why do people freak out about the weather constantly?

[rudeguy]

I live in Michigan. It snows here, a lot. Every year we get many feet of snow. But any time snow is predicted, people start freaking out. The news starts doing the 24/7 map on the screen, facebook is full of doom and gloom and gas stations are packed.

WTF? You know what I do to prepare for severe weather? I check my phone to see if my son's school is cancelled and look out the window to see if I need to clear off my truck before I leave.

Then when the snow does come, if it comes (we've had 4 severe winter storms that produced less than an inch) they drive like they have never driven in the stuff before. And every person you talk to complains about the snow!


I don't get it.

 

[janas19]

Because people aren't smart?

 

[sdifox]

no memory

 

[Crono]

It's a shared inconvenience or fear.

 

[Arik5405]

It's been a pretty easy winter here in West Michigan too. But you're right, facebook status: "ZOMG 2-4 inches possible tonight!"

 

[Brigandier]

I live in the U.P., the only weather I freak about is end of May to end of August...Oh, I don't complain.

 

[sandorski]

Storm Tracker 5000!!!!!

Somethings gotta prop up the hype.

 

[rudeguy]

It's been a pretty easy winter here in West Michigan too. But you're right, facebook status: "ZOMG 2-4 inches possible tonight!"

if I get stuck behind one more person doing 35 on 96...I'm going to push them out of my way!

 

[FoBoT]

I don't get it.

it's the death and destruction

 

[Red Squirrel]

I always found it funny too how lot of southerners freak out over snow/cold. It's always funny to watch Toronto news and they issue these huge warnings over possible 2cm of snow and "super cold" -10 with the windchill, and warning people to plug in their cars. I can see plugging an older car at -20 or colder, but -10? lol

Part of the issue is people refuse to drive to the conditions. Why is it that people insist they have to drive 20 over the limit every single day no matter what? If it's white out conditions then slow down, and everybody is going to be safe. But then you have these dumbasses still driving 20 over and they can't even see the end of their car and run into people trying to drive safe.

 

[Arik5405]

I always found it funny too how lot of southerners freak out over snow/cold. It's always funny to watch Toronto news and they issue these huge warnings over possible 2cm of snow and "super cold" -10 with the windchill, and warning people to plug in their cars. I can see plugging an older car at -20 or colder, but -10? lol

Part of the issue is people refuse to drive to the conditions. Why is it that people insist they have to drive 20 over the limit every single day no matter what? If it's white out conditions then slow down, and everybody is going to be safe. But then you have these dumbasses still driving 20 over and they can't even see the end of their car and run into people trying to drive safe.

Keep the slow pokes in the right lane and everything will be A-OK.

 

[rudeguy]

I always found it funny too how lot of southerners freak out over snow/cold. It's always funny to watch Toronto news and they issue these huge warnings over possible 2cm of snow and "super cold" -10 with the windchill, and warning people to plug in their cars. I can see plugging an older car at -20 or colder, but -10? lol

Part of the issue is people refuse to drive to the conditions. Why is it that people insist they have to drive 20 over the limit every single day no matter what? If it's white out conditions then slow down, and everybody is going to be safe. But then you have these dumbasses still driving 20 over and they can't even see the end of their car and run into people trying to drive safe.

if you are afraid, at least stay off the highway. I don't drive faster than I can stop but the people doing 40 mph under the speed limit should not be on the highway.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Keep the slow pokes in the right lane and everything will be A-OK.

Not all roads have 2 lanes, but yes, if there's multiple lanes then anyone doing under should stick to the left. The crazies that think they are invincible can go ahead and pass everyone and probably hit an oncoming vehicle while the ones playing it safe can get to work in one piece.

 

[Arik5405]

Not all roads have 2 lanes, but yes, if there's multiple lanes then anyone doing under should stick to the left. The crazies that think they are invincible can go ahead and pass everyone and probably hit an oncoming vehicle while the ones playing it safe can get to work in one piece.

But if I get to work first, I get dibs on my choice of donuts and the coffee is nice and hot. It's worth the risk.

 

[Red Squirrel]

if you are afraid, at least stay off the highway. I don't drive faster than I can stop but the people doing 40 mph under the speed limit should not be on the highway.

It's not really the thing of being afraid, but being smart. If you have zero reaction time at your speed then why drive that fast? Life is not worth risking to be 2 minutes early at work. Here people (for the most part) will slow down to the conditions, and because everyone is doing it consistently, it's not as bad. I remember going out of town to watch a hockey game and on the way back there was a blizzard. So people were driving 45-50 instead of 60 on the highway. Everyone got to town safe and it only took like 10 minutes more. Now if it's just snowing lightly, it's a different story. But even the south gets blizzards at time, and people need to learn to slow the fuck down. Idealy you want to give yourself time to react if something pops in front of you. If you can barely see the end of your car it's stupid to be doing 60.

 

[rudeguy]

Not all roads have 2 lanes, but yes, if there's multiple lanes then anyone doing under should stick to the left. The crazies that think they are invincible can go ahead and pass everyone and probably hit an oncoming vehicle while the ones playing it safe can get to work in one piece.

Oh..I was talking divided roads. One way traffic.

No passing if the weather is crappy with oncoming traffic being a factor. Too many idiots out there who refuse to turn on their lights. I don't want to squish a family to save a couple minutes.

 

[destrekor]

if I get stuck behind one more person doing 35 on 96...I'm going to push them out of my way!

Y'all tend to cause problems when you get down here in Ohio during actual massive snow storms, flying at the speed limit down the loose-fluff in the left lane, while most of us Ohio drivers (in the regions without lake effect) never get used to that amount of snow (considering we typically have plows, since we have, you know, population density ), and half of us have vehicles not entirely all that adept in the snow (and rarely do we have snow shoes for our ride - typically all-season rubber).

I'd much appreciate a gift of a Subie, if you wouldn't mind. Then I'd join you, because I'm "comfortable" with my handling in the snow... my RWD Dakota, on the other hand, hates that white shit.

On that note, so do I. It was fun as a kid (snow days ---> snow forts, snow ball fights, etc), but dammit I am miserable in the winter.
This winter has been glorious... minus the fact that it's still cold (mild compared to normal, I still hate gloomy cold winter).

 

[rudeguy]

I hope it does snow a lot tonight. I will record my drive into work. 90% of the people slow down enough to be safe. The other 10% are split between people who go way too fast and meet the new rope barriers and people who go so slow that they create backups, which is what creates pileups.

 

[destrekor]

It's not really the thing of being afraid, but being smart. If you have zero reaction time at your speed then why drive that fast? Life is not worth risking to be 2 minutes early at work. Here people (for the most part) will slow down to the conditions, and because everyone is doing it consistently, it's not as bad. I remember going out of town to watch a hockey game and on the way back there was a blizzard. So people were driving 45-50 instead of 60 on the highway. Everyone got to town safe and it only took like 10 minutes more. Now if it's just snowing lightly, it's a different story. But even the south gets blizzards at time, and people need to learn to slow the fuck down. Idealy you want to give yourself time to react if something pops in front of you. If you can barely see the end of your car it's stupid to be doing 60.

That's the other thing too - when conditions are ideal, I'm typically pacing well ahead of most traffic (if traffic is going 80+mph, I am very happy and just go with the flow or at least until I have to get ahead of retards or give them distance). Even in rain, I'm fairly comfortable. But whenever any kind of weather or road conditions causes almost all traffic to go below the speed limit, I tend to pretty much keep pace, maybe go a little faster (or again, whatever I have to do to distance myself from retards that terrify me). I can react and know how to maintain grip even just below the limits of my vehicle, but I hate pushing the limits of other people's driving ability.

What I'd do to have a Rex. I'm hoping this damn Dakota can keep stretching her lifespan until I can afford one, but it's a damn sinkhole for my wallet. It seems every year or two I'm putting another $300-1000 into it just to keep her from killing me at any moment. She tried once... brake pedal hit the floor as I was almost on top of an red light, thankfully it had JUST turned red a moment before I crossed the line. Almost shit my pants. It happened before (different line), but it was as I was parallel parking and ebrake was barely even necessary. Then there was the ball joints that were terribly eroded (wondered what those clunks were), and a host of other miserable failures.
Don't really know if I can eek a few more years out of her. I could, but I'd rather spend that maintenance money on a vehicle that actually has some kind of value attached to it.

 

[amdhunter]

If I see a drop of snow here in NYC I am going to kill something.

 

[postmortemIA]

OMG!
Video: Storm Watch

A winter storm is making its way out of the Plains and into the Midwest with its eyes set on some major cities.

On Thursday into Friday, looks for a stripe of snow to lay down from the Dakotas into Iowa, northern Illinois, far northern Indiana and lower Michigan.

Map: Clickable Winter Weather Alerts

In fact, this storm has already dropped several inches of snow over parts of North and South Dakota with a few places coming in with a foot or more of snow.

We have a slew of maps and additional weather analysis below that outlines impacts and timing of the snow for a few cities.

Also included are several radar maps showing exactly where the snow is falling right now.

For even more on this developing storm system including graphics and video, check out our Winter Weather Update page.

 

[sportage]

Blame the weatherman. It's true, especially in places where it doesnt snow tons and tons, when the snow does come the weatherman freaks and thus everyone freaks.
But I noticed while in the lower bible belt they panic, in places like MN you hear the weatherman say "A lot of slow coming, a great time to get out the ski's".
Or.. "10 inches of snow coming, lots of fun for the kids on the way". It's all in the sell. Pretty much like in politics.

 

[iamwiz82]

So far it's way south of Metro Detroit... 6-12" is down to 4-7" for the Rochester Hills area already....

 

[AstroManLuca]

LOL, I have a coworker who is always complaining about the weather no matter what. In winter it's either too cold, too snowy, or not snowy enough. In summer it's either too hot, not hot enough, or too cloudy.

I make a point to not complain about the weather unless it directly affects me. Like if my car gets stuck in the snow or something. Because it pisses me off when people in Minnesota of all places whines about the weather. If you hate cold weather that much why do you live here?

Oh yeah, the other thing I hate is when people complain that the weather forecasters got it wrong. Predicting the weather is a very tricky task, give them a break.

 

[Jeff7]

Y'all tend to cause problems when you get down here in Ohio during actual massive snow storms, flying at the speed limit down the loose-fluff in the left lane, while most of us Ohio drivers (in the regions without lake effect) never get used to that amount of snow (considering we typically have plows, since we have, you know, population density ), and half of us have vehicles not entirely all that adept in the snow (and rarely do we have snow shoes for our ride - typically all-season rubber).

I'd much appreciate a gift of a Subie, if you wouldn't mind. Then I'd join you, because I'm "comfortable" with my handling in the snow... my RWD Dakota, on the other hand, hates that white shit.

My new car's a Subaru.
I think it's snowed three times since I got it in early January, and only a few inches each time. With the plowing and salt on the roads, it wouldn't have been enough to give a FWD car much trouble, much less an AWD car.
Such little snow for this area just feels freakishly bizarre. Winter's going to last into July to make up for this.

Oh well, it saves me the trouble (and expense) of getting snow tires this season, plus a set of wheels so I can swap them myself.

On that note, so do I. It was fun as a kid (snow days ---> snow forts, snow ball fights, etc), but dammit I am miserable in the winter.
This winter has been glorious... minus the fact that it's still cold (mild compared to normal, I still hate gloomy cold winter).

Yeah. :\
Now when 12" falls during the night, I've still got to be at work on time in the morning. But I guess if that kind of snow would close businesses around here, we'd all just say "screw it" and hibernate for the winter.