Acquaitance is now a policeman?

[RingTailedLemur]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Me too.

[Aeris]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Most of us aren't so perfect that we see driving a few miles over the speed limit as a particularly egregious sign of moral turpitude.

[PeterM]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Breaking the law is not rude or immoral, unless you're willing to condemn everyone in the world who's driven at least one or two miles over the speed limit. Which is to say, everyone in the world who's driven. There's a big difference between "technically speeding" and "driving fast enough to pose a danger to self or others." For my part, I'm stunned at the number of people who believe the man who spoke to the OP was in the right.

[RingTailedLemur]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Most of us aren't so perfect that we see driving a few miles over the speed limit as a particularly egregious sign of moral turpitude.

That is unnecessarily snarky.

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Breaking the law is not rude or immoral, unless you're willing to condemn everyone in the world who's driven at least one or two miles over the speed limit. Which is to say, everyone in the world who's driven. There's a big difference between "technically speeding" and "driving fast enough to pose a danger to self or others." For my part, I'm stunned at the number of people who believe the man who spoke to the OP was in the right.

I think it unfair for you to imply people are hypocrites based upon your assumption of their driving habits.

[Scuba_Dog]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Breaking the law is not rude or immoral, unless you're willing to condemn everyone in the world who's driven at least one or two miles over the speed limit. Which is to say, everyone in the world who's driven. There's a big difference between "technically speeding" and "driving fast enough to pose a danger to self or others." For my part, I'm stunned at the number of people who believe the man who spoke to the OP was in the right.

So am I.

IMO, he was totally out of line.  The only time I can think this would be appropriate would be between a parent and a child - and even then, they should take them aside.

[Aeris]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Breaking the law is not rude or immoral, unless you're willing to condemn everyone in the world who's driven at least one or two miles over the speed limit. Which is to say, everyone in the world who's driven. There's a big difference between "technically speeding" and "driving fast enough to pose a danger to self or others." For my part, I'm stunned at the number of people who believe the man who spoke to the OP was in the right.

So am I.

IMO, he was totally out of line.  The only time I can think this would be appropriate would be between a parent and a child - and even then, they should take them aside.

And even then - if it is as a rebuke/scolding, only if it's a minor child, or an adult child financially dependent on the parent.

[PeterM]

Breaking the law is not rude or immoral, unless you're willing to condemn everyone in the world who's driven at least one or two miles over the speed limit. Which is to say, everyone in the world who's driven.

I think it unfair for you to imply people are hypocrites based upon your assumption of their driving habits.

I think it's unrealistic of you to (apparently) believe that there exists a more than negligible percentage of the driving population that has never once exceeded the speed limit.

[RingTailedLemur]

Breaking the law is not rude or immoral, unless you're willing to condemn everyone in the world who's driven at least one or two miles over the speed limit. Which is to say, everyone in the world who's driven.

I think it unfair for you to imply people are hypocrites based upon your assumption of their driving habits.

I think it's unrealistic of you to (apparently) believe that there exists a more than negligible percentage of the driving population that has never once exceeded the speed limit.

You didn't say "negligible percentage" - you said "everyone had done it", which is why I picked up on it.

[Scuba_Dog]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Breaking the law is not rude or immoral, unless you're willing to condemn everyone in the world who's driven at least one or two miles over the speed limit. Which is to say, everyone in the world who's driven. There's a big difference between "technically speeding" and "driving fast enough to pose a danger to self or others." For my part, I'm stunned at the number of people who believe the man who spoke to the OP was in the right.

So am I.

IMO, he was totally out of line.  The only time I can think this would be appropriate would be between a parent and a child - and even then, they should take them aside.

And even then - if it is as a rebuke/scolding, only if it's a minor child, or an adult child financially dependent on the parent.

Exactly.  IOW, if I'm paying your insurance...

[LadyL]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Breaking the law is not rude or immoral, unless you're willing to condemn everyone in the world who's driven at least one or two miles over the speed limit. Which is to say, everyone in the world who's driven. There's a big difference between "technically speeding" and "driving fast enough to pose a danger to self or others." For my part, I'm stunned at the number of people who believe the man who spoke to the OP was in the right.

Speed limits are a really tricky one as far as I'm concerned, from a legal, ethical, and etiquette perspective. There are different laws in different places, and people have different standards for what is "speeding" - is 3 MPH over ok but 5 is too much, or is 5 over ok but 7 too much? Etc. There is not a great way to debate that sort of thing without getting the thread locked.

I think the important thing is, when an issue is in a grey area as far as "safety trumps etiquette," what is a polite way to say something? Is it rude to bring up a safety issue at something like a club meeting? I would say it is rude because it strikes me as trying to shame the person into the "correct" behavior, instead of coming from a place of genuine concern about safety.

[jaxsue]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Most of us aren't so perfect that we see driving a few miles over the speed limit as a particularly egregious sign of moral turpitude.

Yep. If that's the case, then toss me in jail and throw away the key. 

[jaxsue]

I can guarantee you that the elderly man who ran a stop sign at 15 mph (in his big Buick) the other day, forcing me to take evasive action to avoid a collision, is far more dangerous on the road than I am going 5 miles over the speed limit on a highway. He didn't even look my way!

But as for the original question: I believe the guy was out of line chastising someone for going a bit over the speed limit (once again, depending on the circumstances). If he ever goes 1 mile over the speed limit, then he's a hypocrite.

[Sharnita]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Most of us aren't so perfect that we see driving a few miles over the speed limit as a particularly egregious sign of moral turpitude.

Yep. If that's the case, then toss me in jail and throw away the key. 

People are not simply saying "hey, not perfect, I admit I speed from time to time".  They are basically maintaining that that makes them good drivers because they are keeping up with traffic or that they have superior judgement to the people who set the speed limit in the first place and thus are justified in disregarding it.  I think it is that response that Kitty Hawk is pointing out.  I have to say that when I do catch myself going over the speed limit I do not find myself saying "My, I am driving particularly safely today".  If you have to justify yourself by saying you are less dangerous than a distracted driver that is not the best argument that you are actually safe, just that you are lower down on the "dangerous continuum".

[LeveeWoman]

Am I the only one who has Sammy Hagar singing in her mind?

[jaxsue]

I thought the question here was whether the acquantaince was rude.  But I must admit I am stunned at the number of people who are supporting violations of the law.

Most of us aren't so perfect that we see driving a few miles over the speed limit as a particularly egregious sign of moral turpitude.

Yep. If that's the case, then toss me in jail and throw away the key. 

People are not simply saying "hey, not perfect, I admit I speed from time to time".  They are basically maintaining that that makes them good drivers because they are keeping up with traffic or that they have superior judgement to the people who set the speed limit in the first place and thus are justified in disregarding it.  I think it is that response that Kitty Hawk is pointing out.  I have to say that when I do catch myself going over the speed limit I do not find myself saying "My, I am driving particularly safely today".  If you have to justify yourself by saying you are less dangerous than a distracted driver that is not the best argument that you are actually safe, just that you are lower down on the "dangerous continuum".

I have a perfect driving record so far and I live in NJ. You've heard of a "NY minute"? They're as fast in Jersey as they are in NY. I'm being passed left and right, I don't tailgate or drive aggressively, and am a very safe driver. Being on the NJ Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway isn't the same as being on a quiet residential street (where I tend to go below the speed limit due to kids/pets).My insurance rates are what they are because I am a safe driver.

Honestly, all of us quibbling over 5 mph seems a bit much. It's other things that make driver more dangerous such as tailgating, lane-jumping, using their cell phone or other distractions, and going real fast or too slowly.

My take: the guy in the OP overstepped.