Need to rant... - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

martureo · #1 02-15-2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Quite an assumption.

Anyways you weren't in an accident, that's a what-if scenario that didn't occur. What you did was make a stupid yet conscious decision that put numerous other people at risk (in the very least inconvenienced them) as well as yourself. Why do you feel like they owe you something?

This is like that guy posting about a fedex truck parking too close to him after he parked across 2 spaces.

Do you know what a tu quoque fallacy is?

It means that if I rob a store and someone else robs a store it is nonsense for either of us to singularly condemn the other. I already admitted my culpability in the choices I made, but the individuals who ran over my flares are still in the wrong.

Please try to keep up.

Brian Carlton · #2 02-14-2013, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

No sympathy here. You created the hazard yourself. Lucky you didn't get rear ended by some numbskull on a cell phone.

X2.

The OP is an individual who knows the limits of the vehicle with regard to fuel economy. Should such a person decide to test the limit, if he's not a complete moron, he carries some extra fuel in the trunk or he weighs the possibility of getting stuck on the side of the road.

I frequently push the SD in an identical manner. Today, the reserve light came on at 505 and I pushed it to 542. However, the day was brilliant sunshine and the temperature was close to 40. So, I weighed the risk of running out and decided to take it. Now, if it's snowing and dark, there is NFW that I push the limits because the consequences of failure can be absolutely dire.

The OP should most certainly be thankful that no moron rear ended his vehicle and caused a total loss because that is the most likely scenario in the dark.

I find it laughable that the OP is chastising one of the idiots for running over his flare when he never should have been in such a situation in the first place.

If the vehicle fails mechanically and the OP had no possibility of avoiding the failure (fuel pump as an example), he's got a case for his dissatisfaction with the idiots on the road. But, not in this case.

Fulcrum525 · #3 02-19-2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

X2.
The OP is an individual who knows the limits of the vehicle with regard to fuel economy. Should such a person decide to test the limit, if he's not a complete moron, he carries some extra fuel in the trunk or he weighs the possibility of getting stuck on the side of the road.

I frequently push the SD in an identical manner. Today, the reserve light came on at 505 and I pushed it to 542. However, the day was brilliant sunshine and the temperature was close to 40. So, I weighed the risk of running out and decided to take it. Now, if it's snowing and dark, there is NFW that I push the limits because the consequences of failure can be absolutely dire.

The odometer in the 300GD never worked and I only got around to getting it repaired a few months ago so initially knowing my range was always a guess based on how much fuel I put in vs google maps estimate of my average trips length. Thankfully my reserve fuel light works so I would have an idea of when I was down to the last 40 or so miles of fuel.

I only managed to run out of fuel once....less then a mile from home (I would have made it had it not been for the lemming in front of me on the way home from work who decided to be on the brakes ALL the way down EVERY hill

) Anywho point is I keep a jerry can with an extra 5 gallons on me at all times and in this particular case the #1 concern was to get back on the road ASAP. I could feel her going and I knew why so I pulled completely off the road onto the grass, turned the engine off, grabbed the can, put in about half a gallon in and made it the rest of the way home before I poured the rest of the fuel into the tank in the driveway. Total time to do this was less then a minute

Brian Carlton · #4 02-19-2013, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

I keep a jerry can with an extra 5 gallons on me at all times and in this particular case the #1 concern was to get back on the road ASAP. I could feel her going and I knew why so I pulled completely off the road onto the grass, turned the engine off, grabbed the can, put in about half a gallon in and made it the rest of the way home before I poured the rest of the fuel into the tank in the driveway. Total time to do this was less then a minute

That's because you're a man who thinks ahead and plans for those situations where failure could cause you serious injury or death.

Or you can just blame others for your own stupidity............your choice.

Fulcrum525 · #5 02-19-2013, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

That's because you're a man who thinks ahead and plans for those situations where failure could cause you serious injury or death.

Or you can just blame others for your own stupidity............your choice.

I'll stick with planning ahead, just in case

Now where did I put that tow rope that I used to pull a co-worker out of the snow last week......

martureo · #6 02-19-2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

That's because you're a man who thinks ahead and plans for those situations where failure could cause you serious injury or death.

.... you mean like making sure you had a road triangle and plenty of road flares in the trunk?

Or making sure that you schedule minor repairs at the local dealer so that MB roadside assistance availability never lapses?

Or having roadside assistance through your insurance company?

Guess you'd rather just assume.....

Quote:

Or you can just blame others for your own stupidity............your choice.

I blame others for their wrongdoing. I never blamed them for mine.

If you're going to accuse me of something, you might at least try to be accurate about it.

Stretch · #7 02-14-2013, 01:51 PM

Is there a chance that the drivers who drove over the flares were thinking that it was better to put them out and save the planet from more pollution?

ah-kay · #8 02-14-2013, 02:17 PM

With no dis-respect. Look at the hassle you caused yourself by running empty. You could have spent $5 to pump 1+ gallon and get to your favorite station without any issues.

Instead you wasted yourself a few hours, a few flares and held up traffic. Now you are blaming other motorists running over your flares and not giving you a hand? If it were me, I would have kept quiet and let by-gone be by-gone. Don't even mention this incident to anyone.

sloride · #9 02-14-2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

With no dis-respect. Look at the hassle you caused yourself by running empty. You could have spent $5 to pump 1+ gallon and get to your favorite station without any issues.

Instead you wasted yourself a few hours, a few flares and held up traffic. Now you are blaming other motorists running over your flares and not giving you a hand? If it were me, I would have kept quiet and let by-gone be by-gone. Don't even mention this incident to anyone.

X2 on that plus she/he would have saved there county $$$ as he stated he gets them free from the county sheriff ( free to him/her not to the local taxpayer$) Who did the county sheriff steal them from?

Skid Row Joe · #10 02-15-2013, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martureo

I just had to vent a little bit. I know from personal experience that the world is full of idiots, but for some reason I needed to get just a little bit more validating experience last night. (A statement which will show it’s irony as you keep reading)

So I had 516 miles on the tank last night as I was leaving work. (stock 84 300D ~300,000 miles on it) The reserve light had been on for two days now (it’s 20 miles one way to work) and I didn’t want to fill up at the expensive station near my work. I’ve put around 560 miles on a tank before and have never completely run the tank dry, so I hoped that even with the loss of mpg caused by winter mix of diesel I’d be able to make it the 19 miles to the station I wanted to fill up at.

I didn’t make it.

I ended up getting stuck on a two lane road with no shoulders and had embankments on either side of the road. It was also starting to snow. Awesome.

So I flip on the 4 ways, shut off the headlights and running lights and wait for traffic to die down a minute before I get out and walk behind the car. I got out my trusty Euro warning triangle and set it out about 20ft behind the car, then went back to the car to grab a flare. I usually carry about 10 30-minute flares, I get them from a captain of the county Police department. (I met him at an accident scene when I was the first responder and was complaining that I’d used my last flare, he responded that he’d supply me with new flares as long as he worked there). Anyway, I set a flare down about 10-15 feet in front of the triangle because it was starting to get darker out. (5:35pm at the time)

I went back and called my wife and then called MBZ roadside assistance. There are two dealerships near me and they said it might take 30-45 minutes to get there. (It took a total of 70 minutes because the driver got lost and was looking for me on the wrong road)

While I was waiting I’d see people fly past me in the opposing lane, others would wait and slowly creep around, while still others would wait for traffic to appear in the opposing lane before driving by next to them, three cars wide across the road. But with all the idiots and overcautious people (I had one woman sit behind me for a full minute before she felt safe… I know, because I was able to sit there and time her with my watch), I still can’t figure out what I saw next.

It was probably the third flare I had out, standing at about a 45 degree angle from the ground, that I see some guy creeping up really close to the flare. He finally decides to move around me and RUNS OVER THE FLARE. He barely missed hitting my triangle as well. WHO RUNS OVER A FLARE?!!?!

He put the flare out so I ran out and being unable to re-strike that flare I pulled out another and used the new to reignite the old one (I figured more light is better). But then 15 minutes later the roadkill flare had just run out and someone else runs over the lit flare. OMG! What the heck!?! Now I have to wait again for traffic to die back down and go put another out.

Before the MBZ guys got there I had three people run over flares. I had 8 flares in my trunk when I started (that should have lasted me 4 hours in total) and now I have one left.

I know I’m the idiot who decided to drive on a back road with no fuel in his tank, and slowed traffic for an hour and a half. BUT WHAT TYPE OF MORON RUNS OVER FLARES? Especially flares that are propped up?

I disagree with your calling other motorists idiots for your running out of fuel on a public roadway.....

I don't know what age person you are, but as you relate your story, you apparently were willing to risk running out of fuel, rather than being safe when on the road. This put others' lives and safety at peril, whether you realize it or not. I learned my fuel level lesson when a very young man, and 180* changed my ways. I hope this situation that I believe you stated as having caused, is a lifelong lesson to you as what not to do in life as per your car's fuel level. This event could have cost you your life, as you were blocking a road with your car, that you knew was running on fumes for many miles. All could have been avoided had you made a better life decision. You were lucky - this time. Maybe next time - not so lucky.

martureo · #11 02-15-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

I disagree with your calling other motorists idiots for your running out of fuel on a public roadway.....

Disagree all you want, I never said such a thing.

Quote:

I don't know what age person you are, but as you relate your story, you apparently were willing to risk running out of fuel, rather than being safe when on the road. This put others' lives and safety at peril, whether you realize it or not. I learned my fuel level lesson when a very young man, and 180* changed my ways. I hope this situation that I believe you stated as having caused, is a lifelong lesson to you as what not to do in life as per your car's fuel level. This event could have cost you your life, as you were blocking a road with your car, that you knew was running on fumes for many miles. All could have been avoided had you made a better life decision. You were lucky - this time. Maybe next time - not so lucky.

Go look up tu quoque fallacy. It would do you good.

link · #12 02-15-2013, 04:20 PM

The rant aside, this is an example of when something does not go according to desire, the compounding effect of ignoring the original issue nearly always amplifies or even dwarfs the original issue.

Surprise! Clearly people don’t GAS about driving over flares. They do the same thing to dogs, cats, raccoons, possums, deer, other people, motorcycles and you name it, every minute of every day. Take the hint.

Learn from the mistake - plan ahead and fill the tank.

As an aside, someone should report your policeman friend to the local Mayor’s office for misappropriating public funds by giving away police property.

martureo · #13 02-15-2013, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

....

As an aside, someone should report your policeman friend to the local Mayor’s office for misappropriating public funds by giving away police property.[/FONT][/SIZE]

Yes, because citizens should never stop and drop flares at accidents when they are the first ones on the scene.

Prior to complaining to that officer I had been the first to arrive at 4--count that again-- FOUR traffic accidents in a month, two of which the occupants were unconscious. All were well after sunset, two were on unlit roads. I was the one who called 911 for all of them.

I ran out of my own flares. Do you know how much a dozen 30 minute road flares cost? More than I could pay at the time (I was unemployed), and more than I can still afford to pay.

I went looking for flares, and finding a lack of flares both in stores and finding many online much too expensive I went to the police department. I asked were they sourced their flares in hopes that I'd find more attainable flares. I couldn't get an answer from anyone, but while walking back to my car Captain XXXX asked me what I wanted road flares for. I told him my situation and he told me that he'd rather have someone else out there stopping for accidents and that he'd supply me with flares as long as he worked for the county.

I don't find that to be a misappropriation of funds at all. Heck, I'm a county taxpayer.

whunter · #14 02-15-2013, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martureo

I just had to vent a little bit. I know from personal experience that the world is full of idiots, but for some reason I needed to get just a little bit more validating experience last night. (A statement which will show it’s irony as you keep reading)

So I had 516 miles on the tank last night as I was leaving work. (stock 84 300D ~300,000 miles on it) The reserve light had been on for two days now (it’s 20 miles one way to work) and I didn’t want to fill up at the expensive station near my work. I’ve put around 560 miles on a tank before and have never completely run the tank dry, so I hoped that even with the loss of mpg caused by winter mix of diesel I’d be able to make it the 19 miles to the station I wanted to fill up at.

I didn’t make it.

I ended up getting stuck on a two lane road with no shoulders and had embankments on either side of the road. It was also starting to snow. Awesome.

So I flip on the 4 ways, shut off the headlights and running lights and wait for traffic to die down a minute before I get out and walk behind the car. I got out my trusty Euro warning triangle and set it out about 20ft behind the car, then went back to the car to grab a flare. I usually carry about 10 30-minute flares, I get them from a captain of the county Police department. (I met him at an accident scene when I was the first responder and was complaining that I’d used my last flare, he responded that he’d supply me with new flares as long as he worked there). Anyway, I set a flare down about 10-15 feet in front of the triangle because it was starting to get darker out. (5:35pm at the time)

I went back and called my wife and then called MBZ roadside assistance. There are two dealerships near me and they said it might take 30-45 minutes to get there. (It took a total of 70 minutes because the driver got lost and was looking for me on the wrong road)

While I was waiting I’d see people fly past me in the opposing lane, others would wait and slowly creep around, while still others would wait for traffic to appear in the opposing lane before driving by next to them, three cars wide across the road. But with all the idiots and overcautious people (I had one woman sit behind me for a full minute before she felt safe… I know, because I was able to sit there and time her with my watch), I still can’t figure out what I saw next.

It was probably the third flare I had out, standing at about a 45 degree angle from the ground, that I see some guy creeping up really close to the flare. He finally decides to move around me and RUNS OVER THE FLARE. He barely missed hitting my triangle as well. WHO RUNS OVER A FLARE?!!?!

He put the flare out so I ran out and being unable to re-strike that flare I pulled out another and used the new to reignite the old one (I figured more light is better). But then 15 minutes later the roadkill flare had just run out and someone else runs over the lit flare. OMG! What the heck!?! Now I have to wait again for traffic to die back down and go put another out.

Before the MBZ guys got there I had three people run over flares. I had 8 flares in my trunk when I started (that should have lasted me 4 hours in total) and now I have one left.

I know I’m the idiot who decided to drive on a back road with no fuel in his tank, and slowed traffic for an hour and a half. BUT WHAT TYPE OF MORON RUNS OVER FLARES? Especially flares that are propped up?

Running out of fuel is (in this case) as you admit your fault.

It happens all the time around Detroit where they put in just enough to get from A to B, and you frequently see the same people walking the highway shoulder with a one gallon fuel can every week.

I assume you are wise enough that it will not happen again.

Nobody was physically harmed so IMO life goes on.

I carry two gallons of oil in each diesel, because I will always need it for service and (emergency fuel) don't trust the fuel gauge (justified paranoia backed by experience).

As to the other drivers, consider how many gave good clearance and where safe?
There are always the worlds dumbest and Darwin award winners, regardless of where you are.

Relax and be happy.

.

JamesDean · #15 02-15-2013, 12:42 PM

Hmm I fill up the 300D every 3 days or so. It doesn't even get down to 1/4 tank and I fill it back up.

This is largely because my commute is 60 miles each way and I don't dare tempt fate to run out of diesel in the middle of the turnpike.

But as to people runing over road flares... yeah thats stupid. and they are stupid for doing it. why would you run over it!?

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