Car horns are a funny thing. At times they can be incredibly useful, like when someone is sleeping at a red light or (more importantly) if someone is backing up and doesn’t see you there. A quick “honk” solves it.
On the other hand, the horn can be a way to vent frustration. They can sometimes be directed at a specific driver that did something you don’t agree with, but it’s often just vented to the world at large with no real outcome expected. Something like this:
As Seth Godin recently said, “Honking at traffic serves no purpose other than to express a need to control the uncontrollable”.
This leads to two quick thoughts:
First, you don’t have to always “do something”. Honking in standstill traffic might feel good, but is of no benefit to anyone. If you can control yourself, then control yourself.
Second, I see feedback to others in the same way. Sometimes feedback is appropriate and useful, and worth a quick “honk”. Other times, if you feel the need to give useless feedback simply so you can vent off some frustration, do your best to take a breath and save it for another day.
Great post, Mickey! Reminds me of “The Gambler.” — You got to know when to hold ’em. Know when to fold em. Know when to walk away. Know when to run.”–
P.S. I finally had to turn down the volume on the horns honking. I guess that’s a metaphor, too. Wouldn’t it be nice to turn down the “noise” from the feedback we didn’t want?