2005-11-18 16:07![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
digitaldiscipline
digitaldiscipline"Driving Stick" is one of my generally-unspoken requirements for a Guy to be a Man.
I drive stick, exclusively, because I like the control, the interaction, the improved fuel economy, and the fact that I doubt most joyriders or casual car thieves can do it.
Then again, I feel emasculated with anything fewer than eight cylinders, but there isn't a V-8 or even a straight six anywhere in my price range. *sigh*
I drive either hard, or lazy. Lazy is easy on passengers, unless they're in a hurry. Hard is harrowing for most of them.
If the road was populated with drivers like me, I'd hate it (because everyone would be changing lanes to get around slower traffic, though the slow traffic would tend to keep right, people would flash to pass in the left lane, and accelerate briskly from any stop, though early light braking to try to avoid full stops at stale reds would be common, etc), but grudgingly admit it's an improvement, because the speed limit would generally be considered to be about 50% below a meaningful pace under dry conditions with decent visibility.
Frankly, "Move, Motherfucker!" is probably the most common phrase heard when I'm behind the wheel. I have no patience for the incompetent or inattentive. You're wasting my time.
What pisses me off is that brisk, competent piloting of one's automobile is seen as "aggressive driving" by others, who will impede you intentionally. When I can tuck my four-banger econobox in behind someone in a sporty car and play cat-and-mouse through rush-hour traffic, I'll shoot them a thumbs-up when one of us leaves the game, because I appreciate it when someone displays skill, and doesn't simply become vehicular cholesterol when they get behind the wheel.
I drive stick, exclusively, because I like the control, the interaction, the improved fuel economy, and the fact that I doubt most joyriders or casual car thieves can do it.
Then again, I feel emasculated with anything fewer than eight cylinders, but there isn't a V-8 or even a straight six anywhere in my price range. *sigh*
I drive either hard, or lazy. Lazy is easy on passengers, unless they're in a hurry. Hard is harrowing for most of them.
If the road was populated with drivers like me, I'd hate it (because everyone would be changing lanes to get around slower traffic, though the slow traffic would tend to keep right, people would flash to pass in the left lane, and accelerate briskly from any stop, though early light braking to try to avoid full stops at stale reds would be common, etc), but grudgingly admit it's an improvement, because the speed limit would generally be considered to be about 50% below a meaningful pace under dry conditions with decent visibility.
Frankly, "Move, Motherfucker!" is probably the most common phrase heard when I'm behind the wheel. I have no patience for the incompetent or inattentive. You're wasting my time.
What pisses me off is that brisk, competent piloting of one's automobile is seen as "aggressive driving" by others, who will impede you intentionally. When I can tuck my four-banger econobox in behind someone in a sporty car and play cat-and-mouse through rush-hour traffic, I'll shoot them a thumbs-up when one of us leaves the game, because I appreciate it when someone displays skill, and doesn't simply become vehicular cholesterol when they get behind the wheel.
