Are middle-aged Lebanese men in this city getting slightly more aggressive? I don’t wanna bore you with another traffic story, but this morning a man tried to cut traffic by driving his beat-up vehicle on the unpaved side of the street. I spotted him through my left side-mirror about to dive-in right in front of me. So I drove forward and made it impossible for him. I mean, come on, why does this guy think he can do that when the rest of us are waiting ?
He rolled down his window, pulled his arm out and looked like he was about to drive right into my car. So me being the persistent girl I am, went head to head with this gremlin of man who now appeared to be missing his two front teeth. The enraged man yelled and screamed demanding I move over and let him pass. Then he said the most outrageous jaw-dropping sexual remark to me. So I yelled it right back at him with the word “imak” in there. That’s when all hell broke loose.
Suddenly the man gets out of his car and walks right towards my window. I immediately locked my doors and rolled up my windows. He was bellowing so loud my window was covered with spit. People were just sitting in their cars watching all this go down like it was a very usual phenomenon. Traffic in front of me just moved and I stepped on the pedal almost throwing off the man who was now holding on to my car. He hung on for a while longer but then I really stepped on it and that’s when he let go.
It got me thinking- would this man actually have assaulted me had I not closed my windows? My co-worker told me it was my fault- and that I should not have sworn back at him- that I asked for it. She said, I should just recognize that trouble-makers and let them pass, even if it means he’s taking away from my rights.
We encounter many many people like this everyday here in Lebanon. If we do let them get away with this kinda crap- doesn’t that mean that we have all become enablers? Bisoux
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If we do let them get away with this kinda crap- doesn’t that mean that we have all become enablers?
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Absolutely.
You did the right thing.
There is a distinct lack of respect for law and often common courtesy in Lebanon. Drivers being a good example. Standing in line for tickets being another.
I don’t think you asked for it and I definitely don’t think it’s your fault. People like this should learn their lesson. Unfortunately his IQ is probably so low that he went off and complained to his friends about how “Women can’t drive”. Grrrr.
Something similar happened to me a while ago..Some people think they OWN the road..
We are a 3rd world country no matter how hard we try to portray it as civilized.
plus the traffic is what’s people have these nervous breakdowns…. imagine staying in ur car for 2 hours barely moving…
it’s all messed up…. but ur friend is right… not because you stood up for ur right or whatever… but if he had assaulted you… it would’ve been ugly… and for what? traffic…. not worth it… just close ur windows… AC on… high music… and let him spit as much as he want… and try not to swear hehehhehe I would’ve madee you swallowed your teeth if you tell me ” …. Immak” hahahahha 😀 (kidding)… but no seriously, dont swear at ppl… it will only fuel the fire….
cheers
Sean
Good on you!
Fuck em
How else is he gonna learn
if everyone moves out of the way then everyone would do it
i wont put it nicely as Sean, i think that what you did was wrong, stupid, and irresponsible? not to mention dangerous!
It was completely your fault, you’re the one who blocked his way intentionally. what would have happened if u didn’t? he would have went pass, and u got angry for 4 sec and that was it. But NO, you had to block his way, and then put urself in a dangerous situation, having to hear abusive language.
Not only that, u swore at him, knowing it will enrage him.
to all those who commented saying ur not in the wrong, and good on u… i’d love to hear u pple saying that if, God forbid, he turned out to be a total maniac, smashed her windows, and gave her a black eye. ( u’d be an idiot to think that stuff like that doesn’t happen…)
i greater person is the one who assesses the situation, avoids confrontation, and walks away.
i’m glad it all went well afterwards, just be careful next time and use ur brains… it’s not ur job to police pple.
hahahahaha or buy a Tazer!! 😀
I seriously HATE driving in Lebanon.
Did it make me develop a thicker skin, though?
Abso-fuckin-lutely.
I’m glad i cursed that motherfucker.
After all, he was the one who started it first.
Dude, u never know…maybe he wud have assaulted u…
ppl r CRAZaaaaaY!!!
And by
“I’m glad i cursed that motherfucker”
of course i meant
“I’m glad u cursed that motherfucker”
=)
Well done Ivy – driving in Beirut is maniacal and I also wouldn’t have let the &^%$er pass. That being said, there are crazy people out there, and you took on a measured risk, which is probably not worth its return on investment.
The truth is though, he only behaves this way, because he gets away with it. If he were to ever be ‘lucky enough’ to ‘make it’ and migrate to the ‘civilized world’, he would change his act, since abroad, there are rules and consequences. I see it every day. Friends drive like madmen in Beirut, because it is how it is, but in Boston or Dubai, everyone is suddenly civilized and respects the red light and the policeman stopping him. In Beirut, insaaa.
The only real solution is that this guy and every other person blatantly breaking the law and endangering the lives of other commuters, should get a fine that is 1x or 2x his monthly income. Once he gets that 2-3 times and he can’t call up his cousin or uncle and get the fines cancelled and he cant explain to his wife why this month will be tight and the kids will struggle, he will slowly but surely change his act. His kids will to and they learn the right way rather than their dad’s way. Multiply that 100,000x and you start to create a civil society and move away from our current state of affairs. No rules, no consequences, means bad behavior. My 10 month old follows the same logic – and he too would prefer I didn’t say ‘NO’ when he licks the power plug. Luckily, he can’t knock me out (yet) for stopping him.
Well done.
Ivy,
I agree 100% with Simon.
A young lady is not and should not be ready to fight with an impolite man who is ready to swear and hit her.
Would you accept to be hit by a man and hit him back because of his traffic misbehavior?
Next time a man is committing a traffic offense, just let it be and don’t take it personal, it never is.
Hey, nice blog you have there.
We have similar cases in Jordan as well, but I don’t think they swear, the most extreme I’ve encountered was a taxi driver spitting (didn’t reach me though :P).
Yeah if people try to stop guys like that like you did then maybe they’d start thinking before doing such things, maybe!
You know what? GOOD FOR YOU! I like what you did. f***ing idiot deserved it!
P.S.
i like the “imak” sentence! 😀
I know how you feel, I’ve been driving in Lebanon for seven years now and it never gets easy. But, your actions created a dangerous situation with another driver you don’t know, by which I mean that on the road responding to aggressive behaviour aggressively can result in a dangerous and escalating stand off. Neither side wants to budge or give way. If the other person is insane, as this man clearly was, there in no telling what could have happened. I say this to everyone I know “never insist on your right of way on the road and avoid an accident and unwanted confrontation” it’s what I learned as a reporter covering Dubai Police news back in the 90s from a man I admire greatly, the chief of police, Dhahi Khalfan, and I try to pass this wisdom on. I know the Lebanese are hot blooded and it’s hard for them to back down, but try, you’ll feel better. Safe driving 🙂