SHOTGUN!

Many years ago, I was doing some electrical work for my brother’s friend. I needed to go the hardware store, and I was going to take my car, the woman’s father and her brat son. As we walked to my car the kid called the front seat, and got in the front right seat of my car.
I told him to get in the back, and he insisted that he called the front seat. I informed him that in my car adults ride in front and children ride in the back. He insisted he had called the front seat and I pulled him out of the car by his ear and told him he wasn’t going.
I wasn’t trying to be an butt-hole, I just won’t have an adult taking a back seat to a child in a vehicle I own or drive. I told this spoiled brat to sit in the back, twice. That’s all I was going to say it, he’s not going. So the brat goes crying to his mother who takes him and her father to the hardware store without me, and she made her father sit in the back of her car so the spoiled brat could sit in the front. While they were gone I packed up my tools and went home.
I had another butt-hole try that with the helicopter, “I got the front seat!” I told him that unless he had more time in helicopter than my girlfriend or me he would sit in the left intermediate seat. He informed me that he would make a phone call and I wouldn’t get paid. I told him to rent a car and drive fast because he wasn’t going anywhere in my helicopter. When his friends tried to reason with me I told them that I had changed my plans to do a favor for my friend, and I didn’t care if they walked or drove, they weren’t flying. I wasn’t getting paid to do them a favor, get the fudge away from my helicopter. I lit the engines and pulled pitch, leaving them on the ramp watching me fly away. If I’m behind the wheel or holding the cyclic, I’m in command, and I don’t take crap from passengers.

It should be required that people in the shotgun position actually carry a shotgun, because that would be more exciting.

Prior to a trip...

Growing up it was always anytime prior to a trip. The second any of us heard we were going somewhere some one yelled 'Shotgun!' Usually it was my oldest brother who thought of it first.

LOS of the vehicle. You cannot call it like 5 days before a trip starts. No. LOS of the vehicle as you're walking towards it.

I just do not know and never heard this before

I guess if you have a bunch of people playing around, it's okay as soon as you all decide you are going somewhere. In some situations, it's pretty silly and arbitrary to call shotgun. It makes more sense just to come to some mutual decision about it.

Other. You have to be in the parking lot. You have to be. It doesn't matter though, if you are in a parking lot the size of a football field and your car is parked in the other ''end zone''..as soon as you hit the parking lot, shot gun is up for grabs.

Isn't that where the term comes from? In the old stage-coach days, when the person sitting up next to the driver carried a shotgun for protection?

In my case, it isn't so much a "shotgun" situation as it's vital for me to sit in the front passenger seat if we're going to be driving for any distance. I get motion sickness very easily & sitting in the front seat is preferable. Especially if you don't want me to get ill in your car.

Don't care... nowadays it depends on who is big enough not to get killed by the airbag if in an accident. If everyone is of size, then the parent usually steps in and decides.... taking turns, etc. But if we are talking about a bunch of young adult/kids, then I think it should be whoever is fastest at getting to the car and plopping their ass and the other ten percent of them into the seat. BUT... if these adult-kids should be heading for a party, then the person who is the designated driver should get to decide where s/he sits for the ride there.

Anytime prior to a trip... but I like the idea of waiting until the car is in sight.

that sounds right... we need to get back to our roots

Incase anyone is interested - I saw this on facebook.

Rules so far:

1. The shotgunner must be in clear sight of the car, and shotgun can be called regardless of whether the driver is in sight of the car
2. If you are the first to be picked up on a journey you are automatically given shotgun. You retain this position for the entire journey, unless you violate rules 12, 17, 23 or any other rules stipulating the loss of shotgun.
3. You cannot declare shotgun if someone has previously declared shotgun for that journey.
4. When simultaneous shotgun is called, there is then a foot race to the passenger side door from all the people who called.
5. Shotgun cannot be called whilst inside a building (unless you are in a multi-storey or underground car park!)
6. Shotgun cannot be called in advance, only whilst on the way to the car for the journey.
7. Once shotgun has been called the driver has the option of a reload. The driver yells “reload” and this means that all previous calls of shotgun are void and the first person to call shotgun again gets the seat. This is helpful if the driver really doesn’t like the person who first called shotgun. It is often used when there is a simultaneous call and the driver is unsure of the outcome. Note that a shotgun has only 2 barrels so a reload can only be called once.
8. Ja rob rule...if he’s in the car shotgun now means back left, so he cant punch you every time a yellow car goes past.
9. Once shotgun has been called for the front seat then back left and back right can be called. This effectively leaves the slowest person to travel in the middle (of the “dog” seat).
10. Because everyone is created equal, men have the same right to the front seat of the car as women (ie women don't own the front seat!).
11. If the regular driver of the vehicle is drunk or otherwise unable to perform their duties as driver, then he/she is automatically given shotgun.
12. Once the journey has begun, the driver is the obvious controller of the tunes. However if they feel the road requires their full attention, or they simply cannot be arsed any more, duty is passed to the shotgunner. However putting on crap tunes or allowing for silence when the iPod finishes a song or ANY instances of TAKE THAT will result in demotion to dog seat.
13. Anyone calling shotgun must have his or her shoes on. This is to stop people running outside and calling shotgun, then having to go back inside to put their shoes on and slowing the journey. This is known as the Shoe Rule.
14. Shotgun overrules Dibs, Baggsies and other girly calls!
15. Despite the debate, shotgun CAN be used to shotgun things other than the front seat (eg back left, back right, women, not going to answer the door, etc).
16. When travelling with a couple, one of the couple MUST shotgun the front. No one wants to chauffer two of their mates whilst they are in the back all over each other.
17. If someone has successfully called shotgun, they have the right to the front seat. They do not have the right to correct the driver on their navigation skills ("take a left here you dickhead!") or driving ability ("I'd be in third gear if I was driving"). If the passenger does this, then they forfeit their position as shotgun holder.
18. If someone says, "what’s shotgun?" after it has been called then they have to walk.
19. If the shotgunner attempts to open the door just as the driver is unlocking it and jams the lock half open so that the driver needs to lock it and unlock it again, the shotgunner forfeits their position. This is known as shotgun suicide.
20. The holder of shotgun assumes the responsibility for all gate opening, off license nipping into, takeaway ordering and question asking. He/she is in essence the copilot and therefore the enforcer of behavior in the vehicle and exacter of slaps/punches/water spraying/bag throwing at the passengers in the back.
21. Automatic "couple's rights act 1997". This law states that, if the driver is the boyfriend/girlfriend of a passenger in the car, this person has the right to the seat of their choice.
22. If one of the potential occupants of the vehicle is dressed (convincingly) as a pirate then they are given automatic shotgun. In the event of more than one pirate being present, a sword fight shall determine the successful shotgunner. This is known as The Pirate Rule.
23. When driving past a woman walking a dog, everyone in the car must shout out the window, "who's walking who?” It is the shotgunner’s responsibility and failure to spot potential heckling, results in demotion to the dog seat!
24. When riding in a 2 or 3 door car, it is the responsibility of the shotgunner to allow rear passengers in and out of the back of the car, NOT THE DRIVERS!! Regardless of the weather conditions.
25. Obviously the previous rule on the subject didn’t clarify things completely with everyone coming up with a new rule that over rules shotgun. NOTHING overrules shotgun. Shotgun is final and cannot be overruled!!!!
26. It is the successful shotgunners responsibility to be on the look out for any police and/or speed cameras. if the shotgunner doesn't spot a speed camera and this results in a speeding ticket it is immediately their fault and not the drivers.
27. The right to shotgun i.e. winning the rights to sit adjacent to the driver consequently hands "wet willy rights" to all rear seated passengers. the right to lick ones finger and place it into another persons ear. However conducting a wet willy maneuver upon the driver can result in expulsion from the car...

I don't have a clue.

All of the above.

I go with line-of-sight

My parents never owned a vehicle so I never had to experience this childish practice until our own boys started it. It always annoyed me greatly to have them arguing over position in the car. If I had had my way they'd both have been shoved into the trunk.

I don't really see why the front passenger seat is the most coveted.

We should start using stagecoaches again, then.

What is your reason for not wanting kids in the front?

I just won't have an adult sitting in the back seat for a child to sit in the front, if it was only the two of us he would have sat in front. The man was old enough to be my father, and I wouldn't disrespect the man by making him sit in back. Then to have the kid tell me he was going to sit in the front because he "called it," screw him, he's not going, not in my car. Then to have the brats' mother make her father sit in the back so the kid could sit in front really pissed me off. I don't think people should treat our elders like crap so some eight year old can have his way. It's not the way I was raised.

You can see everything! There's a headrest! You get to fiddle with the radio! There's a glovebox (who actually uses it for gloves?)! Your chair can recline and move backwards! Need I go on?

Jen and I recently watched a documentary about how we're probably going to run out of oil and we're all doomed, doomed, doomed because of it. So, I've been imagining everyone going back to having horses or maybe just bicycles, though I think I'd need something more like a cycle rickshaw because I have stuff to carry. But, since there's no oil left in the future, people will be all pissed off, so having a shotgun would probably be good too.

As a kid, I used to get car sick. Well, it happened once or twice. But, the cool thing about this was that it meant I got the front seat, because the back is rougher on the stomach.

I've always played when the last person who had shotgun's butt is off the seat, it's fair for anyone to call a new shotgun.

What if he didn't mind sitting in the back? Why do you feel so strong about what other people do?

Probably. There will probably be a lot of horse thieves again.
I think when push comes to shove and we really do run out of oil, we'll find a good alternative energy source very quickly. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all. I just wish more people were taking the idea more seriously now, so that we'd have a good alternative before the situation gets dire.

My impression is that energy will become relatively more expensive as fossil fuels run out. This will make alternatives more competitive, but energy will still be expensive. I'm not sure what that will mean, ultimately. I think we may need to become a culture that uses a lot less energy. That could be painful, could lead to things like war and famine on a large scale than we're used to. Or, maybe, there's some miracle new energy source that we haven't found yet, that will save all our asses and allow us to drive even bigger cars.

I think you're right that it will be expensive. My father was telling me about an article he read about solar energy, and it wouldn't take that much space (something like 48 square miles, I think) to have enough solar power to fuel the US and then some. It would be very, very expensive, to the extent that it would have to be a major federal government project, but I think it would do the trick. And I imagine the cost would be high initially but would pay for itself fairly quickly.

We have headrests in the back seat, too But not most of that other stuff.

> But, since there's no oil left in the future, people will be all pissed
> off, so having a shotgun would probably be good too.

And a whole lot of ammo.

Good for dealing with zombies, too.

At least it will be warmer, so we won't freeze so much during the winter.

I don't think there's any miracle new energy source coming our way any time soon.

There's an awful lot we can do to tighten up our current energy use. We waste huge, huge amounts of energy right now.

Maybe a giant 48 square mile solar array will be the 21st century public works equivalent of the interstate highway system.

I suspect a lot of the problem with a giant 48 square mile solar array would be the distribution system for the power. I believe that currently we lose an awful lot of energy just getting electricity to and fro.

Yeah, I think I heard of that too, sounds kind of cool.

shotguns are good for headshots

I think the real danger comes if we can't convert to a new form of energy fast enough, and at this rate, that seems likely.

I assume you could distribute the 48 square miles at various, smaller locations around the country (or, does it all have to be in one place?).

I wonder about maintenace costs for the solar array, as well. If the initial cost of materials is high, keeping it running may be as well. Though, I would hope not if people are touting it as a good solution.

For other solutions, I've heard they often need a lot of energy for upkeep, so the net energy is not as good as they make it sound.

I think arguing over a spot in the car is kind of silly, but not the least bit annoying. I don't see the big deal of people arguing and fighting over stuff, unless someone's getting hurt. It's kind of intolerant to let it bug you. It's more of a fun kind of show-up than anything. In other words, when kids do it, they are play fighting

If global warming doesn't speed up, we should move somewhere with better winters.

Jen said it's suppose to be a mild winter this year, but that's probably Farmer's Almanac bullcrap. "mild winter" sounds nice, though.

It pissed me off that people have no respect for elders, and that some people allow their children to be so demanding. In my car people sit where I tell them, not where they tell me. The little brat may get away with that crap with his mother, and that's her problem, not mine, but I won't have some spoiled brat telling me he's riding in the front seat of my car. I'd hate to see what that kid's attitude is like now. My car was a 1967 Chevelle 2 door, it would be quite uncomfortable for that kid's grandfather to squeeze into the back seat.

I could definitely live with a mild winter.

You have to see the car to do it.

It's still great.

Anyone who ever did that got funny looks and ended up riding in the trunk. So, I don't know the rules on that.
Don't know, don't care.

Anytime prior to a trip.

> As a kid, I used to get car
> sick. Well, it happened once
> or twice. But, the cool thing
> about this was that it meant
> I got the front seat, because
> the back is rougher on the
> stomach.

Even worse if it's the back seat of a buick! I think every kid in my family puked in my Grandma's car at least once. I think it's something about the ride being even smoother.

The worst for me was being in the back of my mother's friend's VW bug (yes, I'm old). A big part of the problem was that she had a very jerky style of driving. I think it was a manual with a clutch.

I think the issue has something to do with no seeing where you're going. So, your body's balance system loses its bearing. On an ill-fated whale watch I went on a long time ago, I remember the advise being handed out was to focus on the horizon. That seemed to help, though the smell of several people's puke pretty much nullified any gains from that.

Yeah, I've heard if you spend a lot of time looking out a side window instead of forward, you are more likely to get sick. This would partly explain why pets get sick in cars all the time.

Dang. I feel sorry for people who get car sick. I don't get carsick at all. I can even read in the car.

I think you have to see the car. And I think the other person should automatically get it on the return trip - or take turns if there is more than two passengers.

I completely agree with you.

I read a book with that theme recently, I forget the name. It was very convincing and a bit scary. What was the name of the movie?

A Crude Awakening

> Dang. I feel sorry for people who get car sick. I don't get carsick
> at all. I can even read in the car.

FoxTurtle can read in the car too, so...

I agree with the sentiment. I can see where you are coming from, but I don't understand why people get that worked up over what other people's kids do to people who don't raise objections. Yep, it's your car, so you can say where people sit, but I think life would be so much easier if you let people fight their own battles if they want to, and let things happen when people you might consider "victims" choose not to battle. They might not feel like victims. They might not mind. It doesn't make sense to me, for people to raise objections on a complacent or placid person's behalf. (A weak person or unable person, sure)

One time this kid didn't want to put her mat away at the preschool where I worked. She had another kid helping her, and then she let go. The other kid was going to finish putting it away by himself. The teacher said NO. She has to put it away. I would have just let him put it away because he had no objections to it

If he didn't object, neither would I.

Oh, that reminds me of the chatty bus guy incident I have mentioned here (and even made a survey about). When I was in college, I was riding a public bus to class, and some chatty old fella kept asking me questions, like: You going to class? What classes are you in? Things of that nature. I was providing him with very short, one word answers. Some college aged guy in the back jumped up and started yelling at him to "Get off the bus where I get off" as though the chatty guy was somehow out of line for asking me all those questions. Thing was, I didn't object, so neither should he.

PBF FTW.

FoxTurtle loves this, so...

FoxTurtle thinks this is a good find, so...

It's one of the Perry Bible Fellowship cartoons. They're excellent.

I call it when I see it. lol.

'SHOT GUN!'....to teen youth is usually always a must...brings joy before a trip to where ever...