I have a problem with authority; they're stupid. | FerrariChat
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I have a problem with authority; they're stupid.

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by Lee in Texas, Jun 16, 2008.

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  1. Lee in Texas

    Lee in Texas Formula Junior

    Oct 21, 2006
    685
    near Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Lee
    #1 Lee in Texas, Jun 16, 2008
    I went to court today over a traffic ticket. Not for speeding, but for failing to take Defensive Driving for that ticket. I stood up and took responsibility. I told him it's my fault because I thought I could wait until the last day. In other words, I f*cked up. His reaction was just what I expected: "That's not a good reason for not taking care of this". DAMN that pisses me off. Is everyone so accustomed to hearing lame excuses that it's now DOCTRINE to lie and deny responsibility? I'd hear the same thing in the Army. Not that I was a screwup, but if I made a mistake, I would man up and say so. Same deal. "You made a mistake? That's no excuse. Why'd you do it?"

    MORONS!!!!!!!!!

    Oh yeah. The judge was cool about it. He gave me a week to take Defensive Driving. Hell yeah I will. I don't want my rates going up. :)
     
  2. JSinNOLA

    JSinNOLA Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 18, 2002
    20,258
    Denver, CO
    #2 JSinNOLA, Jun 16, 2008
    Let me get this straight. The authorities are stupid because YOU think being honest and upfront about not fulfilling your responsibilities should somehow negate having to actually have completed your responsibilities in the first place?

    Sorry, but I can't feel sorry for you and had I been the judge I probably would have said worse.
     
  3. Lee in Texas

    Lee in Texas Formula Junior

    Oct 21, 2006
    685
    near Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Lee
    #3 Lee in Texas, Jun 16, 2008
    Oh I guess I left out some details. I wasn't looking to get out of anything. I went there with a checkbook ready to pay any fines I had incurred. I was honest. I admitted I messed up. I didn't give him any lame stories about why 90 days was not enough time to take an 8hour course. I was the last of 15 people to see the judge and they all had some lame story. I mean really, 90 days. Just man up and say you ****ed up.
     
  4. tjacoby

    tjacoby F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,857
    Vancouver Canada
    Full Name:
    tj
    #4 tjacoby, Jun 17, 2008
    ahh - I'm still confused. They're morons but the judge is cool?

    what did you expect him to say -"jeez Lee, that's so honest and refreshing, how about another 90 days?". Sounds like a week is what you were hoping for anyways.
     
  5. ski_bum

    ski_bum Formula 3

    Dec 26, 2002
    1,492
    San Diego
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #5 ski_bum, Jun 17, 2008
    DOCTRINE to lie and deny responsibility. Some truth to that. But while you may have been honest, you are STILL denying responsibility. Your obligation to society to attend a 1-day class within 90 days. Unless you had extenuating circumstances, but you didn't mention any. Whose fault is that, society for not conforming to YOUR schedule and pleasure? I think not.

    And you're mad at the judge for lecturing you for being 'honest'? Try to look at it from his prospective. He's heard 'honest' a million times, just another 'lame' excuse. Also your feelings about 'authority' and their lack of intellectually capacity might have been picked up by the judge.

    What would you say to this newspaper headline? 5 killed in traffic accident. Driver at fault did not attend required defensive driving course?

    When you say 'morons', try looking into a mirror. IMHO
     
  6. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

    Mar 16, 2002
    13,337
    Ex-Urbia
    Full Name:
    Jack
    #6 Gilles27, Jun 17, 2008
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2008
    Your attitude is no different than those who act as if the danger of engaging in illegal/irresponsible behavior isn't the act itself, but in the risk of getting caught. If you think showing up to court not having fulfilled your obligation to take the mandated course and waving a checkbook at the judge is going to appease everyone, then you have a lot to learn. The world is full of cocky A-Holes who think they can just pay their way out of any situation they get themselves into. Don't turn into another one of them.
     
  7. PeterS

    PeterS Five Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 24, 2003
    52,155
    Goodyear, AZ
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    PeterS
    #7 PeterS, Jun 17, 2008
    Back up please. Were you ORDERED to take the driving class?
     
  8. Lee in Texas

    Lee in Texas Formula Junior

    Oct 21, 2006
    685
    near Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Lee
    #8 Lee in Texas, Jun 17, 2008
    I thought it was cool that he ended up offering me a week to take the class. I didn't expect that.

    I didn't expect an extension. I didn't ask for an extension when I realized two months ago that I ****ed up.
     
  9. Lee in Texas

    Lee in Texas Formula Junior

    Oct 21, 2006
    685
    near Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Lee
    #9 Lee in Texas, Jun 17, 2008
    Absolutely not. I was not disrespectful or flippant or any other negative type attitude. I simply told the judge that I made a mistake.


     
  10. Lee in Texas

    Lee in Texas Formula Junior

    Oct 21, 2006
    685
    near Austin, TX
    Full Name:
    Lee
    #10 Lee in Texas, Jun 17, 2008
    I'm sorry if that's the impression you got. That does not describe me at all. I keep my nose clean. I follow the straight and narrow path because it's the right thing to do.


    I am absolutely not the type who waves a checkbook to get out of trouble. Hell, I can't afford to do that. I'm the last person on earth who could be accused of being a cocky ******. We all make mistakes. We're human. The whole point of the OP was that it sucks to see lying/denying responsibility become the norm. No, I don't think I deserve a pat on the head for saying I ****ed up.

    What I didn't really go into was seeing the same kind of thing in the Army, where it is doctrine to be accountable for one's actions. I got tired of leaders who rewarded screwups.
     
  11. DaudiW.

    DaudiW. Formula Junior

    Jan 4, 2006
    598
    Europe & USA
    Full Name:
    William David
    #11 DaudiW., Jun 17, 2008
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2008
    Well it WASN'T a good reason for not taking care of it, despite you being truthful or not... Even if you lied, but came up with a BETTER reason, things may have been different. What did you expect the outcome to be if you showed no responsibility for your actions? Being honest isn't responsible, because you were honest about doing nothing and holding it for the last minute, which shows you do not really care - I think the reason he gave you an additional week, is because there was no reason to penalize you for being lazy and irresponsible. In the end, you are the one who got the ticket.. I would say you got lucky, because for such an excuse of honesty, one wouldnt bother giving you any further grace. Atleast you kept your dignity by telling the truth.
     
  12. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 11, 2004
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    #12 285ferrari, Jun 17, 2008
    Take the course and move on...It's over....
     
  13. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Apr 3, 2001
    11,238
    Austin, TX
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    Randy
    #13 Schatten, Jun 17, 2008
    DD and traffic tickets are just part of the business. If you missed the part about it being a business, you will always be playing their game.
     
  14. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

    Mar 16, 2002
    13,337
    Ex-Urbia
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    Jack
    #14 Gilles27, Jun 17, 2008
    I don't think you should be angry with anyone. I'm sure they're used to hearing people come in every day with excuses about why they didn't comply. Look at it from the perspective that they're giving you an extension to comply without affecting your record. The judge probably felt you were honest enough to be believable, otherwise he would have imposed something more severe. Let us know what happens...
     

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