ORIGINAL: Andretti

Fortunately, at this point in time my mustang isnt a member either. But unfortunately one of my other cars was keyed. That situation I can completely see for what it was. A person couldnt get to me any other way, so decided to go that route. I also know that if given the opportunity, this same person would do it in a heartbeat to the mustang given the opportunity.

In the past I would have said "you must have done something to **** someone off", but now after thinking about it and experiencing it personally, I have come to realize that alot of it is people just dont care. We are seriously in the "ME, ME, ME" generation. There is so little general respect given to others anymore. How many videos have you seen on the news where some kids broke into a house being built and trashing it, for no apparent reason other than "this would be cool...". It really does seem to be the idea "if I cant have this, then I'm gonna mess up theirs". The person who keyed me is the type that seems to be "I want everyone around me to be as miserable as I am" and will stop at pretty much nothing to make sure that is the case. To run into someone who actually says "excuse me" or "pardon me" is a rare thing, yet I do it every single day, whether I leave my house or not. I will not accept anything less from my children and they have a complete understanding of the use of saying "please" and "thank you" among numerous other things. I make it a priority with my kids. Unfortunately, it seems most dont. But how can you teach a child to have respect for others and their property if you do not?

As a fireman, we hear "response time" as a buzz word all the time. We are required to respond to a given emergency in our districs within a certain amount of time. Rightly so. I have no problem with this way of thinking. BUT, do you think this counts (or most importantly the idea that I am responding to an EMERGENCY) when drivers wont yield to our firetruck with red lights on and siren blaring at a deafing level? Why should they? They have stuff to do, and its not THEIR emergency? The amount of times someone sees us approaching a 4 wayintersection, and me slowing to check to make sure its clear to proceed through and then have someone in the right lane turn infront of me to go up the street I've just come down. Ask them, and whats the response???? "Well, I had a green arrow/light". Do they have the legal right of way? You bet. Do they have at least some sort of "responsibility" to yield and let us proceed to an emergency? Sure they do. But the fact is ALOT DONT. But if it was THEIR emergency, suddenly its "what took you so long?"

Sorry, /rantoff. But to me, its all the same way of thinking. Their time is TOO important to slow for a firetruck. Good thing I'm not a cop. Run after a suspect who is resisting arrest? I think not. I'd just freaking shoot.

Andretti