Generally,
the number is sixteen to eighteen out of every twenty.
When
I go out for walks, I tend to wave at the cars that drive by.
This is especially true when the driver does something obviously
kind, like sliding over to make sure they’ve given me space along
the side of the road. It’s not just me saying hello, it’s a thank
you for the thoughtfulness.
Turns
out, driver’s wave back. Usually at that rate of eighty to ninety
percent. Which, I feel, overall is a pretty solid number. Even
makes me feel a bit better about the world, knowing that so many
folks I haven’t met are saying hi back to me. Maybe there’s a
bit of hope for the kindness of neighbors after all.
The
crazy thing is, in all the miles I’ve walked, on roads and in
neighborhoods and around parks in multiple states, I have never
had a Tesla driver initiate or return a wave. In fact, I don’t
think I’ve ever seen someone driving a Tesla smile.
Is
it something consistent to the personality of a Tesla driver or
owner? Is there something in the vehicle’s handbook that says
not to wave or smile? I know about the ducks and Jeeps. I’ve heard
about horses and the buck buck Bronco. And, since we’re talking
about waving, I even know about the Mini Cooper and the wave to
friends. Am I just unaware of the subculture around Tesla’s that
inspires cranky and self-absorbed behavior?
Are
my experiences accurate enough to use as evidence for some other
observations? (Let’s give it a try.)
Obviously,
I’ll admit that I’m reaching in an attempt at humor. It is, in
many ways, a potentially (and maybe even likely) unfair generalization
to break out the cranky and self-absorbed descriptions for these
folks. However, I began counting well after I noticed they weren’t
waving. I remember the first tesla passing me and my thoughts:
“Oh look. A Tesla. Hmm. No wave. That’s funny.” I saw it right
at the start, but it was a while before we moved from funny to
adding up the numbers. I’ve now had well over one hundred Teslas
drive past me since I began counting, I’ve waved, and… nothing.
No wave or smile or acknowledgement at all. And it isn’t isolated.
This has been the norm in four different states.
As
it continues, it sure feels as if I’m a sidenote to them. One
of many random though steady elements in their life, there only
to ignore and avoid. Sort of a non-playable character in their
video game reality. I’m just there, and I or someone else always
will be there, and there’s no real payoff or value to be found
in investing time, energy or kindness in some type of acknowledgement
of existence.
Friend
of mine got a new car recently. We began discussing the car, and
our conversation swirled off into decisions she made and thoughts
she had. That did eventually lead us to hybrids and electric vehicles,
which brought about charging stations. I shared my thoughts on
the cranky and self-absorbed crowd, and she pointed right back
at the charging stations. Her idea was that they have special
places for their vehicles, set aside but quite notice-me prominent,
and in her experience they tend to feel a bit of righteousness
and privilege about it.
(Give
that a second of consideration. It’s a deep thought with a lot
of possibilities.)
Growing
up, my sisters and I were friends with the kids of another family.
As we got older, it became apparent during a variety of events
and conversations that the other kids were using us as a benchmark
of sorts. They judged their status and accomplishments based on
how they believed they measured up against ours. Once I noticed
it and shared it with my sisters, we not only thought it was hysterical
but began seeing proof it had a lot of merit and wasn’t a simple
joke. It’s always funny to see two teams being judged on results
of a competition when only one of those teams is even aware there’s
a competition taking place.
Perhaps
that winner of a non-existent contest, with the prize being a
special parking space in every rest area, provides some insight
into the ideas I’m trying to make sense of. Perhaps Tesla owners
are responding to some kind of self-awarded prestige that those
of us that would never touch a Tesla can’t understand.
Perhaps.
I
suppose it also could be some defect in the windshield and the
Tesla drivers can’t see me. That could explain the wave, and at
least provide a start for why they never smile. Must be some other
reason for why they don’t wave or smile. Because you’d think the
winner of a special prize for nothing would be happier.