this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2023
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

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[–] [email protected] 67 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Dependent on the length of the horn blast, however

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The only polite way is to lay on the horn non-stop while following them to their destination (so they know you're there), when they stop, get out, approach them as quickly as possible (to be respectful of their time) to thank them for going

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago

This is generally accepted in any situation and is loved by many drivers.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yup. A quick tap of the horn or double tap is fine. Even a 1 second blast. Once we get into 2 seconds blast territory, it transitions to rude, with 3+ seconds going up linearly on the deranged jackass scale

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

It's the difference of saying hey and HHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYY! @#$@!#$!@@$@#$!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If said this for years, cars need a secondary polite horn

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (3 children)

What about a third, really aggressive horn that's just a train horn?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Sadly horn volume is regulated with the intention of preventing things like loud air horns from being used on personal vehicles.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Install a compressor, tank, and train horn all off instragram

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

No, you just play thomas the tank engine theme

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

I saw some video of an infuriatingly positive and giggly guy mod his horn this way. To add insult to injury iirc (which is about 50/50 after so many years) he used an arduino to do it. Video got a gazillion likes and many supporting comments. It unexpectadly became the last straw before deleting my facebook account.

I know… I’m no fun.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

15 times in a short burst

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

A solid 10 second blast and a flash of your gun to let em know no funny business.

Ya know, sane stuff

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In my opinion, if sufficient time has passed... it was never rude. It's rude to not pay attention and cause the last three cars to miss the light.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Agreed.

If you're the line leader, you have a duty to get your ass moving.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I feel like some people always have their hand hovering over the horn, just waiting for the light to turn green to smash their hand down on it.

[–] saltysel 36 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Was it ever rude? Like, get going. Obviously need a wake up either way.

As others have mentioned the way you honk can be rude. And honking too quickly.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Like when I was about to clean my room and Mom would tell me to clean my room.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

😤 well now I’m not gonna

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I honestly think I say "no" at work when I mean yes, (and everyone knows it) just so that I can have this little rebellion

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That’s why I always have to remind you!

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I can’t believe just how many people are so nonchalant about anyone using their phone while driving.

I never even reach for mine when I’m behind the wheel, even when stopped at a red light. Slippery slope, I want to keep that habit “clean” and doing that starts to slowly blur the line and make is harder for the habit to stick.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Amen, brotha!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Today I sat at a green light for at least 10 seconds because the person ahead of me was visibly taking a selfie

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

There have been times where I was genuinely grateful somebody honked at me because I was zoned at a green light so no I don't think it's rude as long as you're not harassing the person

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

The people I lay on my horn to are the ones crossing the intersection and don't have enough room to make it all the way across and block me when my light turns green. I'll lay on my horn until you have enough room. Didn't move through the whole light cycle... I can still have my horn going.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's not rude where I live. You generally give them a short double honk and then you see them wave in the mirror to say sorry as they start moving. I usually give 3-5 seconds before I do it.

[–] kuroyousei 17 points 1 year ago

Yea I mean, the 3-5 seconds is the only thing that matters here right? Fuck those assholes who sit on their horn .243 seconds after the light turns green like they are on a drag strip watching the tree.

But if I've been sittin there for a few seconds and havnt realized the light has turned then I'm not gonna get upset about a short, light honk.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I have a whole protocol for this.

You got a 5-count once there's no one in front of you to go. Then you get a quick tap.

Then you get a 2-count to start moving. Then you get a double tap.

Then you get another 2-count. If you haven't started moving by now, you get 1 tap every second until you fucking move for the love of fuck just fucking GO jesus tap-dancing christ in a Bethlaham drag show GO!!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

At a red light, it is the responsibility of the first driver in line to check their phone. It is the responsibility of the second driver to watch the light and honk to let the first one know when it changes.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Respect for making me laugh about something that annoys me soooo much

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You're awfully generous with that 5 count. I've got places to be.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I like your approach.

My protocol is:

1.) Stop at red light being the second car in the row

2.) Casually rest thumb on horn button

3.) Vibe till traffic stops, observe vehicle up front for breaklights going off, any movement or judder signaling the driver is getting ready, on/off system restarts the engine, etc.

4.) If any effort is observed: feel content and have faith in my fellow man

If no effort is observed: as soon as the light turns green, flash once, observe response for 1 second. If no effect, lay on the horn until vehicle starts moving. Overtake at next opportunity, because there are a lot of lights and ahead and this is a clearly distracted driver, so keep distance.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s only rude if they’re moving. If they delay more than a second they obviously aren’t paying attention.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Since COVID I've seen more red light runners than the previous 20 years of driving. I wait long enough to check the oncoming traffic to see that they are slowing. I am not risking a tbone for 3 seconds.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Probably the only good reason not to get going right away. And honestly, if this was the case with everyone else, then I’d have no problems waiting a little longer, but so far my experience is that waiting is usually fruitless in these situations.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I mean obviously I’m waiting for the coast to be clear before I move. But I can do that before my green comes.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Sometimes I honk, but I press the horn too hard so it does the BIG honk, instead of the little polite honk I wanted and then I feel like a jerk.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Can confirm. My parents are always like that.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I like to be nice and give people at least thirty seconds, but I'm never in a hurry. I heavily pad driving times. I hate, hate, hate driving in a hurry. I'm usually a half hour early to everything.

Conversely I find it super rude when people give me less than a few seconds to react to a light. There's so much rude driving in general. Be polite and courteous on the road. Didn't your mother ever teach you to be polite?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

30 seconds?!? Lights cycle faster than that where I live! 🤣

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah that's going to go red and then back to green before you give a lil toot.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

What valid reasons do you have to ever take longer than a couple of second getting off of a light? I can understand if it looks like someone isn't going to stop for cross traffic, but in my experiences, that is very seldom. Other than that, you're either an asshole or distracted.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I hope we never meet on the road. Have you considered Uber?

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