Here I was, driving along, minding my own business, about to do a right turn.
A parked car on the opposite side of the road shot out. I hit the brakes, and waved her through.
I know I’ve written about road rage before, but this person looked at me, smiled, then proceeded to give me an angry bird.
Not the cartoon variety. Rather, a fat middle finger in my face – well, more “at” my face than “in” it, but rude nevertheless.
Driving manners aside, it got me wondering what it must take to make a person angry enough to give another the bird.
I suppose it depends on the person.
On person’s bird is another’s frown, perhaps?
In this scenario, I was actually smiling. I thought I was offering a friendly gesture for the oncoming surprise packet to make their merry way forward while I waited to take my turn.
But no. That wasn’t the interpretation. The lovely lady behind the wheel felt so angered by my wave, or that I failed to collect her front left wheel, that she felt compelled to ruin my day.
Because, you see, that’s surely the only reason why you’d give someone else the bird. There’s really no other purpose, is there? You know, than to ruin another’s day.
It’s sign language, understood in many languages. I’ve been to a few and never have I experienced a place where a raised middle finger means anything else than, well, you know.
And the only reason you’d want to say that, in any language including sign, is to make another miserable.
Sure, there’s the intention to let me know your own discontent. I get that. And maybe “I’m annoyed with you” is where it ends.
But I seriously doubt it. Surely it’s moreso “I’m so outrageously upset with you that you must also feel suitably humbled by my body language”.
There are some pubs in the world where the gesture would be met with a punch in the face. Such is the velocity of the objective so innocently dubbed “the bird”, a feathery, generally harmless creature which unless protecting a nesting brood, keeps pretty much to itself.
So, here I am. Bemused at the low class citizen sitting behind the opposing wheel, wondering how she interacts with friends and loved ones.
And here I am, overthinking what possesses someone to raise their finger at a complete stranger.
Unbeknown to them, or seemingly so, my actions were brimming with positive purpose. Either way, all I can do is wish the young lady a lovely day, and continue on my way.
