A rant about those fucking Mercedes-Benz asshole drivers

Posted by Manuel on September 23rd, 2011 - Follow me on Twitter and Google+

I believe that most people are nice. Most people want peace in the world, most people are against hunger, against AIDS, against poverty, etc.. Most people don’t want to hurt anybody. Except a few who missed some basic social concepts like: “no, it is not ok to try to kill bike riders (even if you own a Mercedes Benz)”

Yeah, you guessed it, I ride a bike to go from one place to another in Montreal. And I have one problem: cars. I had several near accidents in the past months, all involving Mercedes Benz drivers. I don’t know why Mercedes Benz in particular. It must be the official douchebag mobile

Last one was this morning. I was riding my bike on the right side of the street. I started to lift my left arm, pointing to the left to indicate I wanted to turn left at the next intersection. I did not even start to turn that the car behind me went faster and literally pushed my bike (with me on it) to the sidewalk while honking at me. After nearly falling and stop on the sidewalk, I saw the car was stopped at the next intersection red light.

I could have let the guy go, raised my eyebrows like I see others do in this situation but no… not today… so I went to him. I stopped right in front of his car. The guy looked at with a little smile and he lifted up his shoulders with a “so what?” look on his face. Golden watch, big ring on the finger, fake orange-like tan, opened shirt showing his white chest hair à la Hannibal Smith, displaying all the signs of upper class accomplishment… Oh my God *** MAJOR DOUCHEBAG ALERT***!!! I went by his left side door, I knocked… of course he did not open. So I simply explained to him how much of an asshole he was. I think he did not need to roll down his window to clearly understand that I was going through all my french insult repertoire. People stopped in the street, the guy turned from orange to red. He made a sign of excuse. And I left.

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So what about this story? What is the message here?

When you realize that people are totally ok to risk to hurt you because they think the car they own allows them to, you realize that it’s not surprising our world is going wrong. How do you think these people consider global warning or kids dying of hunger at the other side of the world? They don’t even care about you when you are right next to them!

As I said at the beginning of this post, I think people are fundamentally good. I am sure this morning asshole does not really want to hurt anybody. He is just overwhelmed by his feeling of power and has lost perception of normal social boundaries. These people think they are untouchable. Like kids they are testing, looking for limits. When that happens you can’t let them go. That would justify their behaviour. Yelling at this guy was actually a service I was giving him and he seemed to understand that he’s not untouchable at all. It’s also a service to the society in general, it may prevent another accident.

When was the last time someone crossed the boundaries in front of you. Did you tell him off? What was his reaction?

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Leave a comment if you want to share a similar story, I’d like to hear about it. Also if you own a Mercedes-Benz (asshole or not) I’d like to know what is with this car.

A lot of respect to Julien Smith for his inspirational post on anti-social douchebags.

http://www.thepanamericans.net Mark David Robertson

Great story, Manu. I love that he actually pushed you on the bike, and then was ashamed.

“Show me the way someone drives, and I’ll show you their soul.”

I’m glad you’re an optimist–”that people are pretty much good.”

I believe that we start out DBs (diaper bags), that think the universe revolves around us. It’s only through self-negation and the torture of letting go of our rights to ourselves that we begin to recognize that life is for us to enjoy, but it’s not all about us.

I wish the world was filled with people like Manu and not the orange-painted man, the hollow man, the stuffed man in the Benz, but Manu seems the exception, not the rule.

Douche-bags (in or out of Benzes), are generally Diaper Bags, who learned to play the rules of society enough to make a lot of money so they could re-assert the idea that the universe revolves around them. This is when they graduate from a diaper to a douche.

I think the way you and Julien to a moment to meet the individual (F2F), and reaffirm the ancient idea that “no, sir, the world still does not revolve around you,” takes guts, and is important.

Cheers,
M

http://www.inspacewetrust.com Manuel Loigeret

Thanks for the compliments Mark. I honestly think I am a douchebag to some people even I don’t display what I consider as douchebag attributes. I must be ignorant of some stuff going around that I take for granted… I am sure I do.

http://twitter.com/dustiarab Dusti Arab

Holy shit, I know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s why I’m so careful when I ride with my daughter. I’ve never had a problem with her in her trailer, but it’s unbelievable how inconsiderate some drivers are. Like they have some god-given fucking right over you! Grr…

But, like you, I think humanity is mostly good. I’m not sure I’d be a bike commuter if I didn’t. (Being concerned about our planet is sooo passe when you can drive a fast car instead.)

P.S. I don’t know what the laws are in Canada, but get those bastards’ license plate numbers. That’s reckless endangerment and driving here in the states.

http://www.inspacewetrust.com Manuel Loigeret

After all my near accidents (and real accident) stories, I am forbidden by my wife to ever rode with a kid. I think I’ll try though…

I prefer to tell the drivers as soon as it happens. I only took the plate numbers one time in France after a minivan driver pushed me off the bike lane, saw I fell on the ground and went away. That left a deep scratch on all the minivan right side though… and I was not injured. So I considered the payback was enough.

http://roguepriest.net Drew Jacob

I don’t have a specific story to share, except to say that I have learned to always stand up and say something in the face of this behavior. My reaction may have been different than yours, but I’m glad you went and confronted him. Especially glad you did it with words and not violence or vandalism, as some would do.
Hariprem

“Show me the way someone drives, and I’ll show you their soul.” Golden. It was amazing to come across this post, because I was thinking about something similar yesterday; I’m always astonished when people don’t stop to let others pass, even in traffic when no one is going anywhere. It takes probably 30 seconds of our time to stop and make someone else’s moment easier, but some people just won’t do it.

Unfortunately, we live in self-absorbed societies and very few people seem to be aware of their surroundings and even less, of the people that surround them, unless being aware of the other is in their immediate interest, which again is about them.

The confrontation part I don’t like, but if confronting him, helped in any way, shape or form to change his behavior, and hopefully making him aware of it next time, I applaud you for it.

The U.S (i’m not a native) has many faults, but I think bicycle riders and pedestrians are mostly safe, the laws are there and people respect them or they will make sure you pay for any infraction. But still, there are not human laws for awareness, that’s something that comes from somewhere else other than government.
http://twitter.com/denabotbyl Dena Botbyl

ugh. these stories break my heart. it is beyond me how people can be so incredibly careless. i mean what if something happened–what if you lost control–got pulled under the car?

i tend to speak out on social issues. it is no secret how i feel about our environment/conservation. recently in a conversation on this topic, someone said to me, “i don’t really care about the earth or the environment. by the time it matters, i will be long gone.” this is coming from a person who has two children by the way.

and it is this attitude, this, “i don’t give a shit about anyone or anything but myself” attitude–that just escapes me entirely. i am not certain how or why people end up in such a state. all that i know if that it drains the life from me to think about it.

i am really glad that you are alright, manu. and i am really proud of you for taking a stand against that jerk.
http://liferapture.com Benjamin Spall

Nice work for standing up to him, Manuel.

A great friend of mine works as a waiter in a restaurant in the heart of London’s financial district. The stories he tells me about the people he has to deal with on a daily basis almost make me fall out of love with humanity.

These men (it’s nearly always men) think they can get away with all kinds of rude, dismissive, and ultimately insulting behaviour towards him and his colleagues because they genuinely believe themselves to be a higher class (higher ‘level of human being’) than them.

I just hope these people eventually realise that life isn’t about being an asshole and looking down on people they view to be lower down the food chain than themselves, and they feel embarrassed about their former selves.

- Benjamin
http://www.ndoherty.com Niall Doherty

Brilliant. Huge kudos for confronting him, man. Not so long ago I would have let that kind of thing go, but not anymore. You’re absolutely right: We can’t let people get away with such behaviour. Who knows who else will suffer for it down the line if they’re not called to task.
Nicolas Grasland

Well done standing up to him. In Ireland, the word we would use to define such people would be scumbag. However this would not have completely the same meaning as douchebag, especially on a social class level. And yeah they drive these types of cars as well…
Diosi Daniel

Hey pal, I am a Mercedes driver. And also a guy who likes to bike. What is with this car that turns drivers into assholes?

No idea. But you are right! I had several cars before using Benzos. 3 Fiat, Volkswagen, and Nissan. I was a respectful driver. But after I bought my first Mercedes (W201) I’ve experienced the introverted nature of this car. After closing the door, the world disappears and there is just you and your Merc.

I had several models, W210, W211 and now I am rollin a CL500. That is the ultimate asshole ride.

So the question is why are these vehicles are driven differently? Maybe it is the treatment we get on the roads. Drivers gives us priority in crossings, police ignores our mistakes, Cars are gettin’ out of our ways. And do not forget the really introverted feeling of driving one of these. No outside world just your luxury interior.

On the other hand – Mercedes owners are usally executives and top managers – used to have their ass licked.

I know it is not tolerable to make dangerous situations and I know that we have to pay attention to others.

But believe me: Mercedes drivers are maybe more arrogant and ignorant compared to other car brands, but the driving skills are not in connection with the personality and driven model.
Lk

Fucking dickhead. Dont stereotype
dd

next time use the bikeroad or sidewalk. bikes does not have equal rights on the road – according to traffic rules.

The worst type of bikers who are standing in front of me by the red light and can’t start with speed so holding up the traffic.

I drive a Mercedes.

http://www.inspacewetrust.com Manuel Loigeret

Bikes do have to use the road (not the sidewalk) if there is no bike lane. In your previous comment you said you liked to bike, then I am sure you experienced this situation before.
Thank you for sharing your point of view!
Wally

You own a mercedes? You are a douchebag.