OV9

This is a fifteen year old argument with my first business partner.

You're driving down a residential street, there's a very short section with a couple of cars parked on both sides of the road, making the road narrow. Nonetheless, there's is still space for two cars to pass each other down the middle of the street. As you approach, there's a car coming form the other direction. They slow down and stop, then flash you through the gap, despite there being enough space for both of you to pass without stopping.

Do you thank them?

Yes, because even if they’re an idiot, politeness costs nothing

I’d wave a thanks, definitely. Even if stopping to let you through wasn’t entirely necessary, they were being considerate, and that’s a good thing.

I said “yes” but it’s a bit dependent on geography.

In my experience you are more likely to be acknowledged for courtesy (real or unnecessary) outside of big cities (London, Dublin etc).

In the highlands 99/100 times you’ll get a wave of thanks for pulling into a passing place on single track.

In Jockland you’ll receive a wave of thanks 9 times out of ten for stopping at the “give way” side of a speed restricting narrowing (that gives one way priority) even though all you’ve done is followed the rule. Generalising, but in a city environment you don’t get any response unless someone thinks you should have given way and didn’t.

In Italy I give up thanking anyone for anything. Not that there is often any need to right enough….

^^ that. It'll be a city thing. One minor part of why I have no desire to live in a city*.


(I'll make an exception for Lancaster for personal reasons, and the fact it's only a city by some historical quirk, it's nowhere near being a "city" in the pejorative sense)

I default to thanking where anyone waits/stops/is courteous/makes any effort/etc... people need little rewards to make them do it next time.

Yes but only when it’s not a stupidly large gap.

Anyone being courteous gets a wave of thanks when it’s not silly.

Dave!

In what world would you NOT acknowledge and thank them ??

We seem to have a strong consensus. I'm now desperate to know whether it's Gav or Tom that refuses to be polite to strangers

jamcg wrote: Thu Aug 10, 2023 7:49 am Yes, because even if they’re an idiot, politeness costs nothing

This.

Furthermore @Gavster You seem to be in contravention of forum rules section 4 paragraph C which states "All forum polls must be created by @mik " Unless you were granted specific exemption to policy by @JLv3.0 in which case you will need to provide evidence.

dinny_g wrote: Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:03 am In what world would you NOT acknowledge and thank them ??

In our town we have a long slightly curving road. There is always a line of cars parked in spaces opposite the town houses ver the road. The space left is large enough for 2 skip lorries to pass and there is the regular bus, shop delivery lorry etc coming down the road.

Sometimes if a bus is coming or a big lorry you can wait as some take up far more space than is needed. New to the area, no issue at all.

When people stop at every oppertunity due to oncoming traffic though, it’s infuriating to be beside them. In this instance I won’t wave thanks to those that stop as it’s just poor driving on their part.

Dave!

If I drove into a narrow piece of road I would probably assume the oncoming driver is a moron who couldn't be trusted to lose me a wing mirror / oaf who will stop halfway though owing to a loss of confidence. Therefore easier and safer just to allow them through.

But I would still thank anyone who stopped for me because this is England god damn it. Same reason I give a wave to people who stop at a 'give way to oncoming traffic' thing even though that is the law.

Absolutely they’d get a thanks.

I picked up my ex-wife up on her not saying thanks in a similar situation but where there was only room for one car to pass. “But it’s my right of way”, she said. Correct but I don’t know how you can sail past without acknowledging them pulling over and letting you through.

I think people sometimes deserve thanks for ‘doing the right thing when they could have been a cvnt about it’.

dinny_g wrote: Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:03 am In what world would you NOT acknowledge and thank them ??

Please go to Yorkshire and ask this question. No one waves in Yorkshire. Ever.

Odd - I found Yorkshire to be the most friendly place in the UK I have been

Yorkshire is very friendly but people are acknowledged with a curt nod rather than a namby pamby wave.

240PP wrote: Thu Aug 10, 2023 9:29 am Absolutely they’d get a thanks.

I picked up my ex-wife up on her not saying thanks in a similar situation but where there was only room for one car to pass. “But it’s my right of way”, she said. Correct but I don’t know how you can sail past without acknowledging them pulling over and letting you through.

I think people sometimes deserve thanks for ‘doing the right thing when they could have been a cvnt about it’.

Women don’t say thanks, they feel entitled and don’t feel the need generally. My wife gave me the Paddington bear stare when I mentioned this as she does say thanks. Then on a drive I counted the ones who did and not one woman did. It’s one of the few lady arguments I’ve not completely lost

Dave!

Here's the rules for Driving in Ireland - in case you ever find yourself there...

That would get a thanks from me. I don't thank people for stopping when there are parked cars are on their side of the road though, that's just following the rules... hopefully I'm not doing it wrong? I might do if they waited a particularly long time I suppose.

Some people do thank for that though, and I'm just thinking that people are basically then thanking you for not being an absolute dick, which shouldn't really require thanks!

I probably over thank but its zero effort and I chuck them a dog treat too.