zero day

[katster]

First of all, and I know this is becoming annoying, please donate to help send me to The Night of Writing Dangerously. I just need 15 more people to donate $10 each, and the clock is starting to tick down. (I have to make it to the goal by Nov. 18!) This is what I’d like for my birthday, so if you can spare a bit, I’d appreciate it.

That said, I’m taking a zero day today. There’s a strange concept at work these days called work, and so I’ve been doing that. And then there was school. At least it’s the class I like, so there’s a good thing.

I’m feeling a bit better tonight, although I suspect the chronic low-level depression won’t go away until I address some of the structural problems underlying some of it. This is harder than it looks.

And with that said, I’ve got an interesting question for you to chew on. It’s two AM, and you’re driving a lonely highway. As you approach a red light, you can clearly see that there’s nobody around at all.

So why do you stop?

Just a thought.

Originally published at retstak.org. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[glinda-w.livejournal.com]

Well, I stop because I can't be 100% certain that some idiot won't come streaming down the road at 90mph in a 25 zone, and T-bone my car. Or a law enforcement vehicle, or aid car.

Also, to not let myself get in the habit of *not* stopping at a red light, y'know? (Actually, that is probably the stronger reason, for me.) (Which um. [insert missing word meaning connection of some sort] um. maybe maps? to thoughts about not wanting to do a wrong or unsafe thing just because I won't get caught at it. Or soemthing. Gah. Insomnia. Ambien is loosing its effects on me, and I'm gonna have to do some sort of medication roulette to find a substitute. am cranky.)

[lirazel.livejournal.com]

I stop because of everything that Glinda said, and also something else. See, I was raised by radicals. My mom was a member of the Young Communists, my dad lived in a commune in Green Bay, Wis that actually burned their membership records in fear of the McCarthy hearings, etc. Later, they were both very involved in the Civil Rights Movement, and I myself have participated in organized protests and marches here and there.

And one of the rules that's drummed into you when you're brought up this way is that you only break laws if they are unjust or you have some other very, very pressing reason. Like saving a life. You do it deliberately and because it needs to be done, not just for your own personal convenience. And this even applies to jaywalking and signaling and stopping at lonely stop-lights. So I follow all such laws as well as I can. When I do break one, there will be a reason for it!

[melchar.livejournal.com]

I stop at the red light because I am a bit obsessive/compulsive. It would -bug- me to not stop. [Just like I have to straighten pictures handing on the wall ... and many other habits akin to that.]

[whytraven.livejournal.com]

Because I'm a biker and know what would happen to me if someone didn't stop, not seeing me.

I can't help you with NOWD but I did x-post. Good luck. :)

[jaeai.livejournal.com]

Whooo stop at the stop light...every time. :)

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