Traffic Lights
Last week Jana asked me how often Drew and I argue. I told her it was cyclical, but that lately we'd been fighting maybe once every 4-5 weeks. Not fights, really -- just arguments about little things.
This past weekend we had one about traffic lights. Drew claimed they are virtually all run on sensors and that when people don't pull up to the sensor the lights won't change as quickly. It's a big pet peeve of his; he's constantly berating other drivers for not stopping at the right spot. I'm from a rural, middle-of-nowhere, barely-any-stoplights kind of place. The lights we have all run on sensors, but it was my honest opinion that most urban lights are carefully timed; if there are sensors, I told him, I was sure they only worked on off-peak hours.
God that was even boring to type. Unbelievably, that argument lasted all day. It included all kinds of catty remarks and bullying -- most notably when Drew insisted on pointing out every sensor he saw and saying things like "It's like a whole new world for you, isn't it." To which I'm sure I said something nasty which I've now very conveniently forgotten.
We looked it up when we got home. Drew was right. Most of these lights are run on sensors. He claims they're also on timers, but I still don't understand that part of his argument because I quit listening once I realized I was wrong.
It was a release argument -- the kind you fight out just because you don't have anything significant to argue about. It was a good one, though, because it was so ridiculous and yet we were both so passionate about our points. It's healthy to have those kinds of fights, in my opinion. I'm all for fights that help sharpen your conflict resolution skills. I hate dating people who can't argue... those people who just get pissed and walk away or start crying as soon as I say something aggressive. Drew meets me head-on, which I really appreciate.
What I don't appreciate is that he has since tried to make this light sensors thing some kind of precedent. "Remember the traffic sensors" is his new favorite phrase. UGH.
To see why Drew was right, click here.
This past weekend we had one about traffic lights. Drew claimed they are virtually all run on sensors and that when people don't pull up to the sensor the lights won't change as quickly. It's a big pet peeve of his; he's constantly berating other drivers for not stopping at the right spot. I'm from a rural, middle-of-nowhere, barely-any-stoplights kind of place. The lights we have all run on sensors, but it was my honest opinion that most urban lights are carefully timed; if there are sensors, I told him, I was sure they only worked on off-peak hours.
God that was even boring to type. Unbelievably, that argument lasted all day. It included all kinds of catty remarks and bullying -- most notably when Drew insisted on pointing out every sensor he saw and saying things like "It's like a whole new world for you, isn't it." To which I'm sure I said something nasty which I've now very conveniently forgotten.
We looked it up when we got home. Drew was right. Most of these lights are run on sensors. He claims they're also on timers, but I still don't understand that part of his argument because I quit listening once I realized I was wrong.
It was a release argument -- the kind you fight out just because you don't have anything significant to argue about. It was a good one, though, because it was so ridiculous and yet we were both so passionate about our points. It's healthy to have those kinds of fights, in my opinion. I'm all for fights that help sharpen your conflict resolution skills. I hate dating people who can't argue... those people who just get pissed and walk away or start crying as soon as I say something aggressive. Drew meets me head-on, which I really appreciate.
What I don't appreciate is that he has since tried to make this light sensors thing some kind of precedent. "Remember the traffic sensors" is his new favorite phrase. UGH.
To see why Drew was right, click here.
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