In reflecting on Shank's post regarding having been shot at, I had a couple of thoughts I felt compelled to share.

Society today is much different than when I was younger (will be 60 in Dec. I don't feel or act like an old guy and most tell me I look much younger). Some in our society are more violent, less compassionate, caring or helpful. The divide between the "haves" and "have-nots" has grown significantly during the past 25 years. Civil disobedience is common today and with it comes armed resistance. Look at the results from Katrina as a shining example.

What's my point you say? Well the issue is that most of us here are fairly high profile in our daily lives. Nicer homes, nicer upscale automobiles, upscale watches & jewelry. We are TARGETS! Jealousy causes other less fortunate to look at us differently and that makes us targets.

While I understand the rage that Shank felt when the 40 ounce was tossed at his Lambo, following the offender was a mistake. Get the plate and get away PERIOD! Staying near the offender simply instigates confrontation, which was the result. Thank goodness the shooter was a bad shot, but here is the point I have been headed toward,

High Profile invites envy, drunken envy results in confrontation.
Don't buy into any confrontation unless you are prepared to defend. Even then, you may be right but you will be, in the eyes of the law, wrong until proven innocent.

 

I think Shank followed them so that he could get their license plate cuz he couldn't see it clearly... Please correct me if i'm wrong... I know anyone successful enough would just walk away in every way possible..

 

I agree entirely. Unless you believe that your car is worth risking your life for ... stay away from the animals.

 

Offroad,

I thoroughly enjoyed you commentary on this post and for the most part I agree with you.

As you pointed out, most people on this board are overachievers and as such are extremely competitive in nature. That is why they got to where they are in life; by not taking a back seat to anyone in their business and personal endeavors.

As a result of this Type A personality, it is not in their nature to be a victim in any circumstance. This personality type has a fierce sense of self-reliance and recognizes that no one will hand them anything.

For these reasons, I understand why Shank did what he did. I'm pretty confident that once he has some time to think about the situation, he will more than even the score in the manner of the Count of Monte Cristo.

What you said is very true and very wise. Unfortunately, that type of wisdom only comes with age.

 

Offroad well stated..thank God Shank did not get hurt

 

Calcareer,
Agree!

 

eehhh...there is a pretty high ratio of lazy underachieving members who are both lucky and privileged on this board too. Not everyone is a self made bootstrapper....

But I suppose even the spoiled ones would react the same way thinking they are special and should be avenged. LOL...



dave w

 

Stop being serious!!!!
We're on the internet, e-battles is what it's all about!! We should all be bragging how we would have nuked their noses, and fed their ears to rats, while pouding their wives (assuming they're hot and approved by the forum via 3 "I'd hit it" confirmation pics).

Ok ... let's be serious then ...
Just an observation, in Europe, wealth is MUCH more discrete. All houses are gated, you never know if a farm is house to 6 Ferraris or a tractor. People rarely drive a Porsche (let alone a Gallardo!) as a daily driver.

Don't be fooled, **** happens ... but America still is one hell of a place to enjoy nice cars (and the according lifestyle). Much better than Europe, as far as I can compare.

 

I felt like I had to chime in since I live in Europe. I am certainly not rich but I do live comfortably. I have noticed that generally most Germans are not envious enough to actually vandalize ones property. Perhaps it’s because Europe has a deeper history of the "have's" and "have not's" that stem from the days of kings and queens etc.. Kind of like the people know their place. (Just my opinion)

Do you know most Germans opt to remove the badges on their cars? Most of the time you don’t know whether you are looking at a c4s or a turbo... a M3 or regular 3 series... Obviously the car enthusiasts like us could tell but 95% cannot. Ask most Americans if they would EVER remove the AMG badge off their SL65 and I doubt you will find many takers. Obviously owning a Ferrari or Lambo it would be plain silly to remove the badges but still you get my point. Europeans tend to drive "under the radar" while Americans WANT to be noticed. (Just my opinion)

 

The problem is these people generally have the same opportunity to be successful as anyone else but lack the drive and determination to achieve it.

So what to do? Be a hater of those who are successful.

 

There will always be individuals who try to make up for their own realized inadequacy by causing trouble for others - you can be driving a Kia and still be the target of beer bottles or keyed or something else. It's a sad fact

 

As silly as it sounds... as a society we need these people, just as their is good their must be evil, rich and poor, haters and the hated. It's a balancing act that goes far deeper than we can see.

I think society is like the stock market. If someone turns $10 into $100 then somewhere in the world is a person or group of people who have collectivelly lost $90. Afterall, the stock market is just a transfer of money. I think the same can be said in our society. Where one person is successful there has to be one or more that are less successful and this just trickles down to the lowest common denomintaor. Who happens to be two thugs in a beat up mini-van drinking Cobra beer and taking their frustrations out on a beautiful lamborghini that in all honesty they will never afford. (IE, Shanks car)

 

they may have opportunity ... but hardly the same.

 

I'd rather be high profile (rich) own sweet cars and deal with the risks then be low profile and own decent cars...

 

Weather rich or poor, you should respect other people's property just like it was your own. There is no excuse for vandalism. Now describing yourself in the third person, ...