Anger at the Gas Pump

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
> Date: May 27, 2008 3:30:11 PM EDT
> To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
> Cc: "lauren () vortex com" <lauren () vortex com>
> Subject: Anger at the Gas Pump

> Dave,
>
> Here in L.A. at least, people hardly ever talk to each other while
> filling up at gas stations -- they tend to stay quiet and ignore each
> other just like men in public restrooms.
>
> But recently I've seen a unusual change in this pattern.  People are
> loudly cursing, making unsolicited comments to other nearby patrons
> (e.g., "Bush and the GOP did this to us!" -- "Damn those %$%@(## oil
> companies!" -- "$80 #(@G! bucks to fill the tank!" -- "Screw
> [insert public figure and/or foreign oil producing country here]" --
> and so on.
>
> This isn't just happening occasionally -- I'm getting an earful
> of these every time I've been at a pump of late.
>
> I've lived in L.A. my entire life, and I've never seen reactions
> like this.  Even during the Oil Embargo, long lines, and odd/even
> rationing way back, I didn't hear this kind of public anger, mostly
> directed at government leaders.
>
> I pass this along simply as an observation.
>
> --Lauren--
> Lauren Weinstein
> lauren () vortex com or lauren () pfir org
> Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
> http://www.pfir.org/lauren
> Co-Founder, PFIR
>   - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
> Co-Founder, NNSquad
>   - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org
> Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
> Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
> Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com



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