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Presti35
Dick Lee for Legend Status
Joined: 05 Oct 2001 Location: London, England
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Post subject: Prague | |
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So some guy got off his motorbike, ran me down and hit me in the back of my head. He was yelling at me in Czech, so I had no idea what he was saying.
After the commotion, some locals said he was unhappy about how long I took to walk across the crossing.
One also said they were very worried for me as he had a helmet on and a clenched fist coming toward my head. I didn't see it coming, but they said he hesitated for half a second before changing his fist into an open hand.
Still got no idea what happened. I was with about 6 or 7 others crossing the walkway. And I wasn't even at the back. And the crossing was lucky to be 3 metres long. (single lane).
Anyway, I live to cross a zebra crossing another day. [/quote] _________________ A Goal Saved Is 2 Goals Earned! |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Location: somewhere
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I get where he's coming from, I'm one of those morons that stops for people to cross even when I don't have to, and it drives me nuts how many take their time, and don't even acknowledge it!
I'm joking of course! That's fricken bizarre! We're u the smallest? Was he a gutless bully? (Swinging a helmet says yes to that!)
Hope your ok. That's really nuts _________________ You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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Presti35
Dick Lee for Legend Status
Joined: 05 Oct 2001 Location: London, England
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Thanks TP.
The locals telling me I was in the right and that he was a nutcase made me feel much better. We were actually waiting at the next set of lights by the time he drove up. It could have been a case of mistaken identity? Or he was looking for a problem? I wasn't wearing a Collingwood top, so it wasn't that.
There's always two sides to a story, but bloody heck, I'd love to hear his side. I guess it's possible I've done something without realising, but we had the right to cross and he was absolute miles away when we crossed. And I'd hardly call what we did slow. Just a normal pace, we knew where we were going and I wasn't looking at my phone or anything like that.
I'm not the biggest bloke going round. (Bout 77-80 kg). Perhaps he thought he'd show me up? But to attack someone that wasn't even looking is gutless. Anyway I'm just thankful he decided to open hand me instead of punch. Could have been a different story.
Just goes to show you how things can happen out of nowhere.
Only problem I've got now is when the mrs sees one of those bikes, she says he's come to finish the job. _________________ A Goal Saved Is 2 Goals Earned! |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Location: somewhere
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Christ on a (sorry) bike!
Your missus has an evil sense of humour!
Look after your self though mate, my nephew got King hit from behind when he was travelling around Europe, and he's 6'r" and easily 100kg, and he was playing for the jets at the time. He woke up hours later in the gutter. Doesn't matter how big the bastards or you are, if you don't see them coming. _________________ You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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stui magpie
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005 Location: In flagrante delicto
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Yeah, I'm with TP. Look after yourself, I guess there's far quits everywhere. _________________ Every dead body on Mt Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe just calm the **** down. |
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Morrigu
Joined: 11 Aug 2001
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TBH Presti I am astounded that someone there stopped at all - ped crossings seem to be irrelevant
Glad you're ok! _________________ “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” |
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stui magpie
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005 Location: In flagrante delicto
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Actually one thing I noticed in the US is how drivers are so cautious of pedestrians at crossings.
I guess if you think that if you beep or yell at a pedestrian they may pull out an Uzi and straffe your hummer, you're more inclined to manners. _________________ Every dead body on Mt Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe just calm the **** down. |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Location: somewhere
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stui magpie wrote: | Actually one thing I noticed in the US is how drivers are so cautious of pedestrians at crossings.
I guess if you think that if you beep or yell at a pedestrian they may pull out an Uzi and straffe your hummer, you're more inclined to manners. |
Yup ditto for road rage, and driving in general. I actually like driving there! And they get the zipper! _________________ You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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Wokko
Come and take it.
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
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Although the Czech Republic is up there with the USA for gun laws and ownership. |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Location: Andromeda
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^ Basically, what that means is that an armed society is a fearful society. And yes, fear can cause people to be more polite. Is that really such a good trade off? _________________ All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Location: somewhere
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David wrote: | ^ Basically, what that means is that an armed society is a fearful society. And yes, fear can cause people to be more polite. Is that really such a good trade off? |
nope
and just aside, if you've spent a bit of time there, its not just fear, its just genuine polite. apart from New York, I found it everywhere, except occasionally at theme parks, and its the foreigners doing the pushing in!! _________________ You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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Pies4shaw
pies4shaw
Joined: 08 Oct 2007
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David wrote: | ^ Basically, what that means is that an armed society is a fearful society. And yes, fear can cause people to be more polite. Is that really such a good trade off? |
The quote continues :"... gunfighting has a strong biological use. We do not have enough things to kill off the weak and the stupid these days. But to stay alive as an armed citizen a man has to be either quick with his wits or with his hands, preferably both. Its a good thing."
It needs to be understood as a comment made (just after Pearl Harbour) about order in an hypothetical future society in which duelling has immense social importance. Heinlein had a fine imagination (I love many of his novels) but I wouldn't mistake him for a political theorist.
Reading Heinlein is like watching Kurosawa - you can admire the heroism without thinking it would be a good thing if we all carried samurai swords in the streets or that we need to make sure that we have "enough things to kill off the weak or the stupid." |
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stui magpie
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Joined: 03 May 2005 Location: In flagrante delicto
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Look, the remark about the guns was a flippant one on my behalf but the observation of civility toward pedestrians was genuine.
They are genuinely far more tolerant of pedestrians and cyclists from my observation doing a lot of walking. Maybe they're just used to pedestrians marching in front of cars when they think they have right of way and so are conditioned to stop and wait, but a few times I was crossing roads and a car was waiting to turn so I waved them to go through and they shook their head/hands to say they'd wait for me.
Cyclists btw aren't trying to zip through traffic wearing lycra like their in a road race, they're generally in street clothes peddling along on a standard cycle, not one of these expensive racing bikes. Very civilised and easy to watch out for. _________________ Every dead body on Mt Everest was once a highly motivated person, so maybe just calm the **** down. |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Location: somewhere
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Yep
Doing the zipper today I miss the yanks good manners!
Everyone is in a hurry here! _________________ You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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