I agree, mostly. It's OK to sometimes get a bit annoyed/a bit angry about it -- it's reacting to that in the ways you mentioned that's the dangerous part, both to self and others. The emotion is one thing, but how you choose to react to it and let it hold on/get to you is all your own choice; that I very much agree with.

As far as going fast or slow, that is entirely personal preference. Some people simply enjoy driving fast, not necessarily in a hurry to get anywhere but for the fun it brings; and this doesn't necessarily mean that they're enjoying the ride itself any less or are competing. Some enjoy going slower, which is totally cool as well. Both types have to be mature and drive like adults instead of children; this means respecting each other, like you said. The slow driver should not intentionally block the faster driver and the faster driver should not be an aggravated maniac and tailgate -- both are self-destructive behaviors.

My opinion is that pride in general can be a very dangerous thing, in everything from driving to politics to car brands. If you're going slow then it's totally cool if someone else wants to go faster than you. If you're going fast then it's totally cool if someone wants to go slower. Like you said, cooperation is what it's all about.

if you're being followed so closely and cannot move over i think a bit of this can get their attention and they MIGHT back off. there's no need to be a jerk about it but at the same time i think.
the best thing anyone can do is watch your mirrors and when someone is clearly coming at you, make an effort to let them go around... the beauty of that is they can be the bait for the cops as you are now behind them on the road!

Yes! If more folk lived their lives this way, it'd be amazing. It's not all that common for someone to realize that they're doing to others exactly what annoys them when others do the same to them.

I have found that since getting the clubbie, more people tailgate me than they did in my mazda3... probably just coincidence, or since its a new car i'm more conscious of someone messing up my shiny new paint, but either way, tailgating is not good.

human and animals learn both through positve and negative reinforcement. It is perfectly acceptable to give morons negative reinforcment if they are in front or behind you...

It's crazy to try and punish someone for tailgating you, it's more likely to end in tears than just getting out the way and letting the moron go bother someone else! I will tailgate for short periods of time if I'm closing on someone and they don't move out of the way (when they CLEARLY have space to do so) and I will flash my lights if someone attempts to change lanes on top of me but I don't do either often or for more than a second or two.

I live in DC too which (as I'm sure anyone else who lives there can attest to) the land of "I'm more important than you," and people tailgate, camp in the left lane and generally behave like asses all over the road. My commute is have pratical, getting from one place to the other, and half adreniline fueled survival. Not wanting to get onto any more of a rant I'll stop there. Driving here drives me round the bend (pun intended ).

Stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours.

And who are you to decide who is the moron?

A case could be made that a person who attempts to reinforce behavior in others is a control freak - the very person who should NOT be allowed to do this.

A case could also be made that while the idiot tailgating is wrong in his behavior, if the guy in front brake checks him and creates an entirely avoidable accident - then WHO is really the moron?

My immediate reaction if someone brake checks me unnecesarily is to find a way to put his *** in the weeds. A reaction I do not act upon, of course, but still that's the emotion it raises. Others may not be so able to control themselves, so beware - your actions can have unintended consequences too....

It's not our job to educate others and try to change their driving habits, and on top of that I doubt it works. Our job is to drive safely, enjoy our cars and our lives without creating hazards for others, IMHO of course.