Urban Strife

This is a story which was recounted to me yesterday: It is one thirty in the moning and the city silence is broken by a single car horn. 'Annoying', my partner thinks but not enough to get me out of bed. Seconds later it is repeated, but his time with more urgency and frequency. After looking out the window she could see two cars, head to head with the occupants in each vehicle wildly gesturing for the other to move.

Now our street is one of the those annoying ones where once everyone is parked up for the night there is single lane traffic only. If you are lucky there will be a space to pull into so the other person can pass. Not tonight though.

My partner watches in amazement as the occupants of the street start to come out of their houses to watch the proceedings. A couple who live a few doors down get right into the spirit of things and take sides with the Vauxhall Vectra. This doesn't go down to well with Mercedes man and a side dispute develops. Mercedes man is now fighting his battle on a number of fronts. Mercedes man loudly threatens to call the police.

A taxi approaches the back of Vectra man, sees what is happening and promptly reverses back up the street. As he passes some of the onlookers he raises his eyebrows, quizzically. The onlookers return the gesture but add a shoulder shrug to show solidarity.

This action by taxi man seemingly cuts through the dense fog of testosterone. Vectra man reverses up the street. Then at the top of the street where they eventually pass he shoots Merc man a defiant gaze. Merc man drives past, his proud heart filled with deep joy. The victorious stag.

How can two grown men allow this situation to develop? Is being (or rather feeling like) the dominant silverback so important to these men that they will engage in such a ridiculous display?

The answer is yes.

Recipe of the week:

A fragile ego combined with a goodly amount of 'meat headedness' half baked for twenty minutes - Remember NOT to leave it to cool before ramming it down someone elses throat.