What is one thing your best friend does that annoys you?
Next: What is one trait that you've inherited from your parents, and when did it you first notice it?
Previous Question:
What is one thing your best friend does that annoys you?
Michael answers: My friend is very passionate about his rights as a pedestrian. He'll often cross the street the minute he sees a break in traffic, even if a car seems very likely to drive across the crosswalk as he's crossing it. He loves to reiterate that, legally, drivers "have to stop for you." He's technically right, but I joke that that phrase will be printed on his tombstone. As someone raised by a New Yorker, the aggressive jaywalking doesn't bother me. Rather, it's my friend's reaction to being cut off or almost hit that I find irksome. Whenever there's a close call with a car that stops short, he slaps or kicks either the hood or the trunk, whichever is closest. I keep warning him that one day he's going to do it to the wrong car. That day came this weekend, when the driver and passenger of a car he slapped got out of their vehicle to confront him (his girlfriend defused the situation before it became physical). I'm sympathetic to my friend's hatred of almost getting hit, but the notion that you could strike someone's car without there being consequences reeks of privilege, arrogance, and recklessness. I've read too many stories about road rage incidents that turned deadly to ever feel comfortable doing something like that.
Next ask:
What is one trait that you've inherited from your parents, and when did it you first notice it?
If you’d like to answer this question, you can simply hit reply to this email and write it in. Be sure to also include a question that you’d like to submit next. You can also submit your answer anonymously here. And tell us a story — your answer will be the bulk of the next newsletter.