ROAD RAGE REALITY: NEVER MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
I am the first to admit that the "Karen" videos we see all over social media do have a humorous side to some of them. However, upon seeing one like this, I encourage you to dive deeper and ask what we might learn and teach others about after viewing it.
I have yet to learn the context of the video and who was in the right or wrong.
In my book DISARM DAILY CONFLICT - Your Life Depends On It, I dedicate a chapter to Road Rage. What this quick second video confirms in my book is.
Assumptions Can Be Dangerous
If you saw this young woman in a calm situation, many might assume she presents no threat. Still, she is totally out of control in this scenario, possibly turning a minor traffic dispute into a life-threatening situation. Many might still laugh, thinking she would be harmless if the windows were up, but what might happen if the windows were down and the doors unlocked? Perhaps the person in the car has no experience with violence; maybe they are older, and most importantly, what if this woman had a weapon like a gun?
She might use a weapon if she had one when you see the look in her eyes. We cannot know what is going through her mind, her history, or her life experiences, so never judge a book by its cover because that could be one of the most critical mistakes.
When you add the possible variables, things could be even more dangerous. Imagine the terror of having children in the car or having no knowledge of how to respond to such rage.
Should the driver of the car attempt to talk to her?
Should they drive away?
What if they had children in the car?
Would an apology if one was wrong to have made any difference at this point?
How should we prepare ourselves and our loved ones for such moments?
There is never a definite answer to any scenario, but what advice would you give someone who might experience this?
Awareness and preparedness can make all the difference in handling these situations safely.
Keep SAFE!
Chris Roberts
SAFE Violence Prevention & Self Defence
