Posted on 02/07/2010 3:49:00 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Earlier today I was driving to Google for a product briefing, minding my own business, talking on my Google phone with Google PR and trying to figure out what Google building I was supposed to be driving to. I stopped at a crosswalk for a bunch of Googlers to pass. And this guy, who’s wearing a Google employee badge, decides it’s time to take a stand against cell phone use in cars. So he stands in front of my car and won’t move. That’s right, it was his Tiananmen Square moment.
Cars behind me start swerving. I back up to go around him. He steps forward, vigilant in his defense of the law. I’m off the phone now, and snapping this picture didn’t help getting him to move on. The light changes. The light changes again. Cars are now backed up behind me.
I’m not sure what comes next in a situation like this. I can either drive over him or park my car. So I put the car in park, open the door to get out and discuss the situation with him. That’s when he ran away. His mission, apparently, accomplished.
I’ll note for the record that I was absolutely violating the law. California is one of a handful of states that bans cell phone use while driving, and I was flaunting that law with careless abandon. I am now subject to a $20 fine.
Whereas blocking a street and creating a traffic hazard is a $220 fine.
And the cell phone ban hasn’t actually resulted in less accidents.
And I’ll end with this. If this Googler feels smug enough about cell phone usage to stop traffic and nearly cause an accident, then of course he’ll be quitting his job at Google soon. Because, frankly, how can he work for a guy who does the same thing that I did?
If anyone knows who this is, please let me know so we can send him a TechCrunch tshirt.
A citizen nanny-stater, by any chance?
If you ever take a self preservation class, this topic is covered.
If one or many people stand in front of your vehicle, you just drive away. You don’t stomp on it and run them over, simply start moving unless they are about the breach the vehicle cabin. The person will be unable to stop the vehicle and they will get out of the way.
I recall a scene from the Republican convention in Philly. A helicopter was filming the riots and several cars were being stopped by thugs...one wasn’t having it and the waves of people parted as if by Moses. Finally, someone decided that they weren’t going to move and the driver of the car had had enough. It looked like the hook and ladder episode of The Little Rascals with people flying out of the way.
Won’t be long before his name is all over the web, that is for sure.
what to do? seriously? didn’t this guy ever see death race? mad max? as a kid from the 80s, there were quite a few thoughts bouncing around
such as... mace... with a 20 ft spray nozzle should do the trick
of course, a grill mounted taser might be more fun
I’d have been cleaning him out of my truck tire treads.
That being said I don’t talk on the phone and drive... I did fine before cell phones. Nothing is that important.
Obviously a punk ass bitch, the type everyone knows can’t stand his ground and when called on it, runs like a scared and whiny little bitch he is to hide behind a smarmy response (yes a true American he is). I stand by these words and if he wants to talk about it, he’ll not have to worry about cars parked waiting for his arrival at an ER in the area.
Trying to control other drivers’ behavior is more hazardous than any infraction he might be presuming to correct. That is one seriously stupid kid.
Be a good time to try out your paint-ball gun too.
Imagine what he is doing with all of the Google data items he handles.
Do you suppose he is making decisions about what is right or wrong based upon his moral superiority?
Standing against Tyrany.
Standing against Freedom.
You have to have pity on little girls like that...you know they had a difficult time out on the playground. This way, they at laest “feel” good about themselves...they prefer that, rather than actually doing good.
“Michael Shields” sounds like a Nom de Plume. He thinks he is some kind of protector.
The group also decides which sites are news sites (dailykos -- F-in' right, man) and which ain't (Free Republic, the last I heard).
I bet.
His right hand suggests he’s about to draw something from his waistband.
And a picture to prove the threat !
All I would see in next 2 seconds would be a piss poor carjacker in my rearview mirror after I ran his stupid ass over.
I am curious to know how the author knows he was taking a stand against his cell phone. Unless the dude is about five and half feet tall it looks like it could be the hood of an SUV. Perhaps he was all atwitter about that.
Michael is his middle name. His first name is actually Panty.
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