Are You Worried?

[LadyCG]

Violent crime is sweeping through the streets of London. In Birmingham a young woman is car-jacked and her 4-week-old baby goes missing in the process. In Worcester a 3-year-old is targeted in an acid attack.

What the hell is happening in our society?

Are you worried? I am. I had a run-in the other day with a lunatic driver whilst reversing off my driveway. I was so worried all day long that he would come back and vandalise my house or car, or do something worse.

By the way, this is not a political thread. I have my thoughts on what has caused violent crime to spike but my question is simply ... "Are you worried?"

[LadyCG]

Good God, Jno, is that London, Saturn?

[gingejbee]

No, not worried...I don't worry about things that I have no control over - it's pointless.

[jno]

nope. Worst thing I ever saw was a man crossing Oxford St rather dozily and a bus came round the corner, also rather dozily, and knocked him over. It didn't stop but fortunately he was only shaken; I think it just hit his arm.

People who read newspaper or other media may get the impression that life is an endless round of street battles, robberies and stabbings. It isn't really like that. Bad things do happen occasionally but nothing to make me want to live in a cave somewhere.

[bednobs]

the thing is that for most ordinary people there is no increased risk - it's the scabby people who get themselves into trouble that are at risk, being in a gang, owing your drug dealer money, that sort of thing

[gness]

I am probably a little more aware but certainly not worried....that would have an impact on my life and I don't allow that...

As for driving.....I detest being in a car with a horn blaster. I don't blast my horn or flash my lights. It just angers other drivers and I think horn blasters are just as dangerous because they're temporarily out or control by losing their temper and horn blasting.....

On the odd occasion a driver has annoyed me by doing something wrong I wave, smile and if it's a man blow don't fret kiss......
I really prefer to be a calm driver and not do anything to anger other drivers....it's worked okay for fifty years or so..... :-)

I do have dash cams front and rear.....they help a lot...x

[Minkyme]

//People who read newspaper or other media may get the impression that life is an endless round of street battles, robberies and stabbings. //

Precisely jno.Many people don’t live in the real world and believe all what the media dictates to them and unfortunately many become paranoid and in constant fear not realising the world isn’t //out to get me//

[andy-hughes]

I never ever get involved in any kind of exchange with any other driver, ever - it's simply not worth it.

If you need to flash a warning at someone, the likelihood that they will see it as such, and not as a provocation, is zero, so just don't do it.

[ummmm]

Nope, not worried.

The only time I flash a driver is to let them go first and I'll always follow that with hand signals.

[jno]

same here, ummmm, though I wouldn't do it in France. Flashing lights here means "You go first"; there, it means "I'm going first, get out of my way merde alors." Hand signals are always good too.

[hereIam]

Yes, I do worry sometimes NoM, but not always. Acid attacks worry me the most as it seems people do them at random now and I'm scared of some cruel sod targeting my little dog. When egg throwing was a craze some years back, the lovely dog I had at the time had a couple thrown at her from passing cars. I can understand your fears having a tiny child.

[woofgang]

no, not worried and I have no dashcam

[kvalidir]

No I'm not worried generally, there has always been the odd atrocious person about who does unspeakably evil things and road rage is just something to be aware of and not exacerbate where possible. I'm a pretty ragey driver though tbh, but usually confine it to a withering look and a 'pick a fecking like idiot' type remark. Actual violence is not okay. Most humans are nice given the opportunity.

[murraymints]

had something similar a complete idiot in a car overtook when it was dangerous to do so and they only reason he did not go into a head on collision was we turned off road just in time to let him in...eventually got ahead of him and he received a few choice words in passing..he then followed for a fair few miles, and was tailgating again very dangerously...parked up in a lay by to let him pass as he clearly was going to follow me home and he was not going to say thanks for saving his life ten mins before...

[naomi24]

The best bit of advice I was ever given when learning to drive was to consider every other driver an idiot. That way you’re prepared for idiocy. I don’t use the horn or flash the lights in anger – that just creates trouble. I might call them idiots under my breath though.

I’m not worried, but depending on where I am, I’m sometimes wary. I confess that I’ve told my husband not to walk with his back to the flow of the traffic when he’s in the City. If something nasty is coming his way, he needs to have the best chance of avoiding it.

[pastafreak]

Sometimes I worry, particularly as my daughter is in London. But it's a waste to spend your life worrying when your thoughts should go to what's positive.