Rubbernecking: Right or Wrong?

[Dane$$a]

This is funny cuz I ALWAYS look if something pops off I just can't help myself LOL I'm sure alot of people are the same way.

[Chairman Risus]

annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.

I think it's a little bizarre that you assume that's the motivation for this sort of phenomenon.

[Elder Iptuous]

after I've been waiting in traffic for 20+ minutes because of people looking at an accident, I feel like I earned a glance too.

this right mhea....

i try to glance, and go on though.

[BadBeast]

It's not uncommon on the motorway, to see an accident on the eastbound carriageway, and another one, on the westbound, where people have rubbernecked as they passed, and ploughed straight up the arse of the car in front, who had slowed down to get a better look.

[Iason Ouabache]

I come from a very small town. Rubbernecking is the only kind of entertainment some people got. Hell, I knew several people who had police scanners just so they can go chasing after ambulances and firetrucks.  Sick bastards.

[BadBeast]

I come from a very small town. Rubbernecking is the only kind of entertainment some people got. Hell, I knew several people who had police scanners just so they can go chasing after ambulances and firetrucks.  Sick bastards.

Yeah, we get them too. We call them "Police".

[Disco Pickle]

annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.

I think it's a little bizarre that you assume that's the motivation for this sort of phenomenon.

might want to read through this thread.

I'm not talking about the first responders, the people who genuinely want to know if they can be of any assistance.  I'm talking the ones helping to create a mile long traffic jam, long after it's obvious that all the help that can be offered has been offered.

I generally try and give people the benefit of the doubt, but come on..  I seem to recall a thread here recently about people more interested in Tweeting that The Science Guy fell on his ass than actually rushing to help him. 

[AFK]

It's wrong when I'm trying to get home to eat suppah!

[Cain]

If I see a dead body around, my thought process is going to be something like: I want to know why it's dead, mostly so I don't end up the same way.

Animals that displayed a curious disinterest in why other animals around them were dying probably didn't manage to pass that genetic quirk onto their descendents, in most cases.

[Chairman Risus]

annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.

I think it's a little bizarre that you assume that's the motivation for this sort of phenomenon.

might want to read through this thread.

I'm not talking about the first responders, the people who genuinely want to know if they can be of any assistance.  I'm talking the ones helping to create a mile long traffic jam, long after it's obvious that all the help that can be offered has been offered.

I generally try and give people the benefit of the doubt, but come on..  I seem to recall a thread here recently about people more interested in Tweeting that The Science Guy fell on his ass than actually rushing to help him. 

Maybe you should go back and read that thread.
But maybe you're right and the real reason traffic slows down is because everyone is wondering if they have time to turn back home and break out their snuff films.

If I see a dead body around, my thought process is going to be something like: I want to know why it's dead, mostly so I don't end up the same way.

Animals that displayed a curious disinterest in why other animals around them were dying probably didn't manage to pass that genetic quirk onto their descendents, in most cases.

This makes more sense.

[Disco Pickle]

Maybe you should go back and read that thread.
But maybe you're right and the real reason traffic slows down is because everyone is wondering if they have time to turn back home and break out their snuff films.

wow that's..  not what I said at all. 

Cain you make a good point that I hadn't previously considered but makes perfect sense hearing it.  I have myself, upon seeing the aftermath of what was obviously a high speed accident, made a mental note to remember that next time I feel compelled to speed.

[Sir Squid Diddimus]

I have no patience in traffic and care not about what happened.
Now if I witness it happen (over and over with this shit) I jump out and make sure everybody's ok and call for police and/or medical.

Jesus. For as much as I hate people, I have no problem helping the filthy fucks. What's wrong with me??

[Cramulus]

tangent, might be interesting to some:

http://trafficwaves.org/

this website talks about what causes traffic, and how to actually clear up traffic by driving in certain ways.

[Enrico Salazar]

This is funny cuz I ALWAYS look if something pops off I just can't help myself LOL I'm sure alot of people are the same way.

Tell Enrico more about things pop off?

[Jenne]

annoys me to no fucking end and am glad that I have lived in my city long enough to know the roads to take to get around the monkeys who enjoy watching other people's suffering and making those of us who don't get their kick from it suffer even more.

It might say something to your own outlook that your assumption is that it's an enjoyment of suffering and not a hope or relief that there isn't any.

It might.  If I hadn't read the previous replies to this thread about seeking out the gore, or known far too many people in my time who actually like knowing someone had a worse day than they did to make themselves feel better or give them perspective, then I might even say it was an unreasonable outlook.

Seeking out gore has many uses--Cain pretty much hit on the preservationist side.  Babies are the ultimate gawkers.  They watch EVERYTHING and pay attention to the slightest, most benign of details, both awful and unawful.  Why?  Because that's how they LEARN.  

The human tendency to overcome fear of the unknown and seek knowledge has to have titillation in it--otherwise we wouldn't do it.  The visceral reaction of seeing torn flesh and wreckage as we hurtle down the same road that others in their 3-ton vehicles had found their final end on is something that a lot of people keep in their minds at all times.  Overcoming that reaction of fear and abhorrance is necessary to a large degree to 1) rescue them if you're in the rescue business and 2) treat them when they arrive at the hospital if you are in THAT end of the show.

I think pretending you're of a "higher mind" and above it all is disingenuous, though I understand being pissed off at traffic.