it is thanks to a black man that this country did not go up in flames. While I abhor racism and feel for my colleague, it must be noted that this blatant racism is still much in our society. It is extremely hard to rid the scourge of prejudice. This comes in all different guises. Always be on your guard. May the force be with you, Racistauris, and I hope they catch up with you and lock you up. Did you not know that it is a criminal offence to use the K-word. Sorry, I forget you are too much of a moron to understand that. It is a sad indictment of a society that we still have dinosaurs in our midst. I really thought this species is extinct, but I plead your forgiveness for my ignorance. I think it should be brought to the notice of Racistauris that it is thanks to a black man that this country did not go up in flames. While I abhor racism and feel for my colleague, it must be noted that this blatant racism is still much in our society. It is extremely hard to rid the scourge of prejudice. This comes in all different guises. Always be on your guard. May the force be with you, Racistauris, and I hope they catch up with you and lock you up. Did you not know that it is a criminal offence to use the K-word. Sorry, I forget you are too much of a moron to understand that.

]]> By: Impi http://www.andrewtrench.com/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/comment-page-1/#comment-467 Impi Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:02:47 +0000 http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/trench/2007/09/25/fool-of-the-day/#comment-467 Well said Brett. With regards to Lux comment, I could not agree more with "it will be shortsightedness and dishonest to believe that that racist is just an unfortunate isolated incident in the new South Africa. There are many like him, but I refuse to believe they won’t change." you are correct in stating this, however remember this works both ways, white on black racism, black on white racism. The issue here is that your comment is directed at white on black, which is not always the case, nor the norm. Although I sympathise with you for been subjected to such lewd derogatory remarks, you need to rise above the occasion and not take it personally. This imbecile clearly does not grasp the concept of a multi-cultural society nor on how to communicate with a fellow human being. One must treat another as he would want to be treated. Remember, in life the wheel turns. No doubt, in the very near future, should he be unrepentive or unapologetic for his actions he will be subject to treatment 100 times worse than you received. As for you and your peace of mind, forgive, forget, becuase you are a better person than that. Well said Brett. With regards to Lux comment, I could not agree more with “it will be shortsightedness and dishonest to believe that that racist is just an unfortunate isolated incident in the new South Africa.
There are many like him, but I refuse to believe they won’t change.” you are correct in stating this, however remember this works both ways, white on black racism, black on white racism. The issue here is that your comment is directed at white on black, which is not always the case, nor the norm. Although I sympathise with you for been subjected to such lewd derogatory remarks, you need to rise above the occasion and not take it personally. This imbecile clearly does not grasp the concept of a multi-cultural society nor on how to communicate with a fellow human being. One must treat another as he would want to be treated. Remember, in life the wheel turns. No doubt, in the very near future, should he be unrepentive or unapologetic for his actions he will be subject to treatment 100 times worse than you received. As for you and your peace of mind, forgive, forget, becuase you are a better person than that.

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