Some cars come with key rings that have electronic transmitters that can lock and unlock the car. One option that can be used this technique is for the horn to beep briefly to tell the driver he has successsfully hit the button to lock the doors. In residential neighborhoods literally dozens of people may be subjected to a horn beep every time someone shows up and locks their door. Beeping a horn every time one locks one's car door is inexcusably rude.
I have managed to talk one friend out of doing this. But someone just parked across the street and beeped their horn twice as they walked away from the car. They didn't even bother to pay attention to the first beep and did it a second time. What an obnoxious jerk.
Modern life is already too noisy and distracting. We don't need to invent new ways for people to distract and interrupt the lives of each other.
Update: And while I'm on unnecessary horn blasts: Some cars have alarms that go off when improperly accessed where the horn starts blowing to warn of an attempted theft. Well, I've probably heard car horn alarms go off hundreds of times without one of those times being a real theft. Car horn alarms are also inexcusably rude and obnoxious. These alarms are worthless. When you hear one what is the first thought in your mind? It is probably something along the lines of "Oh god, does the owner hear it or will we have to listen to it until the battery runs down?"
By Randall Parker at 2004 July 31 11:08 AM Off Beat And Odd | TrackBackI bought my car with keyless entry. I had no control over what type of sound would be produced when I utilized this function to lock my car. Blaming people like me for having a car that produces a horn sound when locking is absurd and suggests you are too sensitive about the matter. Most people you find with cars like this don't know you, and you don't know them. How are they supposed to know you think they are rude for using their keyless entry device?
BTW, I'll keep using my keyless entry because once you've gotten used to it, it is too hard to switch to manual entry- and, no, I'm not going to spend the money to retro- fit my car with another expensive keyless entry device that suits your taste. Keyless entries can easily run into the $1,000+ range.
Posted by: r on July 31, 2004 01:56 PMRe: Social order.
A friend lives in a secure complex with 400 units. Her apartment is right above a temporary parking area. Day and night, people park and blow their horn to let their friends know they’ve arrived. The alternative is to leave their car, punch in their friend’s phone number, and talk through an intercom. Faced with that not many worry about all the tenants who don’t want to hear that horn.
I don’t think there is a good solution. The horn blower pays no penalty for disturbing others and not blowing the horn is much more inconvenient for the horn blower and his friend.
I’ve suggested to my friend that she could keep a water balloon filled with mud for those occasions when she feels she must respond (3am horn blower). At this level we live in a jungle and proper behavior is enforced by a willingness to confront others.
In the example Randall provides, I think a person's response may depend on where the person grew up. Some neighborhoods have strict “public nuisance” laws that prohibit horn blowing, leaf blowers, or lawn mowing in the morning or evening. In others pretty much anything goes.
Thank you for writing this! This isn't such a problem for people living in suburbia so there they don't realize what a nuisance it is. But for anyone living like you said in a large apartment or for me near a small college with on-street parking with high parking turnover, the constant random beeping is a serious problem.
Without over dramatizing on my part what you said, it does bring to mind the stuff I've read of Martin Seligman ("Learned Optimism", "Learned Helplessness") of the serious negative psychological consequences of being put at the mercy of uncontrollable environmental forces. And the constant barrage of random beeps, honks, alarm bells qualifies.
For anyone who hasn't read his books, in one experiment Seligman had German Shepherd dogs in kennel sized boxes submitted to mild electrical shocks. In no time the demeanor, behavior (and personality if you can go that far) of the dogs completely collapsed till they were nothing but shivering wrecks. The simple expedient of letting them jump out of the box occasionally was enough to restore their mental equilibrium even after they were returned to the hostile environment. The experiments demonstrated the soul destroying effects of a bad environmental coupled with limited or no personal control.
In my case I was at the liberty to move. So the landlord was paying the price ultimately in a weak rental market.
But the phenomenon is not only rude but dangerous. On streets where autos park perpendicular to and facing the sidewalk you as a pedestrian can be walking with your earhole almost right next to the front grille of an SUV and catch the full blast of the horn as you walk by, with the owner conveniently 5 paces behind the horn out of harms way. That experience counts as a physical assault in my book.
One thing I found is the default key option for new cars is the horn. At least in (my) GM you can program as I have done to have the keyless system to flick the lights on momentarily, which admittedly works better at night. If this was the default setting then most people would accept this as a given. Problem solved.
Perhaps in due course the keyless transmitters will get a receiver too, so the all-locked signal can be received and audibly signalled as with a cell phone, without alerting the entire neighborhood.
Posted by: john d. on July 31, 2004 06:39 PMI don't understood why the car manufacturers don't put a little speaker in the keypad. That would serve as the confirmation noise. Unless of course, the car horn is meant to help the idiots who lose their cars in parking lots.
Posted by: TangoMan on July 31, 2004 07:42 PMr indignantly writes:
I bought my car with keyless entry. I had no control over what type of sound would be produced when I utilized this function to lock my car.You have full control over whether you use the keyless system or lock the car with the button on the door. Claiming that you have no control over the obnoxious effects of your vehicle is disingenuous, like the motorcyclists who claim necessity to keep motorists and deer "aware" of them as an excuse for going without mufflers.
In a Libertarian world of frictionless tort suits, each intrusive honk from your car would wind up presenting you with a bill for damages. In this world, I hope that noise regulations prohibit the sale and installation of such systems; your noise is no more welcome than the phone ringing with telemarketers, and should be outlawed. People have the right to quiet enjoyment of their dwellings, and taking their quiet is damage no matter how you slice it.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet on August 1, 2004 06:47 AMTangoMan: The Nissan Quest / Mercury Villager keyless system had a piezo unit in the transmitter as of the 1995 model year.
Such systems did not become popular, and it's not hard to see why; it doesn't matter what the transmitter is doing if the vehicle does not receive the message, so confirmation from the vehicle is all that matters.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet on August 1, 2004 07:24 AMWell, as a libertarian, I hate resorting to legislation of any sort to prohibit anyone from anything that doesn't really hurt me. An obnoxious horn-toot (indicating that keyless locking has been successful) is a tough call, because the detrimental effects of the horn toot are hard to quantify. For instance, perhaps I am trying to get a goodnight sleep before I take the LSAT, and the horn wakes me up and really irritates me, causing me to lose half an hour of sleep. That would be a real harm. On the other hand, perhaps I am just brushing my teeth, and am only vaguely aware of the horn. Not a big deal. Certainly the user of the horn-lock cannot predict when it will be harmful to others, and like one poster mentioned above, they suffer no penalty either way. What answer is there other than legislation banning the horn-lock?
Well, I think the best answer is to write/petition auto makers. I am certain that a car could be equipped with any number of signals that could indicate that the car was locked properly-- a light pulse, or a quieter (or at least less offensive) noise come to mind. If people in general are not offended enough by the horn-lock to confront auto makers and to leverage their buying power to get the free market working to end the production of the horn-lock product, then I guess the answer for people like Randall is, unfortunately, tough luck.
Posted by: Walker on August 1, 2004 10:03 PMIt is exactly because the vehicle owner can't know what damage they'll cause with their noise that they should not make noise without necessity. Firing bullets into the air is very unlikely to cause harm, but hitting the wrong thing is a definite possibility.
The manufacturers won't stop making noisy alarms on their own. The problem is that the individual interest is worst for all; everyone (or at least a large number of people) wants audible notice to deter thieves as much as possible or just for reassurance, but nobody wants to listen to everyone else's noise. People can only control what their own car does, so if even a minority wants loud behavior the manufacturers will have to respond or lose sales to other manufacturers or the aftermarket. Unfortunately, legislation is the only fix.
If we had legislation, maybe we'd get cars which automatically called your cell phone if their alarm was triggered. This would help to bother the right people and not the wrong ones!
Posted by: Engineer-Poet on August 2, 2004 09:02 AMI hadn't encountered them until I visited my son who has one car that does not sound the horn and one that does. The one that does is a VW and it gives a descreet little toot compared to the honk that emerges when I mess up with the buttons on the key and set the alarm off. I do notice that the horn beep is a more positive indicator than squinting at the tailights for a flash. I have never particularly noticed anoyone else's indicator beep so I don't know if they are louder than my son't VW or not. I can see that they would be more intrusive in a high density parking/dwelling area than in the suburbs where I was. Having had to reporgram the VW computer, but not for the locking beep, I doubt that all systems have easily accessable options to turn off the beep. The VW was tricky enough to discourage abyone not comfortable around programming electronic devices...its like the VCR light still blinking..the default will probably stay on most cars.
Posted by: Lgude on August 2, 2004 02:09 PMKeyless door entry beeps having been bugging me for a long time and I just thought it was me. I travel a lot and stay at Residence inn hotels which surround the hotel with a parking so if you have a room facing the car park all you hear all night is beeps and horn blowing. I also has a neighbour how does this everynight when he returns home. It drives me nuts that the government does not do anythign about this. If one person has this system it is a small problem. When every car has this then the problem will be out of control.
Posted by: Chris B on February 15, 2005 05:45 AMUm, it's just quick horn chirp. What's the big deal? But hey, let's think a little more realistically... it's just a quick horn chirp. What's the big deal? Seriously though... My car, by default, had a quick horn chirp AND my headlights would flash. Wow... now I'm pissing off vampires! Well, I didn't like the horn chirping so I looked in my nifty little manual and found out how to change the settings. Now I just listen for my door lock actuators to make their noise. I didn't change it for the sake of others, though... I just didn't like the idea of someone knowing which car was being left alone. Nothing like advertising "Hey, I'm leaving my car for a while... go ahead and wait for me to turn the corner so you can break into it!". After all, it's just a quick horn chirp. What's the big deal?
Posted by: B Art on August 8, 2005 12:05 AMB Art,
If the beeping horns are not a big deal then why are so many people annoyed by them?
Posted by: Randall Parker on August 8, 2005 08:49 AMB Art,
If the beeping horns are not a big deal then why are so many people annoyed by them?
Posted by: Randall Parker on August 8, 2005 02:21 PMI could not agree more. I live in a new condo, above the parking garages and this one idiot insists on parking his car outside his garage since his garage contains boxes and other stuff, so I am subjected to the loud horn blast every time he comes home around 11 PM, and I go to bed around 9:30 for work - it wakes me up each night. I never relaized before how obnoxious that sound is and yet I hear it all the time with people blissfully unaware. I asked him nicely when he comes home late to use the keypad inside the car so it does not make that horn sound and he acted offended and is now doing it twice at night to keep me up. Ugh!
Posted by: Don on August 15, 2005 07:28 PMWe need more help.
I'd like to think that a majority of people do care about others.
Let's not forget about the use of a horn for purposes other than emergencies. Most places have laws stating so. Perhaps I live in an urban area and have become immune to the honking of horns because of the horn answer back. How would you like it if I ran your child over in my Ford Excursion because I ignored the horn signal that someone else gave me when I was backing up? Just think about it? Then whose responsible? Some car makers like BMW use a seperate "digital" sounding indicator that does not sound like a warning signal. I like the idea of the car answering the remote when it's locked much better though!
CAR HORN RACISM
For the past few years I have been trying to warn, or in the least, get America to reflect on the new trend of socially unacceptable behavior which is cursing our shores and reeks right out of the very root of racism; racial actions that are done subliminally and that are never addressed. Sadly to say, not only have my hark and cry of this cruel and insensitive epidemic of rude behavior not be taken up by the forces which may affect change (media, academia and, both religious and humanist secular concerns); the epidemic continues to grow unabated and has taken on such unnecessary and preposterous levels that the ethnos rising up against ethnos spoken of by Jesus in the bible, will most certainly not escape these shores. Let us pray that New Orleans has become will of those crucial sparks that will ignite such. My major focus in on those little sparks, the ones that surface each and every day in the life of a person of color (or should I say certain colors or degrees thereof).
Along with a reprint of an article I wrote several years ago I will attempt to get the audience to take up observation of what’s happening out there in society in general and inspire them to reflect on their own actions as it relates to such material that I will present.
Currently I live in a city in which the black population is 3% of the whole. The next few sentences is by no means an attempt to shift focus or blame on another racial group, it is merely presented as a fact for the particular city where I live; I would have not put forth such had I been writing this from Atlanta or Baltimore or any other city where blacks (especially if there is a established underclass population present) represent a significant proportion of the population.
. The overwhelming majority of car thefts in this city are perpetrated by those of Hispanic origin
. The overwhelming majority (if not all) the chop shops are operated by those of Hispanic origin
. Because of the close proximity of the Mexican border, the major of the cars stolen for resale end up in Mexican territory, commandeered by those of Hispanic origin.
YET, IT ONLY TAKES THE GLIMPSE OF A BLACK AND THERE GOES THE SYMPHONY OF CAR ALARMS AND HORNS (P.S Folks most of us own vehicles too! We do know that you can lock the door without notifying the whole neighborhood)
RARELY have I seen such musical tribute being played on behalf of a Hispanic, odd isn’t considering the aforementioned FACTS. In fact the only time I have seen it done was if the Hispanic happened to be so threatening in dress and manner or if he happened to be of such of dark complexion that he is mistaken for black, in such a case the reluctant vehicle owner might have to do the rude thing.
There is a game that I like to play. I like to sit out at an outdoor café or any other outdoors venue where arriving cars are being parked. I pick a spot where I am pretty much concealed from the arrives view. Funny! Unless another one of my dark brethren or aforementioned dark Hispanic passes by, there is no symphony. Imagine that, people get out of their cars without making mechanical noises. The symphony hall is quiet. Later I will change places and sit where I am visible. And guess what, “Whenever you are near, I hear a symphony”.
Earlier I spoke of this as a game but that is not entirely true. This is a personal assault on my dignity on my perceived worth as a human being, if ever there was one. How this new century behavior supposedly and more justified, genteel or warranted than the blatant verbal insults which whites had the permission to inflict on blacks all the the last century and right up until the civil rights movement?
Behavior such as this is unacceptable and every black who has to experience these insults to his presence, day in and day out is registering it; even if on a subconscious level.
And one day the levees of tolerance and dismissal will undoubtedly break?
This wake up call presented by Phillip Ghee 9/9/05
What Is Racism?
By Phillip Ghee
I can't believe how many people, including intellectuals, who when attempting to define and lend solutions to the problem of race-relations, continuously miss the mark when attempting to document racism. It is either some overt racist act that will ignite their passion or the dissatisfying groans echoing from the daily struggle of inner-city life, to which their focus is drawn.
The subtle forms of racism are everywhere. You don't need studies and degrees to figure it out, all you need to do is use your common sense and open your eyes, leave your book learned castles of dogma and experience common day life. Perhaps they should follow me around for a day with a hidden camera and I will show them things, subtle things, intricate things which, if viewed in proper context, should make their consciousness growl.
I am an African American male, although in my forties, I have been blessed by heredity to look far younger than my actual age. I am a conservative dresser and, in my oval framed glasses, collegian and studious in appearance. I have lived the bulk of my existence in the midst of white dominated society and culture. I have lived in predominately white neigborhoods and as a result have had more Caucasian friends and acquaintances than those who are black or of other minorities. I articulate will and am shy of conducting my business nor my social outings in a predominate white culture. I live on the trendier side of town in a major city, Los Angeles.
I have never been a victim of the racial profiling of any Police Department. I do not feel that I have ever been turned down a job, promotion or lodgings simply on the bases of my race. In short I should be the prime example of a black who, like a Larry Elder tries to rationalize, or suppresses their anger caused by the type of racial profiling which I am going to discuss. I feel sorry for a person like Mr. Elders who chooses to rationalize his way to a harmonious acceptance of the substandard characterization of his being, based solely on his color. I for one, will neither suppress nor rationalize my reaction to treatment generating such anger and, I am calling on blacks, especially those who have maintained a limited acceptance in the white community to do the same.
I am a victim, yes a true victim because the crime perpetrated against me I have not elicited nor do I have any control or means of averting the crime. I am a victim of racial profiling. No, not of the controversial type of profiling which is so prominent in our modern News lexicon. I am, and millions of others like me, victim of racial profiling although subtle, is much more sinister in its implications. Every time I leave my house, every time I shop, every time I pass a white women on the street, every time a white person gets out of their car and notes my presence I fall victim to this type of profiling.
Sadly, in the case of black Americans our lives are viewed by a different set parameters than any other group (and I will not attempt to justify it as being understandable). For instance, I am a hospital employee. Although, a technician I am required to wear the same white lab coat and expected to present myself in the same manner as the physicians. A visitor can only ascertain that I am not a physician by close inspection: a review of my identification badge. It never ceases to amaze me, how at first contact, a visitor or potential patient will employ all those same subliminal safeguards I call The Flinch: (jacket drawn with great urgency to cover their bosom, skirt adjusted down) , if white female is in the seated position. Upon sighting my presence causes hands drawn close to ( a reflex motion to shield the body), wallet pocket patted, purse clutched, car alarm checked thrice or even four times, children and even dogs pulled close to safety. And this is everyday. It's even worse than the old adage spoken by Malcolm X, What do you call a black man with a Ph.D. ? -- answer -- a nigg__. In fact I have seen pit bulls reacted to with far less fear and anxiety than a black, walking down the street, just trying to go about his business. How does one rationalize this behavior?
I believe situations like those aforementioned, are never put into check, No one ever challenges the dangers of these subtile yet damaging forms of racism and, as a consequence this behavior by whites towards blacks is growing at an unprecedented and alarming rate. Whites are beginning to accept this reaction as normal social behavior. Hey it is okay to get off my car walk ten feet then upon seeing a black man, work my car alarm like crazy. White women are beginning to accept as normal that when approaching a black man you must cover up completely or these animals might see your white flesh and attack you. It is OK for the shop attendant to ignore offering to black man the same courtesy questions such as : how are you today? Although these questions are extended to everyone else in line. I can't even remember the last time I was able to present a credit card without showing ID.
Are any of the intellectuals and social scientist ask the question what are we doing to the dignity of people who are constantly the recipient of such demeaning behavior? An adult overweight person can unchallengingly express the permanent damages done to them by being teased as a kid about their weight and, we are all able to sympathize and say how terrible that is. Yet imagine living a life where the things I have spoken about are happening non-stop and everyday to that young black male. What is he suppose to do when we talk about the greatness and freedom of this country, when we talk about the melting pot of cultures? When we through out taunts such as United We Stand?
The humiliation I am trying to express will still seem a small matter to most. I guess I will never be able to express the magnitude of dehumanization one feels from such aforementioned behavior. Perhaps it can not be conveyed unless someone has walked in the proverbial shoes ( each and everyday).
We are a diverse nation and being naive about another's plight is not a crime although refusing to relinquish naiveness may be.
The Roots of the problem
Racial Subliminal Programing leads to Racial Social Engineering: This is the root of the problem. This is an area which most of us fail to identify or, we ignore when we are confronting the subject of racism. This is subtle form of racism. It generates no hype nor you are able to attach sensational footage to it thus making it a poor choice for News at 10 or an Investigative Report. These factors are the most crucial ingredients in forming the platform of ignorance which racism will undoubtedly grow from. You can not pass it to your child unless someone is constantly feeding it to you.
The media is the primary feeding grounds for subliminal messages. Anyone with half a brain knows that subjects like black crime is viewed much differently than white crime. Everything from word choice to camera time is used to either deflect or enforce the subliminal image desired. The term: a senseless crime always denotes it has been committed by a minority whereas terms like tragic hints that it was committed by a white and thus deflecting the emphasis from the criminal (the being) to the crime (the act) . If there is a car chase that involves a minority, especially a black, you better believe that the cameras are going to remain on the scene to get that close up of the suspect being handcuffed and led away. When it is a white carjacker, after the chase ends the break away shot is that from the helicopter from a considerable distance and the close up is shown on the late night newscast, if at all. We all know this, this is not the important issue, the important yet unasked question is to publicly ask the media, the editors, the news directors, the question why are things reported in this way?
A Los Angeles Councilman once accused the Los Angeles Times of using the term "South Central" to refer to crimes that was being committed in areas way outside the boundaries of his South Central district. Surprisingly, the LA Times did conduct a review of its coverage of crime stories. They found that the Councilman's accusations were indeed true. They issued him an apology and promised to take greater steps in accuracy. The Councilman accepted the apology and the matter was closed. What the Councilman failed to do was to go one step further and ask the crucial question. Why do you editors believe the reporting was being done in this fashion? We will never properly address the issue of racism until questions like these, that tell us about ourselves and our programming, are asked and answered.
You see, by showing blacks as criminals, and by painting them as even more predatory than a white criminal engaged in similar crimes, you reinforce in the minds of mainstream American that these are people to be feared and not trusted.
By citing code words that have come to be associated with blacks, like South Central, you can still inplant that subliminal racist messages without coming out and saying what you really believe. Another example: If a black is shot and there is no way of indicating he or she was a black, you use a code phrase like "It was not thought to have been gang related"
Because of the constant bombardment of subliminal messages and racially motivated programing, this condition of racism can exist within the individual unbeknown to the individual himself. A person can be full of racist ideals and never set about or commit a serious racially motivated act, yet the mind set is still there. He or she still believes they are superior.
And he or she will more than likely institute all those talked about safeguards even in situations not deserving of such behavior.
Prejudice, Bigotry, Discrimination, Hate Crimes, etc. These are the outward _expression of the aforementioned mind set. It is where our attention is most often directed towards. For example, people tend to focus on the incidents of racism rather than the programming which allowed the individual to commit a racist act in the first place.
CAR HORN RACISM
For the past few years I have been trying to warn, or in the least, get America to reflect on the new trend of socially unacceptable behavior which is cursing our shores and reeks right out of the very root of racism; racial actions that are done subliminally and that are never addressed. Sadly to say, not only have my hark and cry of this cruel and insensitive epidemic of rude behavior not be taken up by the forces which may affect change (media, academia and, both religious and humanist secular concerns); the epidemic continues to grow unabated and has taken on such unnecessary and preposterous levels that the ethnos rising up against ethnos spoken of by Jesus in the bible, will most certainly not escape these shores. Let us pray that New Orleans has become will of those crucial sparks that will ignite such. My major focus in on those little sparks, the ones that surface each and every day in the life of a person of color (or should I say certain colors or degrees thereof).
Along with a reprint of an article I wrote several years ago I will attempt to get the audience to take up observation of what’s happening out there in society in general and inspire them to reflect on their own actions as it relates to such material that I will present.
Currently I live in a city in which the black population is 3% of the whole. The next few sentences is by no means an attempt to shift focus or blame on another racial group, it is merely presented as a fact for the particular city where I live; I would have not put forth such had I been writing this from Atlanta or Baltimore or any other city where blacks (especially if there is a established underclass population present) represent a significant proportion of the population.
. The overwhelming majority of car thefts in this city are perpetrated by those of Hispanic origin
. The overwhelming majority (if not all) the chop shops are operated by those of Hispanic origin
. Because of the close proximity of the Mexican border, the major of the cars stolen for resale end up in Mexican territory, commandeered by those of Hispanic origin.
YET, IT ONLY TAKES THE GLIMPSE OF A BLACK AND THERE GOES THE SYMPHONY OF CAR ALARMS AND HORNS (P.S Folks most of us own vehicles too! We do know that you can lock the door without notifying the whole neighborhood)
RARELY have I seen such musical tribute being played on behalf of a Hispanic, odd isn’t considering the aforementioned FACTS. In fact the only time I have seen it done was if the Hispanic happened to be so threatening in dress and manner or if he happened to be of such of dark complexion that he is mistaken for black, in such a case the reluctant vehicle owner might have to do the rude thing.
There is a game that I like to play. I like to sit out at an outdoor café or any other outdoors venue where arriving cars are being parked. I pick a spot where I am pretty much concealed from the arrives view. Funny! Unless another one of my dark brethren or aforementioned dark Hispanic passes by, there is no symphony. Imagine that, people get out of their cars without making mechanical noises. The symphony hall is quiet. Later I will change places and sit where I am visible. And guess what, “Whenever you are near, I hear a symphony”.
Earlier I spoke of this as a game but that is not entirely true. This is a personal assault on my dignity on my perceived worth as a human being, if ever there was one. How this new century behavior supposedly and more justified, genteel or warranted than the blatant verbal insults which whites had the permission to inflict on blacks all the the last century and right up until the civil rights movement?
Behavior such as this is unacceptable and every black who has to experience these insults to his presence, day in and day out is registering it; even if on a subconscious level.
And one day the levees of tolerance and dismissal will undoubtedly break?
This wake up call presented by Phillip Ghee 9/9/05
What Is Racism?
By Phillip Ghee
I can't believe how many people, including intellectuals, who when attempting to define and lend solutions to the problem of race-relations, continuously miss the mark when attempting to document racism. It is either some overt racist act that will ignite their passion or the dissatisfying groans echoing from the daily struggle of inner-city life, to which their focus is drawn.
The subtle forms of racism are everywhere. You don't need studies and degrees to figure it out, all you need to do is use your common sense and open your eyes, leave your book learned castles of dogma and experience common day life. Perhaps they should follow me around for a day with a hidden camera and I will show them things, subtle things, intricate things which, if viewed in proper context, should make their consciousness growl.
I am an African American male, although in my forties, I have been blessed by heredity to look far younger than my actual age. I am a conservative dresser and, in my oval framed glasses, collegian and studious in appearance. I have lived the bulk of my existence in the midst of white dominated society and culture. I have lived in predominately white neigborhoods and as a result have had more Caucasian friends and acquaintances than those who are black or of other minorities. I articulate will and am shy of conducting my business nor my social outings in a predominate white culture. I live on the trendier side of town in a major city, Los Angeles.
I have never been a victim of the racial profiling of any Police Department. I do not feel that I have ever been turned down a job, promotion or lodgings simply on the bases of my race. In short I should be the prime example of a black who, like a Larry Elder tries to rationalize, or suppresses their anger caused by the type of racial profiling which I am going to discuss. I feel sorry for a person like Mr. Elders who chooses to rationalize his way to a harmonious acceptance of the substandard characterization of his being, based solely on his color. I for one, will neither suppress nor rationalize my reaction to treatment generating such anger and, I am calling on blacks, especially those who have maintained a limited acceptance in the white community to do the same.
I am a victim, yes a true victim because the crime perpetrated against me I have not elicited nor do I have any control or means of averting the crime. I am a victim of racial profiling. No, not of the controversial type of profiling which is so prominent in our modern News lexicon. I am, and millions of others like me, victim of racial profiling although subtle, is much more sinister in its implications. Every time I leave my house, every time I shop, every time I pass a white women on the street, every time a white person gets out of their car and notes my presence I fall victim to this type of profiling.
Sadly, in the case of black Americans our lives are viewed by a different set parameters than any other group (and I will not attempt to justify it as being understandable). For instance, I am a hospital employee. Although, a technician I am required to wear the same white lab coat and expected to present myself in the same manner as the physicians. A visitor can only ascertain that I am not a physician by close inspection: a review of my identification badge. It never ceases to amaze me, how at first contact, a visitor or potential patient will employ all those same subliminal safeguards I call The Flinch: (jacket drawn with great urgency to cover their bosom, skirt adjusted down) , if white female is in the seated position. Upon sighting my presence causes hands drawn close to ( a reflex motion to shield the body), wallet pocket patted, purse clutched, car alarm checked thrice or even four times, children and even dogs pulled close to safety. And this is everyday. It's even worse than the old adage spoken by Malcolm X, What do you call a black man with a Ph.D. ? -- answer -- a nigg__. In fact I have seen pit bulls reacted to with far less fear and anxiety than a black, walking down the street, just trying to go about his business. How does one rationalize this behavior?
I believe situations like those aforementioned, are never put into check, No one ever challenges the dangers of these subtile yet damaging forms of racism and, as a consequence this behavior by whites towards blacks is growing at an unprecedented and alarming rate. Whites are beginning to accept this reaction as normal social behavior. Hey it is okay to get off my car walk ten feet then upon seeing a black man, work my car alarm like crazy. White women are beginning to accept as normal that when approaching a black man you must cover up completely or these animals might see your white flesh and attack you. It is OK for the shop attendant to ignore offering to black man the same courtesy questions such as : how are you today? Although these questions are extended to everyone else in line. I can't even remember the last time I was able to present a credit card without showing ID.
Are any of the intellectuals and social scientist ask the question what are we doing to the dignity of people who are constantly the recipient of such demeaning behavior? An adult overweight person can unchallengingly express the permanent damages done to them by being teased as a kid about their weight and, we are all able to sympathize and say how terrible that is. Yet imagine living a life where the things I have spoken about are happening non-stop and everyday to that young black male. What is he suppose to do when we talk about the greatness and freedom of this country, when we talk about the melting pot of cultures? When we through out taunts such as United We Stand?
The humiliation I am trying to express will still seem a small matter to most. I guess I will never be able to express the magnitude of dehumanization one feels from such aforementioned behavior. Perhaps it can not be conveyed unless someone has walked in the proverbial shoes ( each and everyday).
We are a diverse nation and being naive about another's plight is not a crime although refusing to relinquish naiveness may be.
The Roots of the problem
Racial Subliminal Programing leads to Racial Social Engineering: This is the root of the problem. This is an area which most of us fail to identify or, we ignore when we are confronting the subject of racism. This is subtle form of racism. It generates no hype nor you are able to attach sensational footage to it thus making it a poor choice for News at 10 or an Investigative Report. These factors are the most crucial ingredients in forming the platform of ignorance which racism will undoubtedly grow from. You can not pass it to your child unless someone is constantly feeding it to you.
The media is the primary feeding grounds for subliminal messages. Anyone with half a brain knows that subjects like black crime is viewed much differently than white crime. Everything from word choice to camera time is used to either deflect or enforce the subliminal image desired. The term: a senseless crime always denotes it has been committed by a minority whereas terms like tragic hints that it was committed by a white and thus deflecting the emphasis from the criminal (the being) to the crime (the act) . If there is a car chase that involves a minority, especially a black, you better believe that the cameras are going to remain on the scene to get that close up of the suspect being handcuffed and led away. When it is a white carjacker, after the chase ends the break away shot is that from the helicopter from a considerable distance and the close up is shown on the late night newscast, if at all. We all know this, this is not the important issue, the important yet unasked question is to publicly ask the media, the editors, the news directors, the question why are things reported in this way?
A Los Angeles Councilman once accused the Los Angeles Times of using the term "South Central" to refer to crimes that was being committed in areas way outside the boundaries of his South Central district. Surprisingly, the LA Times did conduct a review of its coverage of crime stories. They found that the Councilman's accusations were indeed true. They issued him an apology and promised to take greater steps in accuracy. The Councilman accepted the apology and the matter was closed. What the Councilman failed to do was to go one step further and ask the crucial question. Why do you editors believe the reporting was being done in this fashion? We will never properly address the issue of racism until questions like these, that tell us about ourselves and our programming, are asked and answered.
You see, by showing blacks as criminals, and by painting them as even more predatory than a white criminal engaged in similar crimes, you reinforce in the minds of mainstream American that these are people to be feared and not trusted.
By citing code words that have come to be associated with blacks, like South Central, you can still inplant that subliminal racist messages without coming out and saying what you really believe. Another example: If a black is shot and there is no way of indicating he or she was a black, you use a code phrase like "It was not thought to have been gang related"
Because of the constant bombardment of subliminal messages and racially motivated programing, this condition of racism can exist within the individual unbeknown to the individual himself. A person can be full of racist ideals and never set about or commit a serious racially motivated act, yet the mind set is still there. He or she still believes they are superior.
And he or she will more than likely institute all those talked about safeguards even in situations not deserving of such behavior.
Prejudice, Bigotry, Discrimination, Hate Crimes, etc. These are the outward _expression of the aforementioned mind set. It is where our attention is most often directed towards. For example, people tend to focus on the incidents of racism rather than the programming which allowed the individual to commit a racist act in the first place.
CAR HORN RACISM
For the past few years I have been trying to warn, or in the least, get America to reflect on the new trend of socially unacceptable behavior which is cursing our shores and reeks right out of the very root of racism; racial actions that are done subliminally and that are never addressed. Sadly to say, not only have my hark and cry of this cruel and insensitive epidemic of rude behavior not be taken up by the forces which may affect change (media, academia and, both religious and humanist secular concerns); the epidemic continues to grow unabated and has taken on such unnecessary and preposterous levels that the ethnos rising up against ethnos spoken of by Jesus in the bible, will most certainly not escape these shores. Let us pray that New Orleans has become will of those crucial sparks that will ignite such. My major focus in on those little sparks, the ones that surface each and every day in the life of a person of color (or should I say certain colors or degrees thereof).
Along with a reprint of an article I wrote several years ago I will attempt to get the audience to take up observation of what’s happening out there in society in general and inspire them to reflect on their own actions as it relates to such material that I will present.
Currently I live in a city in which the black population is 3% of the whole. The next few sentences is by no means an attempt to shift focus or blame on another racial group, it is merely presented as a fact for the particular city where I live; I would have not put forth such had I been writing this from Atlanta or Baltimore or any other city where blacks (especially if there is a established underclass population present) represent a significant proportion of the population.
. The overwhelming majority of car thefts in this city are perpetrated by those of Hispanic origin
. The overwhelming majority (if not all) the chop shops are operated by those of Hispanic origin
. Because of the close proximity of the Mexican border, the major of the cars stolen for resale end up in Mexican territory, commandeered by those of Hispanic origin.
YET, IT ONLY TAKES THE GLIMPSE OF A BLACK AND THERE GOES THE SYMPHONY OF CAR ALARMS AND HORNS (P.S Folks most of us own vehicles too! We do know that you can lock the door without notifying the whole neighborhood)
RARELY have I seen such musical tribute being played on behalf of a Hispanic, odd isn’t considering the aforementioned FACTS. In fact the only time I have seen it done was if the Hispanic happened to be so threatening in dress and manner or if he happened to be of such of dark complexion that he is mistaken for black, in such a case the reluctant vehicle owner might have to do the rude thing.
There is a game that I like to play. I like to sit out at an outdoor café or any other outdoors venue where arriving cars are being parked. I pick a spot where I am pretty much concealed from the arrives view. Funny! Unless another one of my dark brethren or aforementioned dark Hispanic passes by, there is no symphony. Imagine that, people get out of their cars without making mechanical noises. The symphony hall is quiet. Later I will change places and sit where I am visible. And guess what, “Whenever you are near, I hear a symphony”.
Earlier I spoke of this as a game but that is not entirely true. This is a personal assault on my dignity on my perceived worth as a human being, if ever there was one. How this new century behavior supposedly and more justified, genteel or warranted than the blatant verbal insults which whites had the permission to inflict on blacks all the the last century and right up until the civil rights movement?
Behavior such as this is unacceptable and every black who has to experience these insults to his presence, day in and day out is registering it; even if on a subconscious level.
And one day the levees of tolerance and dismissal will undoubtedly break?
This wake up call presented by Phillip Ghee 9/9/05
What Is Racism?
By Phillip Ghee
I can't believe how many people, including intellectuals, who when attempting to define and lend solutions to the problem of race-relations, continuously miss the mark when attempting to document racism. It is either some overt racist act that will ignite their passion or the dissatisfying groans echoing from the daily struggle of inner-city life, to which their focus is drawn.
The subtle forms of racism are everywhere. You don't need studies and degrees to figure it out, all you need to do is use your common sense and open your eyes, leave your book learned castles of dogma and experience common day life. Perhaps they should follow me around for a day with a hidden camera and I will show them things, subtle things, intricate things which, if viewed in proper context, should make their consciousness growl.
I am an African American male, although in my forties, I have been blessed by heredity to look far younger than my actual age. I am a conservative dresser and, in my oval framed glasses, collegian and studious in appearance. I have lived the bulk of my existence in the midst of white dominated society and culture. I have lived in predominately white neigborhoods and as a result have had more Caucasian friends and acquaintances than those who are black or of other minorities. I articulate will and am shy of conducting my business nor my social outings in a predominate white culture. I live on the trendier side of town in a major city, Los Angeles.
I have never been a victim of the racial profiling of any Police Department. I do not feel that I have ever been turned down a job, promotion or lodgings simply on the bases of my race. In short I should be the prime example of a black who, like a Larry Elder tries to rationalize, or suppresses their anger caused by the type of racial profiling which I am going to discuss. I feel sorry for a person like Mr. Elders who chooses to rationalize his way to a harmonious acceptance of the substandard characterization of his being, based solely on his color. I for one, will neither suppress nor rationalize my reaction to treatment generating such anger and, I am calling on blacks, especially those who have maintained a limited acceptance in the white community to do the same.
I am a victim, yes a true victim because the crime perpetrated against me I have not elicited nor do I have any control or means of averting the crime. I am a victim of racial profiling. No, not of the controversial type of profiling which is so prominent in our modern News lexicon. I am, and millions of others like me, victim of racial profiling although subtle, is much more sinister in its implications. Every time I leave my house, every time I shop, every time I pass a white women on the street, every time a white person gets out of their car and notes my presence I fall victim to this type of profiling.
Sadly, in the case of black Americans our lives are viewed by a different set parameters than any other group (and I will not attempt to justify it as being understandable). For instance, I am a hospital employee. Although, a technician I am required to wear the same white lab coat and expected to present myself in the same manner as the physicians. A visitor can only ascertain that I am not a physician by close inspection: a review of my identification badge. It never ceases to amaze me, how at first contact, a visitor or potential patient will employ all those same subliminal safeguards I call The Flinch: (jacket drawn with great urgency to cover their bosom, skirt adjusted down) , if white female is in the seated position. Upon sighting my presence causes hands drawn close to ( a reflex motion to shield the body), wallet pocket patted, purse clutched, car alarm checked thrice or even four times, children and even dogs pulled close to safety. And this is everyday. It's even worse than the old adage spoken by Malcolm X, What do you call a black man with a Ph.D. ? -- answer -- a nigg__. In fact I have seen pit bulls reacted to with far less fear and anxiety than a black, walking down the street, just trying to go about his business. How does one rationalize this behavior?
I believe situations like those aforementioned, are never put into check, No one ever challenges the dangers of these subtile yet damaging forms of racism and, as a consequence this behavior by whites towards blacks is growing at an unprecedented and alarming rate. Whites are beginning to accept this reaction as normal social behavior. Hey it is okay to get off my car walk ten feet then upon seeing a black man, work my car alarm like crazy. White women are beginning to accept as normal that when approaching a black man you must cover up completely or these animals might see your white flesh and attack you. It is OK for the shop attendant to ignore offering to black man the same courtesy questions such as : how are you today? Although these questions are extended to everyone else in line. I can't even remember the last time I was able to present a credit card without showing ID.
Are any of the intellectuals and social scientist ask the question what are we doing to the dignity of people who are constantly the recipient of such demeaning behavior? An adult overweight person can unchallengingly express the permanent damages done to them by being teased as a kid about their weight and, we are all able to sympathize and say how terrible that is. Yet imagine living a life where the things I have spoken about are happening non-stop and everyday to that young black male. What is he suppose to do when we talk about the greatness and freedom of this country, when we talk about the melting pot of cultures? When we through out taunts such as United We Stand?
The humiliation I am trying to express will still seem a small matter to most. I guess I will never be able to express the magnitude of dehumanization one feels from such aforementioned behavior. Perhaps it can not be conveyed unless someone has walked in the proverbial shoes ( each and everyday).
We are a diverse nation and being naive about another's plight is not a crime although refusing to relinquish naiveness may be.
The Roots of the problem
Racial Subliminal Programing leads to Racial Social Engineering: This is the root of the problem. This is an area which most of us fail to identify or, we ignore when we are confronting the subject of racism. This is subtle form of racism. It generates no hype nor you are able to attach sensational footage to it thus making it a poor choice for News at 10 or an Investigative Report. These factors are the most crucial ingredients in forming the platform of ignorance which racism will undoubtedly grow from. You can not pass it to your child unless someone is constantly feeding it to you.
The media is the primary feeding grounds for subliminal messages. Anyone with half a brain knows that subjects like black crime is viewed much differently than white crime. Everything from word choice to camera time is used to either deflect or enforce the subliminal image desired. The term: a senseless crime always denotes it has been committed by a minority whereas terms like tragic hints that it was committed by a white and thus deflecting the emphasis from the criminal (the being) to the crime (the act) . If there is a car chase that involves a minority, especially a black, you better believe that the cameras are going to remain on the scene to get that close up of the suspect being handcuffed and led away. When it is a white carjacker, after the chase ends the break away shot is that from the helicopter from a considerable distance and the close up is shown on the late night newscast, if at all. We all know this, this is not the important issue, the important yet unasked question is to publicly ask the media, the editors, the news directors, the question why are things reported in this way?
A Los Angeles Councilman once accused the Los Angeles Times of using the term "South Central" to refer to crimes that was being committed in areas way outside the boundaries of his South Central district. Surprisingly, the LA Times did conduct a review of its coverage of crime stories. They found that the Councilman's accusations were indeed true. They issued him an apology and promised to take greater steps in accuracy. The Councilman accepted the apology and the matter was closed. What the Councilman failed to do was to go one step further and ask the crucial question. Why do you editors believe the reporting was being done in this fashion? We will never properly address the issue of racism until questions like these, that tell us about ourselves and our programming, are asked and answered.
You see, by showing blacks as criminals, and by painting them as even more predatory than a white criminal engaged in similar crimes, you reinforce in the minds of mainstream American that these are people to be feared and not trusted.
By citing code words that have come to be associated with blacks, like South Central, you can still inplant that subliminal racist messages without coming out and saying what you really believe. Another example: If a black is shot and there is no way of indicating he or she was a black, you use a code phrase like "It was not thought to have been gang related"
Because of the constant bombardment of subliminal messages and racially motivated programing, this condition of racism can exist within the individual unbeknown to the individual himself. A person can be full of racist ideals and never set about or commit a serious racially motivated act, yet the mind set is still there. He or she still believes they are superior.
And he or she will more than likely institute all those talked about safeguards even in situations not deserving of such behavior.
Prejudice, Bigotry, Discrimination, Hate Crimes, etc. These are the outward _expression of the aforementioned mind set. It is where our attention is most often directed towards. For example, people tend to focus on the incidents of racism rather than the programming which allowed the individual to commit a racist act in the first place.
I also am tired of the the horn beep alarm set thing. I walk in our down town area daily and it used to be that a horn beep meant a car was close by and you should be careful or move out of the way. The horn was used as a safety thing. Now when I hear a beep, I pay no attention, it just means to me that someone is locking their car.
Posted by: Grayson Byrely on December 31, 2005 02:25 PMTo Philip Ghee in terms of car racism: Perhaps what you say is true. I am white, 6'2" and 205 pounds. I get people doing their honking, doorlocking thing by me all the time. White, black, or whatever, it's obnoxious. I'm thinking of going to my car and honking back at them. Mike
Posted by: Mike Knuds on January 6, 2006 05:05 AMIf you don't like the sound of horns where you live - MOVE. In my wife's car (2005), the lights flash once to confirm that the doors are locked and then the horn blasts for 1/2 a second to confirm that the alarm is armed. On my car, I have 2 external alarms and 2 internal 120db piezo alarms if my shock sensor detects anything. At night, it is loud enough to wake everyone up (including me) within 500ft. My vehicle security comes first, and I don't care if people get pissed off by it. There are worse things in the world going on like war, murders, rapes, childabuse, etc. Another car's horn is not something I would worry about. For all the people who do - GET A LIFE!
Posted by: Dee on January 21, 2006 07:11 PMDee,
Why don't you move out into the wilderness so we don't have to hear your car horn?
Car horns are noise pollution. We shouldn't have to suffer from your pollution every time you lock your car. That's rude. That's obnoxious. That is unnecessary and inconsiderate.
Posted by: Randall Parker on January 21, 2006 09:18 PMIt is absolutely obnoxious, unnecessary noise pollution. It's unbelievable that people defend it, but those who do contort in childish, defensive anger about it ("It's MY car and I'll do whatever I want!") to weasel out of responsibilty for how their actions affect other people. It's not that those who are annoyed by it are "too sensitive," it's that we cannot see any good reason for totally useless car horn noise, every single day, all day long and into the night (where I live). I have a car alarm system that flashes the lights when it's armed--no sound. On several days I kept a rough count of how many times I heard it from my back deck, which is nowhere near the street--one particularly busy day in Chicago, I lost count past 50 separate incidents. It was probably more like 80-100. In one summer day, and that was just during daylight hours. As for the idiotic suggestion that anyone who doesn't want to hear it should move: I was in Yosemite National Park last fall and along a road where people got out to check out a waterfall, it became a symphony of beeps and honks not unlike my street in Chicago. It is now unavoidable no matter where you go. What the hell are the car manufacturers thinking? People who use these devices, clue in: you are destroying what little peace your neighbors still have in this world, for no good reason. Have a little respect for someone other than yourself, for a change.
Posted by: Rocco on May 3, 2006 11:06 AMWow. An entire webpage dedicated to being bitter and small. Makes me feel superior to you because I can handle chirps and beeps in my downtown office. Thanks for the ego boost!
Posted by: BoSephus on May 15, 2006 02:46 PMSomehow we lived for millions of years without the necessity of a battery operated remote device to allow us to lock automobiles from a distance of one to fifty feet AND make a loud noise to underscore what we had accomplished....it being far to much work to turn around and LOOK AT the vehicle to see if the door lock buttons had depressed, or if lights flashed!
Wow..what lazy and inconsiderate slobs who have no concern about anyone but themselves and their soft indulgent consumerist lives.
Horns were added to cars to warn people and animals of the danger we pose. Later horns were used by people too lazy to drag their sorry asses out of the car to go ring a doorbell.
If you have a car which can 'honk' when you lock the door....look in the Owners Manual...there's an option to disable that 'feature'. If you don't have the common courtesy to do that...then don't be surprised when a brick lands on your windshield.
You're just taking up space!
Posted by: David on May 15, 2006 06:59 PMOooh, your big downtown office--congratulations, Bocephus! That's great you can feel superior to a bunch of comments on a webpage. You're welcome to the ego boost--sounds like you needed it. Douchebag.
It's been a while since the last post on the subject of annoying horn beep's (during car door locking) by the ignoramuses who do not posess the intelligence of a can of baked beans. I'm not going to waste a lot of time on this post because those of you that lack consideration for others are not worth it. I just want to tell you that you all are a bunch of F...ing A..holes. Period!
Posted by: Stephen P. Phelps on October 27, 2006 10:02 AMI stay in motels for extended stays and yes the horn honk issue is VERY RUDE in of itself much less all day/night long. I'm usually in my room trying to work and it startles me like as if someone snuck up behind me and yelled BOO!!! (makes ya about jump out of your skin) Summer time (tourist season) is the worst when they let all the cityots out of the ghettos. Usually when folks come in late at night they slam all their doors and trunk getting their things and kids in their room and by that time YES I am now awake but then they need to top it off with the horn honk. VERY RUDE. I used to think that the horn honkers must come from some rough urban hood but now it seems everyone has this annoying behavior. I don't need a trip to jail is about the only reason many have not been thumped. Cease your annoying behavior NOW.
Posted by: Chris D. on November 24, 2006 05:23 PMI am glad to see that there are others who find car lock horns to be a disturbing and needless act. We have noticed that over the past two years at our condo complex of about 100 units that more and more morons have taken to the mindless act of honking a horn for the simple purpose of locking a car door. I thought that we were the only ones that were pissed about idiots and horns, but after talking to others, we discovered that the large majority of people couldn’t stand the needless, perverse, inconsiderate, clueless act of honking horns to lock a lousy car door. I have confronted a number of the horn imbeciles in our complex and have had some positive results. Confronting these cretins shouldn't be necessary, since you would think that they would know that horns illicit a stress response, but confrontation seems to be the only thing these Neanderthals understand. I wrote the following and placed it on each door of the complex:
Noise: A sound that is loud, unpleasant, unexpected, or undesired.
Honk, honk! Are you awake? Have I bothered you? Is that what you are thinking when you honk the horn to lock or unlock your car door.
Please try and show a little consideration, a tiny bit of common sense and common courtesy with blowing your horn to lock or unlock your car doors. Most condos have their sleeping and relaxation rooms on the parking lot side, so when you needlessly blow your horn you are in some way disturbing most people; either by waking them up or ruining their relaxation.
Here are some simple options that can be used instead of a horn; push down on the door lock button when you exit the vehicle (you have to push the lock button to make the horn noise, don’t you?), have your lock programmed so it doesn’t honk the horn, or even, God forbid, use a key!
A 2004 article states that noise is the number one quality-of-life complaint for Americans.
Isn’t there enough noise in this area without adding more unnecessary, useless noise? Try to think of others, not just yourself; show a little consideration, show that you are aware that horn noise travels further than your own ear. This is a community, after all.
If you don’t use a horn to unlock or lock your car door, thank you for being considerate.
If you would like to discuss this further or if you need other tips on how to quietly lock or unlock your car door, please contact Mike.
Here is a tip for Subaru owners:
This information is in the owner's manual for every new Subaru vehicle.
With our keyless entry remotes, the sound feature can be disabled. It is the decision of the owner of the vehicle whether they want the sound notification or not. If not, they can disable the sound wherein they will only have a visible signal when using the keyless entry remote to unlock and lock the doors.
I am sure that other vehicles offer a similar way to disable the horn.
Thanks for having a spot where people can express their disgust with idiots and horns. Keep pushing to have horn clowns pay for their mindless actions.
I was never bothered or noticed the horn/lock device until recently and now after being woken on 2 straight days after 3 hours sleep each
day, I am at my wit's end. It's affecting my work and my well being, I don't even look forward to going home anymore, as I don't know when I'll be jolted next by a car honk.
How on earth is this invention allowed to exist? We need to pass laws or have the noise and public nuisance laws enforced and the car manufacturesers fined until they remove this device or let the owner know they may be liable.
The initial fault lies with the manufacturer, you can't force people to do the right thing, so the laws need to be enforced.
A potential big problem, is that the average insensitive moron gets used to this convenience...now some creep can get up at 3am or 4am and if he's not sure if his car is locked...he clicks the key remote and honks the horn.
I have new neighbors, and asked them the first week about their cars...they said one did have it..so i waitied...it is now a problem. I confronted them politley, and the 18-20 year old told me to wear ear plugs.
Should I go to a motel to sleep too?
What I don't understand, is that I keep quiet, why can't others? There is a function to turn the horn off, and if you can't do that, lock it by hand. I had a very nice neighbor in back demonstrate his, he clicks the remote and all you hear is the click of the lock...I've heard some horns that are very quiet.
To me the loud ones are very disturbing and embarrasing and I would never use such a thing and when i buy a new car I'll be looking for one that can disable this illegal function. It's fine if you are in the country but at a motel and especially a residential area it is ridiculous.
In most cities it IS ILLEGAL to honk a car horn unless it's traffic related..certainly not in your driveway even it's just once.
In residential areas it can be a violation in decibels and distance. If I hear a horn inside my place with doors and windows closed it has to be illegal. Any lawyers out there?
I hear it now 5 times a day, and it's not just when sleeping or trying to sleep, it's watching tv, reading etc...it' s very disturbing....and a form of abuse.
This is like a twlight zone episode on how to torture and torment modern man. It's inconceivable how car manufacturers can install something like this and i do believe it's a noise violiation in most areas and maybe we can sue them retroactively....I suggest documentating everything with video/audio and times of disturbance.
In some states like Virgina, it's a class 4 misdeameanor.
Whoever invented this or supports this noise should have their eardrums shattered. I'm looking for the first person to commit murder over this...I think it will be justifiable homicide...and I will applaud.
Please somebody help.....
Ban the lock-beep!
Posted by: TRM on March 13, 2007 10:34 AMHorn-locks have been driving me batty for quite some time. Recently I started fighting back -- I have an old-fashioned bicycle horn, the kind with a rubber ball on the end that you squeeze to honk. I removed the ball so I can blow into the end (it's louder that way). When the people in the condos next door honk their horns to lock their doors, I blow my horn out the window at them. I mimic them exactly -- some people honk their horns three times in a row, so I respond with three blasts on my little horn. When I go out for a walk in the neighborhood I take my horn with me -- anyone who honks gets an immediate answer.
I have no idea if this will have the effect of making idiots read the fucking manual to change their settings, but the idea is to mock and shame them. The biggest benefit of doing this is for me -- it makes me feel less helpless (re. German Shepherd experiment cited above) and it is fucking fun! a real blast, you might say.
Before I came up with this idea, I looked up the vehicle noise laws in the city code (I live in St. Louis). The laws already ban unneccessary honking, but of course they're not enforced. I printed up cards on brightly colored heavy stock, citing the law and adding my comments, and left them on car windshields. This is what they said:
"St. Louis City Revised Code Chapter 17.78
Vehicle Noise
The following acts or the causing thereof are declared to be in violation of this chapter:
A. The sounding of any horn, or other auditory signaling device on or in any motor vehicle or motorcycle on a any public right-of-way or public space, except as a warning of danger.
You have received this card because you were observed honking your horn when locking your door -- it's obnoxious and it's illegal."
This is harder to do because I'm afraid of the car owner seeing me touch their precious car so I've only done it a few times.
These are a couple ideas people can use to fight back. These people need to be made aware that their behavior is anti-social, and the best way to do that is to make them face some kind of unpleasant consequence to their actions.
And to the person who wrote "I'll keep using my keyless entry because once you've gotten used to it, it is too hard to switch to manual entry" -- it is "too hard"?! Fuck you you lazy SOB. Driving is a privilege not a right. I ride a bicycle to get around, so don't whine about it being too hard to take 20 minutes to figure out how to use your car properly.
Posted by: fuchsia on March 18, 2007 06:49 AMI have a car with keyless entry, and though I myself am annoyed by the beeping noise it makes, but it is flat out pathetic for someone to claim they should be "outlawed". I have tried locking my car from the interior lock button, but when I close the door, the horn noise is still made, and like other keyless entry car drivers, the convience is worth the annoying beeping noise, and is not meant to offend and angry someone, especially since half of us don't like the feature. To complain about it in such an obsessive way though shows a certain imbalance in a person. When the littlest beeping noises build up to this big of an issue in your life, you need some help. And I understand why it can get annoying, but if you're living in Urban areas...the car alarms are the least of your noise problems, so suck it up and deal with the fact that it comes with city-living. If you don't like it, move to the country and commute.
Posted by: Cali on May 29, 2007 06:45 AMCali,
I just bought a car. The horn beeped when I locked the door. So I read the instruction manual and found a section on configuring the door locking behavior. I turned off the horn beep. It took me 10 minutes to figure it out.
As for car alarms: They are worse than worthless. Cars should send cellular warnings to their owners rather than blast everyone in a neighborhood.
Posted by: Randall Parker on May 29, 2007 08:13 PMI strongly feel that remote locking mechanisms that honk should be outlawed. It’s moronic to need one. Isn’t it enough to know you hit the button? Are you so incapable of hitting a button that you need a confirmation noise, especially one that other people can hear, too? I was mortified when I drove home my car 9 years ago and it honked when locking it. How inconsiderate (especially to my elderly neighbor, but also to everybody - a mother with a new baby, a student sleeping before an important exam, a bride before her wedding day, a person with a sick loved one, even just a normal person on a normal day trying to enjoy uninterrupted peace.) I immediately went to the manual and learned that a 3-second press on one of the remote buttons disables that “feature”. Most people don’t realize Now I simply (and peacefully) listen for the sound of the locks retracting and/or the lights flashing. Not so hard, eh? And it's not that we're too sensitive; it's that you're too insensitive and/or lazy and/or unintelligent.
Wasn’t it enough to have electronic door locks so you don’t have to reach around to every single lock in the car? Then wasn’t it enough to have a remote perform the function? Why is that not sufficient for the lazy/dumb, so that loud, disruptive noises must become a part of the process?
Besides quality of life and mental health, it’s confusing, and sometimes dangerous, if you hear honks while you’re driving, because you think it’s something important and prepare to respond, yet it’s merely somebody getting in or out of their car. Or, worse, you don’t take heed because you think it’s just a car-locker, but it’s actually a dangerous situation.
Also safety-wise, I was just reading another blog where an elderly woman stated her concern that, besides a rude neighbor who uses one in her mobile park home, she feels as if her heart jumps every time she hears it. This is dangerous for her and more important than the “convenience” for another selfish person. And I’m only 40, yet also feel that same heart-skipping-a-beat when walking along a street enjoying my day, perhaps in deep thought, and am startled by somebody locking or unlocking their vehicle so it honks.
It seems to mostly be uneducated, ignorant, insecure people who somehow feel they can assert themselves through their vehicle honk. My neighbor is dumb as a box of rocks, and when I politely asked him to consider disabling his truck’s honk, he became defensive, saying he “had the right”. Of course he has the right; that’s not the point. It’s a basic matter of courtesy and social responsibility to keep your own peace. Anybody who doesn’t respect and appreciate that can’t be that smart.
For a while, this neighbor moved out, and I was so elated, but he’s since moved back (living with the inlaws). I was so dismayed. I figure the best I can do is to buy heavy curtain material, and I’m even contemplating putting up a fence between us. Our building code allows a 6-foot-high side fence. I’ll be kind to them about it, don’t want hard feelings or he’ll honk it more than necessary, as he sometimes seems to do.
Why should I be notified on a daily basis with sudden reverberations throughout my entire home when you leave in the morning and return at night? Or when you pull into or leave a parking space? I really don’t want or need to be aware of your schedule. I have enough to try to concentrate on.
Does anybody know if there’s an official campaign to get those things banned for safety (and sanity) reasons? I would love to get a simple bill board erected in my city that simply states: “Don’t be obnoxious. You can disable your honking remote lock in 3 seconds.” I’ve also thought about putting flyers on the windshields of those who are either oblivious or just don’t care about others.
I easily convinced my parents to disable their lock-honk because they have a cabin in the woods near another cabin, and it would disrupt the serenity for their neighbors. They are so glad they did for that and many reasons. I also convinced my paranoid mother-in-law, who liked it because people then knew her car was locked. I countered by saying that EVERYbody locks their cars these days, so it’s obvious and you don’t need one. Also, the locking noise just lets people know you’ve left the vehicle anyway, so it’s a sitting target. And we all know that subsequent car alarms are worthless.
I must admit that I find myself judging people's intelligence, courtesy, and class (not money class, but old-fashioned class) based on whether they do or do not use the lock-honk feature. I mentioned it to a friend who uses it, and she said she “likes it”. It just confirmed to me that she’s not the brightest , so I didn’t even bother trying to convince her. If I was in the dating world, I would be seriously turned off by an oblivious, rude guy who had the feature turned on. People may jump on this, but it reveals a lot about you if you don’t have basic consideration for those around you or are too idiotic to not think to check your user’s manual.
Those cursed things really disturb what is supposed to be the peaceful sanctity within one’s home, especially if parked right outside, especially at night when the honk(s) wake you up. Peace is rare enough these days with cell phones and rude cellphoners. Why don’t we hold it more sacred? People who abhor this feature (the smart, considerate ones) finally need to get organized momentum going on this. These things are proliferating like crazy. And for those who say to move, that’s a sad joke, because they’re all over the damn place.
I can only hope those who use and defend their pointless lock-honk feature will themselves be awoken and disturbed or, heaven forbid, suffer a heart attack or be in an accident because another driver doesn’t take a real honk seriously. Sad that I feel that way, but true. You (the oblivious or rude ones) have pushed us (the considerate ones) THAT far.
It's small comfort to know how many other people are a bit stressed out by those damned horn honking remote locks. I think some of the guilty drivers must fantasize being Batman, where he walks several yards from the Batmobile, then says "Shields", and his vehicle wraps itself in armor. There is no justification for the damn horn honk- just selfish or thoughtless behavior on the part of the "perpetrators". Read your owner's manuals for God's sake!
Posted by: Denmark on September 21, 2007 09:32 AMObviously, I am a victim of this abuse as I Googled this page. I have contacted our Condo board who has sent a letter to the guy with the Cadillac who has to beep every time he comes and goes all day long...he doesn't have a job what does he do and how does he afford a Caddy? Another question for another blog. When I asked his twitty girlfriend nicely if they could possibly not honk every time they come and go she said "I don't think so." Every time they honk it interrupts my train of thought and makes me tense and angry. I have started to shouting "Welcome Home" every time one of my neighbors uses their horn honking locking system in front of our building. At first I was shouting expletives, but children live nearby. How do the car manufactururs get away with this? Why do people think they are saving money on their insurance by having this feature? Won't their rates go up when we do start throwing bricks at their cars? I've actually thought of keying this punks car, and I've never thought of doing anything like that before...not even to ex boyfriends. I had two Jeep Libertys and managed to disarm the honk within minutes of buying the car, I didn't want to honk all the time and I could hear my car lock and see the lights flash when I locked my car--how are these rude bastards justifying this? The little chirp isn't so bad, but the loud chirp chirp chirp and the dual honk is just rude. It disturbs the peace.
Thanks for letting me vent...wish I knew a way to get the message to the Caddy owner, maybe when the girlfriend has his third baby they won't honk as not to wake the baby. Or maybe they will tell their child "I don't think so".
Posted by: worksfromhome on September 29, 2007 04:36 PMI am another, so annoyed and frazzled by the #$%!-ing horn-blowers, that I stopped work and googled this page. Before I read through these comments, I really thought I must be the only person sick-unto-death of the noise, and of the mindless twerps that insist on making it. It did me a WORLD of good just to know there are so many others that feel the same way as I do.
Edie's comments, in particular ("I must admit that I find myself judging people's intelligence, courtesy, and class..."), almost made me break my neck, I was nodding so vigorously. The psychological analysis someone proposed, to the effect that these bimbos somehow feel better about themselves by being able to control something, had occurred to me too.
Is it too much to link various behaviors (born of the it's-all-about-me, the-hell-with-everyone-else attitude) of certain modern Americans? The horn-honking as we lock/unlock our cars; the cell-phone yabbing in the library and the theater; the deliberate blaring and booming of bass-noise from tank-like cars; and - yes - the point-blank refusal to put the 35-pound dumbbells back where they actually go? What is fundamentally (or some kind of "mentally") wrong with these mental midgets? Is it really something in the food or the water? Who taught entire generations of modern Americans that there is no society, no community, just their own immediate desires?
Posted by: Peter Myers on October 13, 2007 07:40 PMI'm so glad to have found this page and really enjoyed reading what others have written here. For the longest time I thought I was alone in this battle.
I'm happy to say I still drive a 1998 Avalon XLS that came standard with a peaceful remote keyless entry. When I'd bought it, it was one of the most advanced cars in the entire neighbourhood, and at the time I doubt few if any other cars here had the engine immobilizer, keyless entry, etc. I'm happy to say this car, being of a refined & high-class origin, never emits any beeps when locking or unlocking; I've never once felt the need for honks either since I'd either hear the door locks engaging, or see the lights flash. It doesn't take any extra effort to observe these either, when walking away or coming from a distance.
Since the past 4 or 5 years as cheaper cars with keyless entry started flooding the market, the noise in my area has gotten progressively worse. Sure, most of the high-end luxury cars did it properly from the get go, not relying on the horn but rather a dedicated soft chirp speaker, or other subtle cues (ie. door locks, lights flashing); the cheaper cars with their horn-enabled keyless entry seem to scream out "Look at me! I'm cool! I've got keyless entry too!!". No doubt the cheaper cars could have easily been fitted with a $25 separate and softer chirp, but of course these are cheap cars and the $25 would have cut into profits. Mostly I've been hearing the noise from domestic cars, but now I'm even seeing it creep into imports (such as Honda Accord, but thankfully not Toyota).
Now, whenever I hear a car horn blast from someone locking or unlocking their car, the word "disposable" comes to mind. Such cars are a waste or resources, not to mention the people who drive them and blast their horns ignorantly whenever they approach or walk away, thinking they their car's shields are now up. Batman they sure ain't.
In some 3rd world countries (ie. India), they honk the horn as they drive to signify to others that they're there; they don't even bother with side-view mirrors (which are mostly folded inwards and thus rendered useless). As such, noise pollution is perhaps 100X more prevalent, and it's annoying as heck if you're not used to it. Thankfully, their cars generally don't honk when they lock or unlock their doors (not that it would make much difference with all the other noise around). One thing I did notice as a result of the excessive noise is people are quite hard of hearing. I actually asked a friend of mine if all the noise is causing people to go half-deaf. "What?" is all he could say. I rested my case!
As Walker had asked, is there some way we can express our strong displeasure to the auto manufacturers or policy makers--via petition perhaps? It's not going to get any better until people realize en masse how big a problem it's become. In fact, as people continue to buy more and more "disposable" cars, it's going to get far worse. But by then it might be too late. :-(
- Pradeep (from Canada)
===
Now, coming to some of what others have written, here are some comments I particularly liked:
Learned Helplessness can arise from the constant barrage of random beeps, honks, alarm bells
- john d.
...it used to be that a horn beep meant a car was close by and you should be careful or move out of the way.
The horn was used as a safety thing. Now when I hear a beep, I pay no attention, it just means to me that someone is locking their car.
- Grayson Byrely
It is absolutely obnoxious, unnecessary noise pollution. There's no "good reason for totally useless car horn noise, every single day, all day long and into the night"
- Rocco
Why should I be notified on a daily basis with sudden reverberations throughout my entire home when you leave in the morning and return at night?
Or when you pull into or leave a parking space? I really don’t want or need to be aware of your schedule. I have enough to try to concentrate on.
- Edie
these horn beeps are a totally unnecessary assault on my person. The car manufacturers should ban them before the governments legislate to.
Posted by: Canucklehead on December 18, 2007 05:01 PMI have a new Jeep (2008) and could not find any way to disable the horn honk in the owner's manual. I've done a little online research and so far it looks like the only way to stop the honk on new Jeeps is to have the system reprogrammed by a dealer. I assume other Chrysler vehicles have the same problem.
Posted by: Scott on January 5, 2008 01:25 PMI am bothered by the horn-lock feature as well. However, I don't think we should try legislation, nor should we try to persuade other people to be considerate. I think Hollywood should be used to portray horn-lockers as uncool and pretentious. Societal pressure and public opinion are very powerful tools of persuasion. These two powers often dictate how people cut their hair and how well they dress. I hope I don't offend too many people, but you wouldn't be caught dead sporting a mullet - would you? Yeah, I didn't think so. Anyway, most people receive their social cues from the movies they watch; Hollywood is very instrumental in shaping public opinion. There would only have to be a handful of movies where a minor character is portrayed as a jerk, (for arming his car at midnight, etc...), for this idea to catch on. It wouldn't have to be a very good movie either. In fact, if it were box-office drivel, I'm sure it would reach the correct audience - the inconsiderate, uneducated, low-class and inbred horn-lockers.
Posted by: Dan on January 17, 2008 03:53 PMWell, I was looking for a web site that would tell me how to turn the alarm chirp on! and ended up here?
Anyway, Now I am not sure Its a great Idea? Geez- I would hate to be stoned to death for a chirp!
Holy crap, I feel sorry for any birds that live near you folks. I am not a rude person at all, And would feel bad If I woke someone up
That really needs sleep. But, I live In an area that Is loud anyway. Kids racing around with loud exaust tips and such.
So, I will for sure turn on my lil-chirp feature! The reason Is because "I can" The nice thing about living In the U.S. Is "freedom"
And, To hate someone for a "chirp" Is very disturbing! How about If someone coughs or sneezes? I guess we should beat them with a club to shut them up also! Hey, god bless you all but Its a big, loud, busy, new tech world. So, be happy and get earplugs! :)
Justice70: cityot, at least get some manners if you ever leave the ghetto or stay in a motel and park near someones room, your obnoxiousness is avoidable unlike a sneeze and how many times a day will anybody put up with that nearby. A low chirp is tolerable it's honk, HONK, HONK that may get that brick in your windshield.
Posted by: C.D. on February 14, 2008 07:19 AMJustice70 you clearly don't know what others are really annoyed about. It's not the "chirp", it's that huge HONK. Trust me, they are 2 completely different things. I live in a large residential area and work from home. It used to be really peaceful here until my neighbor got himself a car with a keyless transmitter. Honestly i dont even know why he needs it as this compound has a security guard, additional gate at the entrance etc. The sound is literally worse than firecrackers going off. It's more of a startling, piercing sound that makes your heart jump, no matter what you're doing. Comparing that hugeassed HONK with birds, a sneeze or cough is just another lame excuse. It doesn't "hurt" to simply disable that alarm now does it?
Posted by: Farina on February 24, 2008 12:51 AMLike others, I found this discussion from an internet search, so I'm coming to it late. Nevertheless, a few observations:
- In many municipalities, it is illegal to honk your horn unless you are warning another driver about an emergency. So wouldn't honking your horn every time you lock your car be illegal? I know this is rarely enforced, but one poster said that the dealer had to "reprogram the computer" to turn off the honk, and maybe this could be used as leverage to get them to do it without charge.
- Have you ever noticed that people with the loudest horns walk 20 or 30 yards away from their cars before setting the lock? Hint: If the noise is loud enough to hurt your ears when you are standing next to your car, it is loud enough to wake your neighbors.
- Disabling this "feature" was the first thing I did when I got my new car. If I'm standing near the car I can hear the locks click and see the red light on the dashboard, and if I'm further away I can see the lights flash.
As a former engineer, I'm amazed (though I shouldn't be) that car companies decided to honk the horn instead of spending another $2 in parts to have a separate beeper. They really didn't see a problem with this?
Posted by: dj on February 26, 2008 05:37 PMI'm a white guy but I recently got a dark tan and it's been happening a lot to me lately. I sympathize with the poster above who posted on racism. This is a sick society, white people need to stop that behavior or be looked down upon by the rest of the world.
Posted by: Oblagon on May 22, 2008 10:55 PM