I'm glad I did a search before starting a new thread on tailgaters, because this one by my old buddy Hanxter is a classic.
(by the way, Hanxter, I still use that spinning warrrreagl every time I get the chance. It's awesome!)
Other than people on cellphones not paying attention, what is the purpose for tailgating? I commute 50 minutes to work every day on a two-lane county road with a speed limit of 45. Apparently, I'm the only one who observes the speed limit, because every single car that comes up behind me tailgates. Changing lanes is not an option, because it's only a two-lane road. Slowing down or tapping the brakes only seems to infuriate them and make them inch that much closer. I usually just have to white-knuckle it until they get a clear lane and pass me in a huffy little burst of black exhaust (and they don't always wait until it's clear).
But why do tailgaters do it? Are they trying to make a point? As ngdawg said, are they trying to teach me a lesson? Because it ain't working - I'm not going to speed up today, tomorrow, or next year for anybody, no matter how outraged they are. Does ngdawg's husband (and others) believe that I'm going to look in my rearview mirror, see their clenched teeth, and say, "Oh my goodness, I must get out of that person's way immediately, because they are clearly much more important than I?"
I just say quietly to myself, "You should have left the house sooner."
But seriously, I just don't understand the point of tailgating.