You DO know what "rational fear" means, don't play dumb. You are describing it in detail in your own posts.
You do in fact seem "offended", as in, personally attacked. Your statements and attitude reveal it.
"Close" or not, "3 feet" or not, the driver was careful and paying attention to his own actions; pedestrian didn't know this, nor did he care; pedestrian was looking for trouble.
I do know what the general term rational fear means ...
It does not mean that I agree with it ...
It does not mean that I prescribe to it ,
I do not enforce it
Nor will I ever think that fear is good ...
I will always consider fear as something that needs to be conquered ( so as not to be afraid ) ..
There are several options to fear ...
A) Be afraid
B) Avoid what scares you ( so that you dont need to be afraid )
C) Conquer the fear ( so you dont need to be afraid )
D) Dont be afraid
Again , I do not understand this need to be afraid ( fear ) , why on earth would you want to go through life being afraid ?
I think you guys are suffering from the one eyed monster ..
Because many people substitute FEAR , with
Intelligence , skill , learning , training , caution , common sense ( apparently very uncommon ) , repetition , instruction , and simply doing what scares them until they no longer are afraid ..
Obviously Im not getting through here at all ...
So be afraid , be very afraid , re affirm your fear and be happy ...
I on the other hand , will do my best to go through life not being afraid ...
Oh !!! I went for a walk this morning , and you know what , I wasn't afraid ... Not even a little !
Heck , I even crossed the road twice on my walk without being afraid ...
Hell , I even went shopping during the walk , dragged home some shopping without fear .. ( you know - muggers - rapists - the bogey man )
I just don't know - Am I too old fashioned to be afraid ? , to old , to tired , just dont give a stuff .. To many miles traveled ? Too long in the tooth ? Come close to death too many times ? Lost count of how many times I nearly died ... ( perhaps thats it ? )
Boo !