Waving at someone when they let you merge - Do you do it?

Sound of Silence

I was on another website earlier and discovered that for a lot people outside of Ireland the idea of waving at other drivers, or even expecting a wave, when you merge is all a bit stupid and nothing but an ego trip for all involved.

As far as I'm concerned, if some chap stops to let me merge in front of him, I always make sure to give him or her a quick wave or a toot of the horn as a way to say cheers. Sometimes I'll even flick on the hazards lorry-driver style if I was busy changing gear or whatnot on the way out. Either way, I always try to acknowledge when someone does their bit to keep the traffic moving.

So, Boards, do you do the same? Or do you consider all this waving and "Thank You" craic to be another one of societies pointless social norms?

Donkey Oaty

Sound of Silence wrote: »

So, Boards, do you do the same? Or do you consider all this waving and "Thank You" craic to be another one of societies pointless social norms?

Doesn't hurt to be polite. I do it all the time, even though I travel only on bus and train and occasionally taxi.

Zed Bank

Sound of Silence wrote: »

I was on another website earlier

:O

Titzon Toast

Yep, I always acknowledge if someone has let me in ahead of them.
There's nothing worse to me than if some ignorant ****er doesn't give you a nod back out of courtesy. It's nice to be nice.

Fr_Dougal

Always wave or acknowledge being let out, it's the mannerly thing to do.

SEPT 23 1989

women never let you out:D

burstbuckle

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

women never let you out:D

Thank you. I've been saying that for years

geeky

Recognising small kindnesses doesn't cost anything, and lets people know that it's appreciated. I do it all the time. I try not to look for acknowledgement when I let someone out ahead of me or whatever, but it's usually given. As painful as Irish roads can be, a lot of drivers have a baseline level of politeness, and I that's a very good thing.

Then again, for an agnostic, I have a ridiculous belief in Karma, particularly when it comes to driving.

OP, were you looking on Mumsnet? Because that place is basically a vial of middle class, home counties, Tory-voting poison.

kneemos

Usually mouth sucker at them.

Sound of Silence

geeky wrote: »

Recognising small kindnesses doesn't cost anything, and lets people know that it's appreciated. I do it all the time. I try not to look for acknowledgement when I let someone out ahead of me or whatever, but it's usually given. As painful as Irish roads can be, a lot of drivers have a baseline level of politeness, and I that's a very good thing.

Then again, for an agnostic, I have a ridiculous belief in Karma, particularly when it comes to driving.

OP, were you looking on Mumsnet? Because that place is basically a vial of middle class, home counties, Tory-voting poison.

It was Reddit that I was looking at, specifically this thread.

Apparently it's a very touch subject!

SEPT 23 1989

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

women never let you out:D

I regularly let people out.

I always thank people who let me out.

*checks boobs*

Uh huh. Defo a woman.

Sound of Silence

JustAddWater wrote: »

It's like thanking the postman for delivering your letters!

Hey, wait a minute, I do both those things! :eek:

c_man

Even as a passenger I wave.

MRnotlob606

kinda like how we thank bus drivers on buses , A German girl I know told me the other day they don't do that in Germany. I think its common courtesy to do as you are entrusting the bus driver with your own safety

Rasheed

I do, I'm a woman and fcuk you if you don't.

beks101

I hate rude w@nkers in cars.

Earlier today I got the middle finger from some fat middle-aged b1tch because my taxi driver stopped for 10 seconds to pull in and drop me at the side of the road - leaving plenty of room for her to overtake. Put me in a bad mood for the day.

Rudeness is never acceptable but especially on the fcuking road, it puts me in a homicidal rage. I think some people are just born w@nkers though and determined to inflict their miserable existence on the world/road

AllGunsBlazing

I don't wave but I do acknowledge them with a nonchalant nod of the head. :cool:

keith16

[Deleted User] wrote: »

*checks boobs*

*Butthead laugh*

beks101

beks101 wrote: »

I hate rude w@nkers in cars.

Earlier today I got the middle finger from some fat middle-aged b1tch because my taxi driver stopped for 10 seconds to pull in and drop me at the side of the road - leaving plenty of room for her to overtake. Put me in a bad mood for the day.

Rudeness is never acceptable but especially on the fcuking road, it puts me in a homicidal rage. I think some people are just born w@nkers though and determined to inflict their miserable existence on the world/road

You don't normally rant beks. That was nice and ranty

Call Me Jimmy

I am genuinely shocked to learn that this isn't a universal human practice. It's just a quick lift of the arm or overzealous mouthing of 'ta very much'

Gongoozler

I think it's silly and unnecessary. If you want to let someone off etc just do it and don't moan about them not giving a little wave. And the hazards really annoying me, that's not what they're for.

FullblownRose

Sound of Silence wrote: »

I was on another website earlier and discovered that for a lot people outside of Ireland the idea of waving at other drivers, or even expecting a wave, when you merge is all a bit stupid and nothing but an ego trip for all involved.

As far as I'm concerned, if some chap stops to let me merge in front of him, I always make sure to give him or her a quick wave or a toot of the horn as a way to say cheers. Sometimes I'll even flick on the hazards lorry-driver style if I was busy changing gear or whatnot on the way out. Either way, I always try to acknowledge when someone does their bit to keep the traffic moving.

So, Boards, do you do the same? Or do you consider all this waving and "Thank You" craic to be another one of societies pointless social norms?

Ego trip
? What nonsense! Yeah I will always wave or stick the hazard lights on for a moment if possible. It's recognition for another persons act of kindness, fgs. Is verbally thanking people an ego trip according to these people?

On the other hand I don't pay heed to whether i get a wave or anything if i let someone out, obviously not everyone would have the chance to in busy traffic, or if reoccupied or they just might not think to do it but to make a big deal out of someone trying to convey thanks and calling it an ego trip is messed up.

Ciderswigger

c_man wrote: »

Even as a passenger I wave.

My mother does this, it annoys the shít outta me.

geeky

Gongoozler wrote: »

I think it's silly and unnecessary. If you want to let someone off etc just do it and don't moan about them not giving a little wave. And the hazards really annoying me, that's not what they're for.

Most drivers don't know what the hazards are for. In fact, most of them seem to think it's a magical button that lets you do whatever the f*** you want in a vehicle.

cml387

Gongoozler wrote: »

I think it's silly and unnecessary. If you want to let someone off etc just do it and don't moan about them not giving a little wave. And the hazards really annoying me, that's not what they're for.

Often use the hazards as a thank you. Where is it written exactly what they are for?

geeky

Sound of Silence wrote: »

It was Reddit that I was looking at, specifically this thread.

Apparently it's a very touch subject!

Wow. I'm always amazed at the internet's capacity for connecting angry, angry people.

Gordon

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

or overzealous mouthing of 'ta very much'

Good luck with the book.

Call Me Jimmy

ah suck a lemon

asteroids over berlin

The rules of the road (driver)instruct: not to wave/hand up etc etc

Are you guys familiar with the "fast" lane on the motorway?

P. Breathnach

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

women never let you out:D

So, just fire in a sexist generalisation in a discussion that has nothing to do with gender issues.

And, further, it's just not true.

Greenmachine

asteroids over berlin wrote: »

The rules of the road (driver)instruct: not to wave/hand up etc etc

Are you guys familiar with the "fast" lane on the motorway?

Incorrect you are permitted to acknowledge someone letting you out but you are not permitted to beacon another road user. They may not check the rest of their surrounding and think everything is clear because you have said so. Believe it would make you partly culpable if they got hit by another road user.

Gordon

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

ah suck a lemon

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/cPuiRqSKNV8/hqdefault.jpg

The Backwards Man

I'm from Donegal.

We wave at everybody.

hardCopy

I always wave. I thank bus drivers, taxi drivers, couriers and people who hold doors open I even hello to strangers the street.

It's called manners.

Thankfully this is the norm in Ireland, we may be a shower of begrudgers but at least most of us are polite.

I don't get worked up about the odd person who doesn't wave, I just take a mental note that they're an ignorant pr1ck.

entropi

Cities and towns, you'll get a wave hopefully. Country roads you might get a nod, or the farmer's wave (baby or index finger off the steering wheel)

Another thing that makes Irish people unique, or crazy...pick one.

Polymorpheus

I'd give a little wave, smile etc. Nice to be nice.

As a purely selfish look at the topic, a wave of thanks is positive reinforcement, encouraging the driver to repeat their behaviour.

If everyone left one vehicle merge, acknowledged getting an opportunity to merge, and stayed out of the yellow boxes, the roads would be more pleasant and safer.

Sam Kade

AllGunsBlazing wrote: »

I don't wave but I do acknowledge them with a nonchalant nod of the head. :cool:

Only donkeys nod

Sam Kade

Gongoozler wrote: »

I think it's silly and unnecessary. If you want to let someone off etc just do it and don't moan about them not giving a little wave. And the hazards really annoying me, that's not what they're for.

Guess who'll be left waiting at the junction until all the cars have passed

theexamanyotta

entropi wrote: »

Cities and towns, you'll get a wave hopefully. Country roads you might get a nod, or the farmer's wave (baby or index finger off the steering wheel)

Another thing that makes Irish people unique, or crazy...pick one.

When I am driving on country roads and through small villages sometimes for the craic I like to wave at the people in other cars I pass. The auld one finger wave. Lots of people wave back.

I will always thank people on the road if they let me out or help me in any other way. I think it's rude not to and would get a bit annoyed when people don't thank me.

FullblownRose

theexamanyotta wrote: »

When I am driving on country roads and through small villages sometimes for the craic I like to wave at the people in other cars I pass. The auld one finger wave. Lots of people wave back.

I will always thank people on the road if they let me out or help me in any other way. I think it's rude not to and would get a bit annoyed when people don't thank me.

Yeah that is random stranger waving. It's normal to wave at peole you do not know from Adam in the country. You should do it to city people it would be more confusing for them and amusing for you.

FullblownRose

Alternatively, some people like to make use of the car horn to signal their appreciation , which is also illegal but I suppose like waving thanks or briefly using the hazard lights it is done with discretion and highly unlikely to cause other drivers to veer out of control becauuse they are so confused by it.

Larry Wildman

P. Breathnach wrote: »

So, just fire in a sexist generalisation in a discussion that has nothing to do with gender issues.

And, further, it's just not true.

Sorry, but it absolutely is true based on my experience over the years.

Women are far less likely to let you out.

My wife was only saying the other day that it's gas (as two women didn't let me out and then a guy did).

Gongoozler

Sam Kade wrote: »

Guess who'll be left waiting at the junction until all the cars have passed

...because the drivers I'd come across are the same bunch and they'd remember me for not saluting?

Ruu

I give complete strangers the one raised index finger while hand is on the wheel on country roads, of course I wave.

tallus

A bit of acknowledgement always goes a long way. I always wave.

sopretty

Yes, of course I do.

Sam Kade

Gongoozler wrote: »

...because the drivers I'd come across are the same bunch and they'd remember me for not saluting?

It was a joke you seem to be a very serious individual

PizzamanIRL

I usually take note of their registration number and track them down to hand-deliver flowers as a way of saying thank you.

cerastes

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

women never let you out:D

By and large, true

P. Breathnach wrote: »

So, just fire in a sexist generalisation in a discussion that has nothing to do with gender issues.

And, further, it's just not true.

In my experience, for the most part, it is, isn't sexist, just accurate, from my experience anyway. On the other hand, its mostly guys that will try underpass/overtake you where you're already ahead and the lane merges into one lane, mostly. In any case, someone thats behind the level of another vehicle should merge behind that vehicle.

When Ive let a woman merge, I dont think Ive ever been acknowledged for it. I dont expect it, but Ive noticed.

Deleted User wrote: »

If everyone left one vehicle merge, acknowledged getting an opportunity to merge, and stayed out of the yellow boxes, the roads would be more pleasant and safer.

Isnt there a zipper rule somewhere? germany?

CrazyRabbit

Well I'm grateful that they've let me 'merge' with them, but waving during/after sex is a bit odd.