I have to say, despite the jokes we like to make about the French, that my experiences of them have been very positive. This little story is a good example;
I took a road trip with a few friends to Le Mans in 1995. We had a good collection of cars on the trip all with British plates, including my Renault Alpine GTA V6. As could be expected really my Renault took the oportunity to split a water hose and dump the entire contents of it's cooling system on the road about a mile from the circuit. Almost as soon as I stopped an lifted the engine cover there was a Frenchman stopped next to me with the window down asking if I needed any help. After I tried to explain the problem to him in what was probably very bad French, he opened up the back of his car and took out all the bottled water he had just been to buy from the supermarket and asked if I wanted to use it in the car. I did offer to pay him for it but he just waved it off and said no trouble. Needless to say the water fell out the bottom as quick as I could pour it in the top, but that guy was so helpful. Maybe it was the Englishman driving a French car that helped with the generosity, but I was thoroughly impressed.
Incidentally, I ended up having to take half of my engine apart in Le Mans campground to replace one stupid little water hose. Fortunately in the town of Le Mans is a very large Renault dealer - it would probably have taken a week to get that part back home!

Over the years I've written a number of articles about the local sheriff's office - as a result, I've become friends with several of the brass and the deputies. A few years ago, I was asked to cover the death of a deputy killed in the line of duty - the first such death in 25 years. For the procession to the cemetery, I rode in a patrol car - the route included several miles on the northbound lanes of a freeway (well outside of the city) - there were several hundred patrol cars involved from all over the southeast - they closed the northbound lanes but only briefly because they moved fairly quickly.

The southbound lanes, however, remained open and no one seemed to pay attention despite the fact that there were a couple hundred patrol cars all flashing their lights - along with a hearse. That was probably to be expected, I guess.

And then I saw one guy...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1187092789.jpg

It's not much of a shot but it was an incredible moment. Apparently, there aren't many of him left...

In Wichita they have a police escort that blocks intersections, stops traffic, etc. All traffic stops until the procession passes.

Well, for me, one of the ULTIMATE forms of rudeness today is the perfectly 'fit' individual (male or female) that is sooooo self indulged, that they park in Handicapped spots to save a few steps.

As a veteran I have friends who lost limbs and ARE handicapped. Those parking zones are for THEM (and other disabled persons) ...not some unconscious, all-about-me, 'Im in such a hurry', dimwit.

If I see a car parked in one, without tags or signs (in MO. either your license plates are marked or you are issued a tag to hang from your inside mirror) and if I have the time, I will sometimes wait and confront the person if they are not older and appear perfectly healthy.

I try to catch them right at their car door usually with, "I see you are handicapped? You really should display your tag."

Usually no verbal response or just a stupid or embarrassed look from them. If they make no excuse I then say, "You don't look physically handicapped, must be mental"...and I walk on.

These lazy F**KS really piss me off. I hope someday THEY ARE handicapped.

Wow :(

I was in Artesia New Mexico many years ago. I was driving down the main highway and every car in front of me pulled over and stopped. I figured something was going on and slowed to a near stop. I asked my grandmother what was going on (she lives there) and she said that there is a funeral procession comning down the other side of the divided highway.
I sad, so what?
She said that's what people do around here, it's called respect.
I had a hard time understanding it, seemed so silly to me at the time.

Not sure why, but deaf people get handicapped stickers too. Perhaps you're wasting your time with the insults.

What?

Of course everyone understands the mute eloquence of an upturned middle finger....

Hummm ...not sure about how deaf (gee, I cant hear...should I be driving a car...sirens, horns...etc.) relates in Canada?

If one didn't have heart trouble, a missing leg, wasn't wheel chair bound, etc., and only had a hearing deficit, I would encourage them to WALK a ways ...and save the spot for someone who was truly handicapped.

Deaf = handicapped parking? Sorry but NO.

So, you woud propose degrees of handicapped-ness?
A physician's recommendation is required for approval of handicapped, (differently-abled) tags. Seems like they know if a tag is warranted.

We have a generation of "praise junkies", according to sociologists that think the world revolves around them and they are owed things rather than being considerate. They think they are "special". My take is we are all like blades of grass or a southwestern stone front yard. We are all unique (no two alike) but none of us are special.

We owe each other at least basic respect and consideration.

I couldn't agree more. Pisses me off. The other day leaving a Jamba Juice, I held the door open for an attractive women as I was leaving. You could tell she thought she was the best thing since sliced bread and that holding the door open for her was my job. She didn't say a word, didn't smile, nothing. I asked my partner if she said thank you and he said nope. Well because our bikes were parked right outside the door, I waited for her to leave and told her "I was always taught that when someone holds the door open for you, the correct response is thank you". She looked at me with this stupid look on her face and said "OK" She really didn't get it.

Now I need to confess my ignorance.

I thought it was odd that three cars in front of me all broke down at the same time and pulled over onto the side of the freeway the other weekend.

Do I feel more stupid than normal now!

Mo, I was on crutches for 6 months. I rarely saw fit people in handicapped spots. Know what I saw? Hogs whose only handicap was the inability to push themselves away from the table. There are more handicapped spots than there are (true) handicapped people. If they'd make the hogs park at the end of the lot maybe they'd loose a pound & spots would be plentiful.

Sammy, that stopping of traffic for funerals is a small town thing. As best I can tell it violates traffic laws. Being uninitiated in the custom, once I almost hit a guy who stopped in the middle of the road, out of the blue. So here I sit blowing the horn, & then I see the funeral procession on the other side of the street. Ooops, sorry. I am still not a fan of the custom.

Now I'm worried I'm going to get confused and pull off to the side of the road every time a disabled guy holds the door open for a deaf person!

Good for you. I've started holding doors for anyone behind me, (man/woman/child/thug/whatever), if they are even close. It eliminates the whole awkward "should I or shouldn't I have" deal and I've been pleasantly surprised by (most of) the response. You have to almost feel sorry for someone like that woman who is so insecure or unsophisticated not to know how to handle an everyday situation. "Thank you" is such a one-size-fits-all solution. :cool:

....and ripped one (e.g. a big ole fart) on your way out!:D

Moses, you're my hero - good work

Considering that our processions have police escorts, who stop traffic with lights and sirens, I doubt there are any laws being broken. I think the dead person is worse off than me, even if I am late to work.