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Question for the group:

In general are Mexicans more patient than those north of the border?

If so, why is this the case?

Any feedback welcome.

Originally Posted by bwall

Question for the group:

In general are Mexicans more patient than those north of the border?

If so, why is this the case?

Any feedback welcome.

Not when they drive a vehicle sometimes. At least not here.

Originally Posted by MexicaliAlan

Not when they drive a vehicle sometimes. At least not here.

I've often wondered why normally calm and friendly Mexicans seem like they are possessed by Satan when they get behind the wheel. I've come to the conclusion it is about having control. I think many Mexicans feel the situations around them in life are out of their control. When they are driving they are in control and have a feeling of power. Not all use it wisely. JMHO of course.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

I've often wondered why normally calm and friendly Mexicans seem like they are possessed by Satan when they get behind the wheel. I've come to the conclusion it is about having control. I think many Mexicans feel the situations around them in life are out of their control. When they are driving they are in control and have a feeling of power. Not all use it wisely. JMHO of course.

Yes some of them sometimes take the road like no one else is allowed to get in their way or slow them down regardless of who has the right of way and turn signals don´t exist for many drivers down here. Motos, bicycles and pedestrians are fair game to bump into by some drivers also. Basic impatience when driving by some, I feel. Alan

Driving habits: agreed.

Other than that, though?

Originally Posted by MexicaliAlan

Not when they drive a vehicle sometimes. At least not here.

Man....ain't that the truth. Generally speaking, Mexicans are patient, kind, generous and courteous.....until they get behind the wheel of a car. Then they can turn MeMeMe selfishness into an art form.
I think it has something to do with the anonymity that the car provides.
Throughout history, Mexicans have been subserviant to a ruling class and proper deportment in public was socially mandated. Anything less could lead to serious conflict.
Behind the wheel and inside the car, they are free of these restraints and the real Mexican emerges showing his frustration with being told to maintain his alloted position in society.
As a culture, those lower than the top have forever been deprived and they strike back when anonymous. They have a tendency to "take" what is there because they have no face to save.

Please note....I said "generally." Of course there are exceptions.

Have you ever had a Face Off with a Mexican Female with a Grocery Cart..

Originally Posted by J.P.

Have you ever had a Face Off with a Mexican Female with a Grocery Cart..

There's a whole culture formula for dealing with that, John. They drive their shopping carts just like they do their cars.
It's supposed to go something like this:
The woman parks her cart dead in the center of the aisle while she goes right or left to the shelf and begins reading labels.
Of course, you can't get by, so you're supposed to stop at her cart and say"Con permiso"....at which time she looks at you with a smile as though you just popped up out of the floor.
She then moves her cart to the side........the two of you exchanging smiles while mumbling a few words, and you carry on.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

There's a whole culture formula for dealing with that, John. They drive their shopping carts just like they do their cars.
It's supposed to go something like this:
The woman parks her cart dead in the center of the aisle while she goes right or left to the shelf and begins reading labels.
Of course, you can't get by, so you're supposed to stop at her cart and say"Con permiso"....at which time she looks at you with a smile as though you just popped up out of the floor.
She then moves her cart to the side........the two of you exchanging smiles while mumbling a few words, and you carry on.

The shopping cart thing is funny. The Costco in TJ is a demolition derby. I just figured they drive anything with wheels the same way. I do think many Mexicans lack a sense of social awareness. It doesn't occur to them their actions may cause others to be inconvenienced. It's innocent but aggravating. Alonzo is always yelling out his drivers window at his fellow Mexicans when they screw up driving. It's pretty funny how much it aggravates him too.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

I do think many Mexicans lack a sense of social awareness. It doesn't occur to them their actions may cause others to be inconvenienced. It's innocent but aggravating.

There's something else. Mexicans have a different spatial consciousness than we have. Their world in their mind is smaller, more toward the center, that being they themselves.
The grocery store again comes to mind. We would be aware of others in the aisle and would conduct our traffic pattern accordingly.
In Calimax, when the congestion comes to the "Con permiso" point, she actually doesn't realize you are there in the same aisle.
Another example....when driving in traffic, a US type person will look beyond the hood of his vehicle and see something unusual a hundred yards up the road and make an adjustment in lane or speed before it becomes a collision issue.
The Mexican driver won't do that. He'll carry on at the same speed right up to a crucial point, unaware of the obstruction, when he has to brake hard to avoid contact with the vehicle, or whatever, in his path. He'll then make a questionable lane change compounding the hazard.
We drive in our world, he drives in his much smaller world.

I believe these are cultural differences, and of course, generalizations.

Alonzo is always yelling out his drivers window at his fellow Mexicans when they screw up driving. It's pretty funny how much it aggravates him too.

My Mexican friends do that too, but I always thought it was for my benefit. They really don't care. They're used to it.

I heard a hoary old chestnut that Mexicans view driving courtesy as a peculiar form of mental retardation common among norteamericanos.

Gringos, if you prefer.

I'd have to say in general most Mexicans I know are way, WAY more patient about most things than we are.

Originally Posted by Marty Cortez

I I'd have to say in general most Mexicans I know are way, WAY more patient about most things than we are.

True.........except driving.
We seem to have gone full circle.

Have you heard anything new about Gene?

I live on the same road Dennis does it is quite curvey With a lot of blind curves. I have noticed when the Mexican driver enters the curve slowing down does not compute. They just let it drift over in the other lane and when you meet one on your side of the road they appear to say Didnt you see me.like maybee you should pull off the road and let them continue.


Seriously I have lived down here 11 years and I cant drive in San Diego anymore those people up there scare the HELL out of me.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

...heard anything new about Gene?

Not a peep.

Originally Posted by J.P.

...I cant drive in San Diego anymore those people up there scare the HELL out of me.

I had an interesting philosophical discussion with a friend debating the "innocence vs. intentional selfishness/malice of drivers"...

He said he concedes to obviously aggressive jerks who cut him off on purpose, but that it is the doddering elders who really aggravate him.

I totally disagree. Seniors are usually very consistent with how they dither and block traffic, and most importantly they rarely make abrupt moves.

That edgy tweeker in the rice burner is what fries me; their "sharp elbows" approach to sharing the road gits on mah nerves.

Originally Posted by Marty Cortez

He said he concedes to obviously aggressive jerks who cut him off on purpose, but that it is the doddering elders who really aggravate him.

His is a good, healthy response to road-rage.....not so generous toward the elderly. Perhaps he should consider an adjustment in his tolerance level.

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Cortez
I I'd have to say in general most Mexicans I know are way, WAY more patient about most things than we are.
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I would have to say your friend contradicts your evaluation by being a nasty, mean sonofabitch.

Originally Posted by DENNIS
...heard anything new about Gene?

Not a peep.

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Lets leave it like that.
Some people deal with their problems privately and do not want their private lives/problems splattered all over the web.

Thanks.

Now, there's the old Gruñón that I know & love!

Mexicans generally, at least in La Paz, seem to have more patience than people from the US in bureaucratic situations and others that involve waiting one's turn (supermarket checkouts, doctors' offices, ATMs).

Both US and Mexican drivers can be horribly impatient, but Mexicans other than young men tend to be less rude about it. Similar to J.P., after living elsewhere for 30+ years, I'm terrified to drive in the US, particularly on highways. People follow the rules to a fault (with the exception of speed limits and tailgating), and hardly anyone knows how to drive defensively.

Kate I couldnt agree more I think instead of making a decision based on Legality here the Mexican driver reacts on simple logic. They think nothing of making a u turn out of the right hand lane for exanple. I think the law reflects that attitude also when you have a collision. fault is usually in favor of the person that was hit. Not as who was violating the law.

"Throughout history, Mexicans have been subserviant to a ruling class and proper deportment in public was socially mandated. Anything less could lead to serious conflict."

Fascinating. And, I believe it may make sense. I had also noticed that rich(er) Mexicans seem to be a bit more impatient and I never could quite figure all that out. It seems as your theory would validate that point as well as they wouldn't suffer consequenses by lack of obsequiessence. I cannot spell.