this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2026
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No Stupid Questions

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Like, if you accidentally cut someone off, and they get mad and honk, how do you apologize?

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[–] Crazyslinkz@lemmy.world 89 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Zonetrooper@lemmy.world 40 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This. It says, "I acknowledge you are upset, and accept blame."

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Instructions unclear. Ended up doing the wave (like you see at baseball stadiums) alone in a car.

[–] leadore@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Accidently my ass! Stop trying to bring it back!

[–] MantisToboggon@lemmy.world 46 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

I have a huge purple dildo. I just start beating myself about the head and shoulders.

[–] UndulyUnruly@lemmy.world 29 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

What about the “sorry, my bad” while driving though?

[–] actionjbone@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago

You can do that at the same time as beating yourself with the purple dildo

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[–] Rhoeri@piefed.world 13 points 3 weeks ago

Otherwise known as a catholic penance.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Mantis starts beating off with a purple dildo

Me: "...the fuck is he doing?"

[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Found the saints row player

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 25 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

I think the fact that there isn't a good way I think escalates a lot of otherwise defusable road rage situations.

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 4 points 3 weeks ago

Hard disagree, everyday life is full of defused accidental escalations because pointless escalations benefit no one.

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[–] sik0fewl@piefed.ca 19 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I usually just honk “SORRY” in Morse code.

[–] Sidyctism2@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

...


.-. .-. -.-- for anyone who wants to try

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[–] KumaLumaJuma@feddit.uk 18 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

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[–] Septimaeus@infosec.pub 16 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (10 children)

(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?”
[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 20 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I once got an A on an anthropology paper by analyzing body language in vehicles and different driving cultures in different places.

[–] Septimaeus@infosec.pub 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Rock on. Were there any instances of local parlance you found peculiar or surprising?

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

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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[–] SendMePhotos@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I remember reading a while back that the hazards twice = thank you.

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[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 15 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] slothrop@lemmy.ca 10 points 3 weeks ago

I pretend to shoot myself in the temple.
Then I put the gun back in the glove box.

[–] joyjoy@lemmy.zip 9 points 3 weeks ago

Can't go wrong with the classic 🖕. 

[–] Pacattack57@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

Like this 🖕

[–] Aremel@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I flash my hazards for a sec. I also use that to say thank you.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

No no no. First you do the walk like an egyptian dance. Then flash your hazzards. Then play peekaboo.

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[–] MutantTailThing@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Honk louder to assert dominance.

[–] MrRandom@lemmy.zip 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

raise your hand?

had a brain glitch on a roundabout, nearly forgot to break for a passing car.

[–] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

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).

[–] diabetic_porcupine@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Middle finger possibly brake check

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[–] tiramichu@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 weeks ago (6 children)

Here in the UK, turning on your hazards for a couple of flashes means either "Thank you" or "sorry" to the car following, depending on context.

Someone let you merge in? "Thank you!*

You cut someone off? "Sorry!"

[–] theTarrasque@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Same in Germany! I mostly use it to signal „ thank you“ though. Usually the reply is flashing the high beams once very quickly.

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[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

I roll down the window and do the Sorry/ThankYou Wave. 👋

Especially if they DIDN'T honk.

[–] dellish@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

This. I will forgive most driving indiscretions if I see a wave/acknowledgement of wrongdoing.

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[–] deranger@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Look ashamed and maybe do a single flash of my hazards.

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[–] FrChazzz@lemmus.org 5 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] ryannathans@aussie.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago

Brake check them

[–] rmuk@feddit.uk 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I have a 52" screen mounted to the tailgate connected to a laptop on the passenger seat with a bunch of PowerPoints queued up.

Sorry.pptx SorryNotSorry.pptx Thankyou.pptx NiceDrivingDipshit.pptx YouBlindMotherfucker.pptx Appreciated.pptx ILoveYourSprinterTruanoAE86ItsJustLikeTheOneFromInitialD.pptx

Not all of those get a lot of use. I've never used SorryNotSorry.pptx, for example

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[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 4 points 3 weeks ago

People will not think "oh, he just made a mistake, bless his soul". Instead of thinking "fucking asshole" they will simply think "fucking idiot". Just keep driving, focus and try to make less mistakes.

One time a guy rear ended me (lightly, no damage) and when we got out he said "sorry, I started breaking but it was too late". I just laughed at how silly it sounded. Like yeah, the whole point of breaking is to stop before you hit someone. I think "sorry, I'm a bad driver" would be more honest. Hey, maybe that's a solution? Put a neon sign that says "shitty driver, sorry" in your back window and turn it on when you make mistakes.

And don't get me wrong, I know everyone makes mistakes. I just think "being sorry' is simply another excuse. "It wasn't on purpose so it's fine". It's still not fine. If it's happens rarely don't worry and keep driving. If it happens often get some extra classes or stop driving.

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 4 points 3 weeks ago

I usually wave at them as though I think they're a friend of mine just saying hello.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 4 points 3 weeks ago

One hand vertically in from of sternum, wry expression.

Slam on the brakes to assert you are a power bottom

[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

If I have some free time, I’ll follow them to their destination and knock on their window before they manage to slip away, and then apologize. Many seem like they’re in a hurry, despite just arriving, so I’ll just shout out my apology as I knock on their window. Depending on how bad I felt, I might try to repeat the apology next week, seeing whether I can find them on the road or their destination at the same time

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