… is not something you’re going to hear from me. While I must have struck a pretty heavy chord with people earlier this morning on the streaming radio show/podcast, it would appear that the positive responses outweigh the negative. Please, keep in mind that I’m NOT condoning a whole new law here, I think Portland has plenty of them and I’m wary of adding any more to the roster right now. With that disclaimer out of the way though, IF Oregon IS to pass a new law banning the use of cell phone handsets while driving, I’m perfectly fine with it. So, let me clarify…
This mornings grievance and rant was more to do with the insulting idiot piece written by Oregonian columnist Susan Nielsen this morning. In her article entitled “Hang up the nanny act, Oregon, and mitts off my phone”, Nielsen shows all of the thoughtfulness and consideration for others of a selfish fucking second grade brat – all but insisting that SHE is the one so drastically impacted by the proposed law, not the poor fucker on a bicycle that she runs over while she’s gabbing with her BFF about which fucking Starbucks to meet at. It’s the inconvenience to HER, not the 72 year old woman in a downtown crosswalk she mutilates while looking down to examine her caller ID to determine whether or not to take the incoming call or continue her mindless babbling with her mother (who insists to this day that Susan is “a very nice girl that just hasn’t met the right man yet”).
While ignorance might well be bliss to Susan, I just find it, well, fucking ignorant. The law ISN’T about YOU, it’s about your potential victim as your brazenly run over the neighbors dog in your Mercedes Benz Wünderyacht, convinced that the city needs to remove that speed bump – all while you’re too busy chatting up a co-worker about last night’s Oscars.
I’m a brash fuckhead and I claim nothing less. However, even I don’t find it palatable to assume for a second that I am driving with 100% attentiveness while conversing on a fucking brain-draining cell phone. If they don’t make a law, fine. If they DO make a law, I’m not going to be fucking arrogant enough to think that I’m the exception to the rule – I’m most certainly not – and neither are you, Susan.
Related posts:
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Why don’t they just tax talking on the cell phone while driving? I mean, sure you can do it for free whilst walking up and down Hawthorne avoiding those goddamned canvassers… but if you’re driving, tax tax tax! Maybe hook up some huge boat-anchor of a device to the cell-phone to make it extremely awkward (and obvious) that you’re texting while driving. In addition, I think maybe people should just tax those old fucks who try to get on the onramp to the I-5 at 15mph and interrupt my cell-phone conversation!
Definitely. Last time I tried to get on I-5 by the S. Waterfront I was behind a woman on the phone (yes, in a Volvo 740DL) that didn’t seem aware that the speed limit had increased past 10mph. Aggravating? Oh hell yes. Perhaps a device that displays a large LED sign on the back of a vehicle when someone is on the phone that just relays the conversation to the people behind the car in question – that way, if we all have to drive like shit and dead ass slow, at least we’ll have something to read and laugh at.