[duncangh]

Driving and living in Atlanta after living in Charleston and Raleigh felt like transitioning from a modern cooperative society to an island of cannibals. The amount of aggression needed to change lanes largely regardless of attempts to signal good faith and politeness is baffling. Driving is a fascinating ritual with vastly differing norms across regions. It would be interesting to learn if anthropologists have studied this

[rramadass]

> Driving is a fascinating ritual with vastly differing norms across regions. It would be interesting to learn if anthropologists have studied this

And Psychologists!

Reading the comments in this thread is quite amusing.

As a driver in India, i can tell you anything goes as long as you don't get into an accident (which may/may-not kill you) or get caught by the police.

No rules matter and the only goal is to "one-up" everybody else on the road and if they are trying to "one-up" you, then prevent it by any means possible. It is a "game of chicken" in its purest form; game theory in action. Rules are mere suggestions only followed by the meek and the weak.

You have no idea how invigorating it is to drive in India.

[toast0]

> No rules matter

I was only briefly in India and did not drive while there, but the one rule that everyone adhered to was: communicate what you're doing by honking.

If you are stopped: honk to let people know.

If you are moving: honk to let people know.

If you are turning: honk to let people know.

If you are proceeding straight: honk to let people know.

If you are on a motorbike or in an autorickshaw: honk twice to let people know.

Etc.

[rramadass]

Addendum:

Drive in India and you will understand mathematical concepts of Chance/Randomness/Probability/Non-determinism/Game Theory/etc. along with philosophical concepts of Fate/Destiny/Providence/etc. in so direct and visceral a manner that you will never forget the lessons. Sissified countries with rules and regulations for driving can never give you such direct knowledge.

Game Theory - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory

Game of Chicken - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_(game)

The game of chicken models two drivers, both headed for a single-lane bridge from opposite directions. The first to swerve away yields the bridge to the other. If neither player swerves, the result is a costly deadlock in the middle of the bridge or a potentially fatal head-on collision. It is presumed that the best thing for each driver is to stay straight while the other swerves (since the other is the "chicken" while a crash is avoided). Additionally, a crash is presumed to be the worst outcome for both players. This yields a situation where each player, in attempting to secure their best outcome, risks the worst.

How to learn One-upmanship/Gamesmanship:

The British author Stephen Potter actually wrote a manual on the practice of such games titled The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship (or the Art of Winning Games without Actually Cheating) which sissies can study to become strong - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamesmanship

For the even more sissified sissies who do not want to read a book, there is a documentary titled School for Scoundrels Or How to Win without Actually Cheating) which is very instructive - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_for_Scoundrels_(1960_fi...

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for the consequences if the above emboldens you to act in such a manner in your specific context.

[bluGill]

India is working to fix that. It is slow going, but things have improved over time, and police are enforcing driving laws (at least in some areas)

[rramadass]

Yes, of course.

As an Indian, i was just expressing my frustrations in a jokey manner.

[its_magic]

I don't mind that sort of traffic, as long as I'm in Somebody Else's Car or an old junker that's already banged up. In these situations, the biggest and ugliest car/truck with the meanest driver always wins.