Middle finger possibly brake check
this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2026
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Sounds like NE USA, but where is the swearing?
Here in Hawai'i it is likely that we will give a sheepish shaka as the driver passes. Might get a tense shaka in response. I am in no way kidding about this.
Hand up, and bow head.
This. It says, "I acknowledge you are upset, and accept blame."
Instructions unclear. Ended up doing the wave (like you see at baseball stadiums) alone in a car.
Accidentally dabbed.
Accidently my ass! Stop trying to bring it back!
Flash the hazards twice, also works as a thank you for letting me merge in or whatever, it’s pretty common in the UK.
I have gone to using a single hazard flash when people are in front of me as well instead of flashing high beams(reserved as the head tap equivalent for cars) because I hate when people blind me at night trying to thank me… high beams are way brighter than they used to be.
This is SO true. I let a few people pass at a narrowing in the evening and they sometimes thanked me by blinding me temporarily. Like, I appreciate the gratitude, but just don’t.
I have a huge purple dildo. I just start beating myself about the head and shoulders.
Found the saints row player
What about the “sorry, my bad” while driving though?
It's performative self-flagellation, same as you would do in any religious event or office setting. The pink dildo is just for better visibility.
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Otherwise known as a catholic penance.
Mantis starts beating off with a purple dildo
Me: "...the fuck is he doing?"
The middle finger. It has to be that.
Brake check them
raise your hand?
had a brain glitch on a roundabout, nearly forgot to break for a passing car.
Sorry? Hell naw. Double down. Make it their fault. Get even more mad than them. Brandish your gun. Then brandish your second gun. Fire a warning shot towards their vehicle. Finish your beer in case you need to get out of the car. Challenge other driver to fisticuffs. Lose. Go home and explain to wife why you lost another fight. Get sad. Go to bar. Get really drunk. Pass out on stoop of the Wayne County Building. Miss work for the 3rd time this month. Get fired. Get kicked out of house by wife. Move into bachelor apartment. No artwork on walls. Only Kroger brand bread, condiments, and cheese slices in fridge. See kids every other weekend. Start going to AA meetings on a whim. Find new job. Hit the gym. Find new hobbies. Meet new girlfriend. Come to terms with faults and find peace through meditation and mindfulness. Experience growth. Drive to work one day. Accidentally cut a guy off. Double down...
I think the fact that there isn't a good way I think escalates a lot of otherwise defusable road rage situations.
I live in Hawai'i and, as far as I can tell, we have far fewer road rage incidents than other parts of the US (but not zero). I honestly think a lot of it has to do with us having a third hand-gesture: the shaka (I mention this elsewhere in this discussion). The shaka is truly amazing. You give it when someone lets you in the lane AND you can give it when you mess up and everyone understands that it's you admitting your mistake. Might even get a shaka in response for giving the penitential one. It's awesome.
Many people who get angry at strangers easily see someone apologizing as legitimatizing their anger, and people not apologizing as not understanding they are wrong. I don't think there is a good solution if people can't just accept that other people make mistakes and move on without any needed follow up.
Hard disagree, everyday life is full of defused accidental escalations because pointless escalations benefit no one.
It is the same with animals and humans.
I usually just honk “SORRY” in Morse code.
...
.-. .-. -.-- for anyone who wants to try
Like this 🖕
(Edit: real answer) For most acknowledgements, I double-tap a light — beams, brakes, or hazards depending on current lighting conditions and relative position of other driver — because most things I would say to them are two beats long:
- “Thank you”
- ”Sorry”
- “My bad”
- ”Go on”
- ”Nice drift”
- ”You drunk?”
I once got an A on an anthropology paper by analyzing body language in vehicles and different driving cultures in different places.
Rock on. Were there any instances of local parlance you found peculiar or surprising?
One insight was the different behavior when a light turned green with someone at the front making a left turn.
Where I grew up that person would just have to wait, but in the city where I went to college they’d let one car turn left before opposing traffic started.
It was a bit of a culture shock being honked at for obeying the actual law.
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I roll down the window and do the Sorry/ThankYou Wave. 👋
Especially if they DIDN'T honk.
Remember to say toodle-oo like an old lady while waving.
This. I will forgive most driving indiscretions if I see a wave/acknowledgement of wrongdoing.
Just hit their car slightly with yours. You know, a love tap, to show them love and appreciation. Then show them your extended middle finger, signifying that you are standing with them in solidarity of thinking you’ve made a mistake. If you have a weapon with you, you can hold it up and show them to indicate that you are aware you could be perceived as a threat, but are making the effort to indicate that you aren’t.
I flash my hazards for a sec. I also use that to say thank you.
I only ever used or interpreted this as a thank you. But in the end, if someone makes an error and then flashes a "thank you" at me I usually let it slide because at least they said thanks. So I guess it works.
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Can't go wrong with the classic 🖕.
I pretend to shoot myself in the temple.
Then I put the gun back in the glove box.
Honk louder to assert dominance.
Back of the hand high and visible through the rear window, fingers and thumb slightly apart to reduce the chances of them thinking your giving them the middle finger (or two fingers in the UK).
I usually wave at them as though I think they're a friend of mine just saying hello.
Bow head down slightly, lift your hand slightly like a weak wave, show a little humility in your eyes if they meet.
I don't, because being polite while driving is being unpredictable and that makes things more dangerous.
Instead I do what I want others to do which is just do a better job of paying attention and driving consistently. Making mistakes happen, just refocus and avoid making more.
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