"Va fan culo!"

September 16, 2008 10:37 AM

Riccardo Patrese drives wife crazy in Civic Type-R (SLYT)
posted by slater (136 comments total)

No translation?
posted by coachfortner at 10:46 AM on September 16, 2008

This is disgusting.
posted by Brocktoon at 10:52 AM on September 16, 2008

I thought that was great! She responded about how I imagine I would've.

Thanks for sharing.
posted by kbanas at 10:57 AM on September 16, 2008

This is disgusting.

I know. Civics, man, what can you do?
posted by kbanas at 10:57 AM on September 16, 2008 [3 favorites]

It's actually better without the translation, I suspect.

I like his contented little smile throughout.
posted by echo target at 10:58 AM on September 16, 2008

I think that may be the most adorable thing I've ever seen.
posted by shmegegge at 10:59 AM on September 16, 2008

You should point out that Patrese is a former F1 racer (somewhere besides in the tags).
posted by Mister_A at 10:59 AM on September 16, 2008

What they don't tell you is that they never broke 40 mph.
posted by Justinian at 10:59 AM on September 16, 2008 [7 favorites]

You can actually hear her telling him at one point something to the effect that this is NOT a formula one (car? race? she said it too fast for my American ears).
posted by Mister_A at 11:00 AM on September 16, 2008

I'm not sure what she was expecting to happen when she got in the car. He's an ex-F1 driver taking her for a lap on a race track. But I also don't really see what's remarkable about the video that it should be here...
posted by ninjew at 11:01 AM on September 16, 2008

this is NOT a formula one (car? race? she said it too fast for my American ears).

good catch. she told him that "this car is not nailed to the ground like F1s are"

it's funny because you're much, much safer there with an ex F1 guy at the wheel than you'd be driving yourself on a highway when it rains (or when it's even slightly foggy) and all around you there are the biggest fuckups who ever drove a car, ready to ram their cars into yours because they don't know what the hell they're doing. that's what's rational, of course.

then Riccardo drives a bit faster, in perfectly safe condictions, and you shit yourself. human nature is wonderful.
posted by matteo at 11:05 AM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

But I also don't really see what's remarkable about the video that it should be here...

I don't know that it is remarkable. I didn't think the "Ninja Cat" video was all that remarkable either, but it made me laugh and I enjoyed seeing it - same with this video. I'm not making a judgment here - that it should have been posted or it shouldn't or it doesn't meet some criteria or it does or whatever - I'm just saying what I'm saying - I watched it and I enjoyed it.

Shrug.
posted by kbanas at 11:05 AM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

What did she have for lunch? I can't make it out.

Anyway now I'm in the mood for Italian food so I approve of this post.
posted by aerotive at 11:09 AM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

This does seem to be really staged. What did she think was about to happen? And maybe it's an optical illusion, but they really don't seem to break 40.
posted by DU at 11:11 AM on September 16, 2008

I liked it...coworkers liked it...friends liked it. It's better than some of the other SLYT posts and Palin-hate posts going on here lately.
posted by fijiwriter at 11:13 AM on September 16, 2008

I liked it too - bravo!
posted by prentiz at 11:16 AM on September 16, 2008

Well, ya, it's "staged." They're on a professional track trying out a Honda with an F1 driver who's got Honda logos all over his shirt and there's a camera mounted in the car.
You can tell he's breaking 40, especially going around the corners, by the way her hair swings upward and stays there a few times, as well as from the engine noise. And I don't think she expected him to go so fast, perhaps that's why she's screaming.
posted by chococat at 11:16 AM on September 16, 2008

This is disgusting.

Imagine if they were in a Hyundai. She would get mad, but she'd never remember the car.
posted by parmanparman at 11:17 AM on September 16, 2008

Imagine if it was a Kia. She would start screaming before she entered the car.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:19 AM on September 16, 2008 [15 favorites]

That was a gas. Kind of like when I drive with my wife, say, to the corner.
posted by From Bklyn at 11:22 AM on September 16, 2008

This had me in stitches. I get the sense that he does this kind of thing all the time. They're laughing by the end, shouldn't you?
posted by anthill at 11:23 AM on September 16, 2008

I would call Journal Graphics for a transcript of this program, but I'm not sure I'd be able to afford it.
posted by crapmatic at 11:24 AM on September 16, 2008

3:14 to "vafanculo"

-bellissimo.
posted by tzelig at 11:24 AM on September 16, 2008

She wasn't terrified by the speed or the sharp turns, she was appalled at all of the quails he was running over.
posted by clearly at 11:35 AM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

Also, I didn't think that a Civic could do that. But then again, I didn't think a VW van could do this.
posted by anthill at 11:36 AM on September 16, 2008 [4 favorites]

Jerez Circuit is where this was filmed.

First, I think he definitely went above 40. It's a 2 1/2 mile track and he covered it in about 2 minutes which means he would have averaged above 60mph. Especially at the 2:40 mark when he's hard on the accelerator during one of the straights.

Secondly, speed from inside a car, doesn't feel very fast. James May can take a Veyron to it's limit (257mph) and from inside the car it's quite sedate looking. While it may look slow on video, I promise you it's much faster than what you think.

Third, I think the negative vert Gs on parts of the track is what really got to her, such as when she starts screaming that the car isn't as sticky as an F1.

And lastly, keep in mind this isn't the Civic Si we're use to here in the states. It's a Euro Civic Type R. It's got way more power and better suspension. Definitely a fun car to thrash on a track, especially in the hands of a very capable driver who can push the limits of grip on the car.

Very fun video.
posted by ruthsarian at 11:43 AM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Even though I understood not a single word, it was awesome to hear his wife just continually talk through the whole thing.
posted by mathowie at 11:44 AM on September 16, 2008

That was cute. Lovely couple having a little fun.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:44 AM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

An older woman knows how to smile with such brightness and truth, old men swagger.
posted by netbros at 11:48 AM on September 16, 2008 [4 favorites]

Even though I understood not a single word, it was awesome to hear his wife just continually talk through the whole thing.

Funny; my wife does the same thing when I drive our sedate car, but in a language I happen to comprehend.
posted by fijiwriter at 11:54 AM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'm just glad to know that Italians will actually scream "Mama Mia" in certain circumstances.

Also, that was really cute.
posted by Navelgazer at 12:07 PM on September 16, 2008 [6 favorites]

If it helps your enjoyment, Riccardo was the long-serving, well-liked*, genial #2 driver - very talented certainly, but basically the straight man to some of F1's great drivers, including Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, and Michael Schumacher. He was, until Rubens Barrichello broke the record just this year, the most experienced Grand Prix driver ever, with 257 starts.

*With one notable exception. I'll never forgive that a**hole James Hunt's lifelong crusade to blame Riccardo for the death of Ronnie Peterson, an accident replays show most likely was caused by Hunt himself.
posted by jalexei at 12:08 PM on September 16, 2008

When I am in a hairy traffic situation where I really need to concentrate so we all don't die, my SO won't stop talking either.
posted by chillmost at 12:09 PM on September 16, 2008

... and there's a camera mounted in the car.

To bad there isn't footage of what the car was doing on the outside (but of course they don't have television crews willy nilly at circuits unless there's an actual race on). I can take maybe a minute of these reaction shots but as a big Patrese fan, this video was mind numbingly boring.
posted by juiceCake at 12:11 PM on September 16, 2008

I felt badly for her, then I remembered that she married a race car driver and got in the car with him. Informed consent makes it funny again.
posted by Shutter at 12:12 PM on September 16, 2008

I got uncomfortable watching this for the same reason I get uncomfortable around a certain married couple of my acquaintance. Their behavioral pattern: he does and says things that he knows will rattle her cage, she gets upset and asks him not to, he ignores her and continues rattling her until she escalates to yelling. Then he finally, grudgingly stops, is amused by how hysterical she gets, and takes apparent joy in pointing out to others that he managed to rattle her pretty good. (Ha ha ha, were you filming that?) She has to laugh, too, to show what a good sport she is, and also because it's such a relief when he stops, and we laugh when we're relieved.

It is not difficult or time-consuming to slow down, drive back to the starting point, let your terrified wife out, and run the lap again. Doing otherwise is valuing Honda, or your reputation as a fast badass, or whatever, above your own wife. That puts this driver on my personal Lame List. But then, so are most men who marry women decades younger than themselves. Lame! Lame! Lame!

On preview: lovely, a couple "HURF DURF MY WIFE NEVER SHUTS UP EITHER," comments. Is this Metafilter or Andy Capp?
posted by cirocco at 12:18 PM on September 16, 2008 [9 favorites]

That was great. Patrese was one of my faves.

This reminds me of a neighbor whose wife would complain whenever he drove too fast. His trick was to go even faster, have her screaming like mad and then go back to the initial speed which she seemed to not mind after all.
posted by lucia__is__dada at 12:24 PM on September 16, 2008

It is not difficult or time-consuming to slow down, drive back to the starting point, let your terrified wife out, and run the lap again. Doing otherwise is valuing Honda, or your reputation as a fast badass, or whatever, above your own wife.

The man's a pro and to my mind she seemed to enjoy it. I know I would.
posted by lucia__is__dada at 12:29 PM on September 16, 2008

Punk'd

Great video, the only thing in life that would be more fun than being an F1 driver would be being a former F1 driver.
posted by Keith Talent at 12:29 PM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

That was really fantastic.

Watching the differences in their reaction really reminded me of the Top Gears segments where they put a star in a reasonably priced car. Invariably if it's a celebrity behind the wheel, there is much tension and nervousness, whereas if they get an F1 driver he's sitting back, driving with one hand, casually griping that he got the car up to it's top speed and it's wholly unimpressive.

It's a clear example of how someone can be trained to operate at a totally different adrenalin level than everyone around them.

The best moment: when, after all her reacting, swearing, screaming, and laughing, she notices that there is a camera in the car. That was priceless.
posted by quin at 12:35 PM on September 16, 2008

cirocco: "But then, so are most men who marry women decades younger than themselves. Lame! Lame! Lame!"

Okay, judgey mcjudgerson.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 12:37 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

People scream on rollercoasters too, they still chose to get on.
posted by knapah at 12:39 PM on September 16, 2008

Wait, the Stig has a wife? I thought some said he had testicles made of tire marbles.
posted by mark242 at 12:46 PM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

cirocco - so if she screamed like that on a roller coaster, should they also stop and let her out?
posted by brassafrax at 12:49 PM on September 16, 2008

I don't think it was the straight line speed that scared her, I think it's how late he was braking into corners and the speed he was taking the bends at. Drivers of his standard brake way after that point where the rest of us are already thinking 'we're so screwed here'.
posted by mandal at 12:50 PM on September 16, 2008

oh man, i missed knapah's post. oh well.
posted by brassafrax at 12:50 PM on September 16, 2008

Husband asserting dominance over wife = fun video!
posted by Brocktoon at 12:52 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Hasn't anybody here hung out with Italians? My in-laws sound like that when the dishes are being washed. It's awesome.
posted by Carmody'sPrize at 12:53 PM on September 16, 2008 [12 favorites]

I think his wife is adorable. A good sport in the end, and obviously entered into a scary situation alongside a man she trusts. The video was completely redeemed as the car slowed, her laughter picked up; and upon the car stopping, the driver telling the crew that she threatened divorce!

I also do not like the perponderance of people needlessly putting a value to posts. Unless the post is overwhelmingly tacky, and then thats what the mods are for, right?
posted by captainsohler at 12:54 PM on September 16, 2008 [5 favorites]

Brocktoon, cirocco--they were at a track. What do you think she expected to happen? Do you honestly believe this is the first time she expressed displeasure at her husband's driving?

Seriously--what do you think she expected to happen?
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:57 PM on September 16, 2008 [3 favorites]

The film - while cute and funny - does give a peek into their relationship. Cirocco has a point.

I think someone should rip the vid and make a PSA for young girls: 1.) cut the vid to end at the point where she makes the angry 'arm gesture' 2.) add the text message: "No means NO ... unless you are in a car."

Could stir up some interesting sex ed class discussions.
(Does anyone even GET sex ed anymore?)
posted by Surfurrus at 1:01 PM on September 16, 2008

Thank god someone can be offended for her sake, since she was enjoying herself. Honestly.
posted by boo_radley at 1:03 PM on September 16, 2008 [9 favorites]

I think some people left their sense of humor in the pits.
posted by bashos_frog at 1:08 PM on September 16, 2008

Even though I understood not a single word, it was awesome to hear his wife just continually talk through the whole thing.

Growing up in an Italian family, I assure that woman would have talked till her hands were tired.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 1:08 PM on September 16, 2008 [5 favorites]

I read Brocktoon's comment "this is disgusting" before I clicked on the link. I kept expecting her to throw-up the whole time. Disappointed it never happened.
posted by spoons at 1:16 PM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

Hey Milton, thats-a the stereotype-a!
posted by Mister_A at 1:24 PM on September 16, 2008

Their behavioral pattern: he does and says things that he knows will rattle her cage, she gets upset and asks him not to, he ignores her and continues rattling her until she escalates to yelling.

Yeah- um, this is every Italian couple ever (Italian- not Italian-American).

And Riccardo's wife isn't "decades younger". And even if she was - good for him.

I met Riccardo a couple of times in Montreal when was driving for Williams. Great guy. So everyone please chill with the "dusgusting"... jesus.

Great video.
posted by Zambrano at 1:26 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

cirocco: People go to scary movies, go on roller coasters, go bungee jumping and skydiving, and all other sort of crazy stuff because it is fun to be scared in a controlled environment. She was willingly going onto an empty track with one of the most expert and experienced race-car drivers ever. There is know way she did not know what was going to happen.

Also, look at her casual default position sitting in the car. She is not responding like someone who is honestly scared, but rather like someone watching a horror movie. She knows she's going to be alright, but it's still hair-raising. Which is exactly what she was in the car for.

But then, so are most men who marry women decades younger than themselves. Lame! Lame! Lame!

All I know of their marriage is this video, where they seem to get along great. I won't let that get in the way of any baseless dispersions, however.
posted by Navelgazer at 1:27 PM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

I felt bad for her. In a few parts she looked genuinely freaked. :/
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 1:33 PM on September 16, 2008

But, Surfurrus, according to these other MeFites, she was ASKING for it by getting into the car. I mean, he's a race car driver; did she honestly expect her husband to take her pleas to stop seriously? Sheesh! Women! My wife is the same way; always demanding to feel safe when I'm in complete control of a situation. Fuck her LOL! Oh, and she was laughing at the end. SHE WAS LAUGHING = NO ABUSE. Make sure that gets into the PSA somewhere.

Oh, wait, she's Italian? Well, why didn't you say so! The Italians get a bye when it comes to the treatment of their wives, if I recall correctly.
posted by Brocktoon at 1:50 PM on September 16, 2008

For pete's sake, she doesn't just laugh at the end, she laughs intermittently throughout the whole thing in between the hair-raising turns and whatnot. Honestly, I have to wonder if she might feel just a wee bit offended/condescended to if she were to read cirocco's comment comparing the situation to a genuinely angry and dysfunctional relationship based solely on this video.
posted by the other side at 1:53 PM on September 16, 2008

six- and others feeling bad: see what navelgazer (and others) have said about willingly getting into a situation in which you're going to be scared, because It. Feels. Good.

Both the adrenaline high during the scare and the release afterward can be fun. And in this case, the more I think about it now that it's been a few minutes since I've seen the video, I can totally see how much Riccardo's wife loves him and how much she really enjoyed that. She started talking IMMEDIATELY upon getting in the car; many people react that way to being nervous, also, which makes me think she knew exactly what she was getting into (although apparently not that it would be filmed, which she also found funny).

SRSLY, PPL, lighten up.
posted by yiftach at 1:54 PM on September 16, 2008

Translation from one of the Youtube comments:
ticinoo12 - Simple translation? Ok.

At the start, one of the guys outside told Patrese to go slowly because there are workers out there, that was the reason for her first complaint.

Then was the "spezzatino & polenta", like a meat casserole with polenta that she just had for lunch...quite heavy stuff...Then "we have kids at home waiting" she said.

Then the "vaffanculo". At the end she realised that it was a video camera in the car. Nice stuff Riccardo, you are so cool :-)
posted by zippy at 1:55 PM on September 16, 2008

An alternate view of the Jerez circuit.
posted by philip-random at 1:57 PM on September 16, 2008

Mahalo, Brocktoon.

BTW, bashos_frog, Re:
I think some people left their sense of humor in the pits.

Yeah, feminists don't have a sense of humor.

What's the difference between an egg, a wife and a blow job?
You can't beat a blow-job!
hahahahaha

Lighten up, ladies.
posted by Surfurrus at 1:57 PM on September 16, 2008

But then, so are most men who marry women decades younger than themselves. Lame! Lame! Lame!

AGREED!! And to the young ladies that date older men -- YOU DISGUST ME!!!!!

::checks birthday:: oh shit.
posted by LordSludge at 2:02 PM on September 16, 2008 [3 favorites]

...But, Surfurrus, according to these other MeFites, she was ASKING for it by getting into the car....

Ya know, I suppose it's possible Riccardo IS a domineering monster who torments his wife with constant mental and physical abuse. It's also possible they do this all the time, and her complaints and exhortations to stop are part of a ritual they both enjoy. The thing is, WE CAN'T TELL FROM THIS VIDEO, so I'll enjoy it without the sanctimony.
posted by jalexei at 2:10 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Considering they had had three children by 1992, when Riccardo was 38, it's extremely unlikely (though, I suppose, not impossible) that his wife is "decades younger."
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:12 PM on September 16, 2008

Buncha haters hating on someone who gets to throttle cars for a living, is what this is.
posted by Mister_A at 2:15 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Surfurrus, that was the stupidest strawman I've ever seen posted to Mefi.
posted by boo_radley at 2:15 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Looks like they've been together since at least 1984, actually. So unless he fathered her child when she was 10, then, no, she's not decades younger.
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:19 PM on September 16, 2008

/sanctimony, jalexei

Scroll up - I did say that the video was cute.

My point was not about their 'cute relationship' -- it was about an underlying message that could be edited out for women/girls (and maybe some of the guys here?) to discuss feelings about getting into situations with a man who "gets out of control". (Yeah, it was off topic ... duh?)

As an aside (on topic?) - I will concede that some women really enjoy giving over all control to men (even if it could mean danger to their life). I am not one of them.
posted by Surfurrus at 2:22 PM on September 16, 2008

hmmmm ... I wonder if this video would have been as "cute" if the passenger had been a frightened man.
posted by Surfurrus at 2:22 PM on September 16, 2008

hmmmm ... I wonder if this video would have been as "cute" if the passenger had been a frightened man.

I'd vote yes.
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:26 PM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

Surfurrus: Hard to answer to the hypothetical, but I'm guessing that yeah, if Danica Patrick took her physical-therapist-husband out as a passenger on an empty track, his reactions would be pretty similar, and it'd be just as cute (provided that those two get along as well as Patrese and his wife seem to.)

I doubt anyone would be calling it "disgusting" though.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:28 PM on September 16, 2008

On (not) preview, I see that you're getting at a different point, though, Surfurrus, and I'm curious to have a better understanding of it.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:31 PM on September 16, 2008

Surfurrus : hmmmm ... I wonder if this video would have been as "cute" if the passenger had been a frightened man.

Well, here's a video where Sabine Schmitz takes Richard Hammond around the nurburgring in a transit van, and while he's not quite as animated about being afraid, he's clearly nervous, and I certainly found it very entertaining the first time I saw it.

Personally, I think you're reading way too much into this, at the end of the video she is clearly laughing her ass off and doesn't appear at all angry, you can see this before she discovers the camera in the car, so it wasn't like she was faking it.
posted by quin at 2:42 PM on September 16, 2008 [6 favorites]

Navelgazer, mahalo. I, personally, did not see anything 'disgusting' about the video. I wasn't even responding to that comment.

My ideas were admittedly quite tangential.

I only erred in responding ('strw man'?) to the knee-jerk reactions to the 'lack of humor' in cirocco's comment. I was also feeling a little uncomfortable. I didn't expect mefis to so quickly dogpile someone for not enjoying 'the joke' of the vid.
posted by Surfurrus at 2:42 PM on September 16, 2008

Ellen: Clarke, state facendo ottanta miglia all'ora!

Clarke: Non sembra come lo fa miele?

Ellen: Rallentamento!

Clarke: Non so perché, stiamo facendo il buon tempo. Amore da vendere! Amore appetitoso e yummy da vendere!
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:50 PM on September 16, 2008

/sanctimony, jalexei - Scroll up - I did say that the video was cute.

My response was aimed at Brocktoon's rather breathless entry, though I see how my inclusion of your user name in the snippet I quoted could cause confusion.
posted by jalexei at 2:56 PM on September 16, 2008

Ok, honestly, Surfurrus, I appreciate tongue in cheek humor as much as the next dude, but could you either ramp it up in either the woman hating direction or the I'm jokingly doing it to make a point direction? Seriously, I had a comment here all calling you out until I previewed and realized that you were angling towards the latter. You can provoke the concept of sexism without repeating and thus reinforcing the bullshit with that awful frackin' joke -- here -- however cherry that Nellie clip was.
posted by cavalier at 2:59 PM on September 16, 2008

Nah, Surfurrus, you didn't err in anything. Just miscommunication. Cirocco's comment seemed to come from out of left field to me. The video, to me, looked like a very cool and unique example of a loving couple doing what friends and couples often do, just having fun and pushing each others' buttons a little bit. Cirocco's comment called into question what seemed to be a pretty cool match of two people who have been together for nearly a quarter-century and still get along, and so I got offended.

I'm curious what the point of your proposed PSA would be (my irony filter is a little askew today) but I think the more young women are taught that No always means No the better the world will be. I think they should also be taught how to best enforce that rule for themselves, if they have to, and how to better recognize the situations where it's best to just not get in the car.

So yeah, I didn't mean to pick a fight with you. I think we're in agreement here, actually.
posted by Navelgazer at 3:05 PM on September 16, 2008

Wow, cavalier, tongue-in-cheek about tongue-in-cheek. Cool.
posted by Surfurrus at 3:05 PM on September 16, 2008

Mahalo, Navelgazer - yes, I would like to think that the proposed 'PSA' could provoke exactly that discussion (I used to use one of Paglia's attacks on feminists to do something similar). I worry that young women have bought the idea that feminism is dead, women are all equal and all is fine and safe for women in the world. It isn't.

I do think that this PSA idea would be moot if men/boys were not included in such a discussion, though.

And, perhaps it is that realization that made me review the 'tone' of some of the comments here. CAN the discussion of sexism/intimidation of women be discussed in a mixed audience?

I think Cirroco's reflections on what she has seen in married couples and her take on the wife's 'accommodation' in this video is pretty powerful. The only thing in her post that got attention was her comment on the age thing.
posted by Surfurrus at 3:17 PM on September 16, 2008

Here's a cute video of a dog imitating a blender.

Here's a ridiculous comment about a cute video of a dog imitating a blender:

"The dog was not imitating it, to imitate it he would have to have seen the blades and I sure as hell hope you didn't shove his face in the blender so he could see them. He probably did not like the sound and for some reason ran in circles. Try thinking of the dog."

I've noticed that for every cute animal video on YouTube, there's always one outraged person in the comments section who cries "Abuse!"—despite a complete absence of evidence in support of that accusation. Try not to be that person.
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:31 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Because I just thought of it and it makes me laugh, related Dr. Tran - Mr. Tran and the Toy Cack
posted by Del Far at 3:39 PM on September 16, 2008

It's not like he's never driven that circuit before. I'd say he's done close to a thousand laps on that one track alone- with racing and testing combined.
posted by Zambrano at 4:06 PM on September 16, 2008

I do have a sense of humor, according to the latest push-polls! I just don't like the dynamic between the couple in the video. They were on a closed track, but they were in a street vehicle; they weren't wearing five-point harnesses, just shoulder belts. There are a million NASCAR fans wearing #3 jerseys who'll you it's possible to die on a track. Let's not confuse "controlled" with "free from the possibility of fiery death"--this wasn't Space Mountain and comparisons to amusement parks are disingenuous. Passengers are much more likely than drivers to be killed in collisions when passengers are involved, and I think all drivers therefore have an obligation to consider the passengers' needs before their own.

Her fear seemed very real, and he seemed very dismissive of it. I think that someone who loves you should never ignore you while you're screaming in terror, and that most forms of "teasing" are passively cruel. That goes for both men and women. But hey, the only thing she said that I understood was mama mia!

I don't know why she got in the car, and it was unwise, if she really is scared of high speeds. But putting yourself in a bad situation does not mean that everyone around you is free to disregard your safety or misery. "She's crying now, but she'll love it later, I know it" is just never a good theory to go on, and I will continue to squeak up when I see it in any form.

On the age question, dude looks sixty and she looks thirty. I don't know what their real ages are. But yes: men who pursue much-younger women are lame and John Travolta is lame for commuting to work in a jet and that Metallica video about the Gulf War was lame, lame, lame. I'm just chock-full of humorless fringe opinions this month with regard to the lameness of others.
posted by cirocco at 4:08 PM on September 16, 2008 [5 favorites]

It's not exactly the first time Patrese has driven his wife on a track. He drove his wife in a 2 seater, 700+ hp Minardi F1 car on a race track. An in-car video of that ride would have been something.
posted by jaimev at 4:31 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

OMG, I was laughing so hard I forgot I was reading Metafilter. I almost posted it as a double.

Except for it being not in English it reminded me of many first and last dates of my early 20's.
posted by Rafaelloello at 4:44 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Growing up in an Italian family, I assure that woman would have talked till her hands were tired.

Mister_A gestured 'Hey Milton, thats-a the stereotype-a!'

No...it would be an observation of a cultural communication norm. Would you consider mentioning Japanese smile when embarrassed a perpetuating a stereotype?

*goes back to trying to BBQ spaghetti*
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 4:47 PM on September 16, 2008

I just don't like the dynamic between the couple in the video.

Oh Jesus. Outrage through lack of knowledge.

There are a million NASCAR fans wearing #3 jerseys who'll you it's possible to die on a track.

Possible does not mean that this is in any way likely in this circumstance. This is not a NASCAR. NASCAR are incredibly shite handling cars on inherently dangerous circuits doing twice the speed of this car is, just with 30 others around it and right next to a brick wall. This is a significantly slower car on a far, far safer track. It is ridiculously difficult to die or seriously injure yourself on a proper (especially F1 spec) track in a road car - you simply can't go fast enough to hit anything that will hurt you. Chances of that happening with someone as good as Patrese? As nil as could ever be expected. She was exhilarated, not terrified.

This was nothing like as dangerous as you think it is.

Passengers are much more likely than drivers to be killed in collisions when passengers are involved

Collision with what?

I don't know why she got in the car

Because she wanted to, knew exactly how enormously skilled her husband is, and trusts him. You clearly don't understand that, and are judging the situation as if it were you. She knows him (and racing in general) a hell of a lot better than you do. The reactions from her were all about 'stop trying to scare me, you bastard'. Not once did she actually tell him "stop, I want to get out". She knew he was completely under control, and she also knew he was trying to tweak her fear button. She had FUN, no matter how scared you would have been in her position.

Your whole interpretation of this is off by a significant margin.
posted by Brockles at 4:55 PM on September 16, 2008 [11 favorites]

Oh Jesus. Outrage through lack of knowledge.

Brockles ... ummm ... are we to assume YOUR interpretation of the interactions (She was exhilarated, not terrified ... the reactions from her were all about ... she also knew ... ) are based on ... knowledge?

If we are stretching to believe 'interpretations', I find the one that suggests that she felt great embarrassment (and anger) after it was all over (having seen the camera) far more compelling. I think a few husbands here have attested to understanding that pov.

gota love him for doing this, but theres a good chance hes not getting some for awhile

(youtube comment)
posted by Surfurrus at 5:13 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

YOUR interpretation of the interactions (She was exhilarated, not terrified ... the reactions from her were all about ... she also knew ... ) are based on ... knowledge?

Yes. Knowledge of the dangers involved and of her likely (almost guaranteed) understanding of the situation. Knowledge of many, many hundreds of relationships of racing drivers and their wives/girlfriends. Knowledge of how anyone who knows a racing driver also knows how they are guaranteed to drive on any race track in whatever car. The people that seem to think she was genuinely terrified also seem to think that she was actually in some sort of situation of tangible danger. She wasn't. She would have known this. She is laughing in 75% of the time she is not berating him (in less than vehement terms and never once demanded he stopped).

I'll repeat that. She didn't tell him to stop. She did demand that he braked (at the end of the main straight) when he was deliberately leaving it late to try and scare her, but she didn't say "stop. let me out". It's a car, not a rollercoaster, as many of the people here have observed. Anyone genuinely scared that had the presence of mind to express an opinion on where a suitable braking zone for a corner would be, certainly has the additional presence of mind to actually say "Stop, let me out" if they are uncomfortable.

The dangers are massively overstated in this by people that don't know anything about Jerez circuit, Ricardo Patrese's talent and ability, the dynamic ability of the car and the likely risk of injury. Susi has been married to Patrese for YEARS. This is not the first time (by any means) he will have driven like that with her in the car - sometimes in faster cars, as the Minardi link above shows, sometimes (I'll bet) on the road. She knew damn well what she was in for and had fun - it is impossible that his behaviour was a surprise to her; there's no way anyone who has been friends or more with a racing driver will not expect them to have gone balls out on an empty track. They're almost incapable of it. It's in their nature to do that, and if she didn't like being driven fast, she'd never let him drive because there's no way it wouldn't have been fast.

Anyone that even sees someone genuinely in distress in that video is barmy, from what I see. Especially being it was the guy's wife - she knows him and what he is capable of far more than a bunch of people who've never driven a car on a racing track fast (understatement).
posted by Brockles at 5:37 PM on September 16, 2008 [4 favorites]

Here's an analogy:

A man is an acrobatic pilot. He has a plane that can do acrobatics. He is at an airfield that is for practising acrobatics.

He has been married for more than ten years. His wife gets in the acrobatic plane with the acrobatic pilot she has known for many years.

The plane takes off and does a loop, a few rolls, a stall turn and she screams, laughs and calls him a nutter. She is filmed in the plane. She sees the camera and cracks up laughing.

This is the same situation. Is anyone seriously going to try and claim she was taken by surprise and terrorised without any hint of expectation?
posted by Brockles at 5:40 PM on September 16, 2008

Honey, I can appreciate that you know cars. I can appreciate that you know racing.

I don't think you know women.

/snark
posted by Surfurrus at 5:45 PM on September 16, 2008

Well letsee... on the one hand there are people who watched the vid and interpreted the situation as humorous and sweet because:

- she laughs throughout, and again at the end
- she has married a F1 race driver
- she has accompanied him to a race track
- she has willingly gotten into a car with him on the race track
- she has done this before


And then there are others who have watched the vid and have interpreted shocking abuse on Riccardo's part because:

- I totally know this other couple and they have issues
- she is somewhat younger than him, and that's LAME


I get the feeling that for some of you, it would take a nothing short of personal statement from Patrese's wife before you conceded the possibility that she enjoyed the ride and that they have a healthy loving relationship. Oh and this statement should be overseen by officials from the UN, videotaped by your best friend, and she must supply 2 forms of government-issued ID. And even then...
posted by danny the boy at 5:49 PM on September 16, 2008 [4 favorites]

Hahahaha! Oh god, that's pathetic as a response.

At the very least, to lower myself to responding to that, you think I don't know the sort of women that marry racing drivers? Oh, I very much do. They certainly aren't stupid enough not to realise that the guy driving them couldn't go slowly on a race track if their life depended on it.
posted by Brockles at 5:50 PM on September 16, 2008

(my response was to Surfurrus, in case it wasn't obvious)
posted by Brockles at 5:51 PM on September 16, 2008

Oh! My apologies, Brockles!

And ... danny_the_boy (sic), you will be happy to know I withdraw all of my concerns regarding the video. Obviously, I don't know the sort of women that marry racing drivers.

It is all so much clearer now.
posted by Surfurrus at 6:02 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

oh ... and please take it to email if you must continue pounding your chests.

This is not a productive conversation; sorry for contributing to this divergence this far.
posted by Surfurrus at 6:04 PM on September 16, 2008

I don't think you know women.

But the problem is you don't know THIS woman any better than we do.

I'm sure there are any number of gender dynamics at play in that car, some evident, some not, but I'd argue a branch of knowledge more narrowly focused on the issues at hand (auto racing, the particular circuit, Patrese's career, number of times they've driven together, etc.) is going to deliver a more accurate insight into this particular situation than some broad, "I know more about how 50-ish% of the world's population would react" stance.

Look, I may not "know" women (no pounding chest here), but I happen to have a few married friends that race cars. The wives that are genuinely scared of high speeds on a track don't go back out with their husbands after the first trip. The ones that enjoy the experience do, and while my friends are pretty good drivers, they sure as heck aren't Patrese.
posted by jalexei at 6:07 PM on September 16, 2008

To further add data points and anecdotal asides, I have run track day activities that have taken up to 150 people a day around race tracks by professional racing drivers. I have run and worked at a significant number of these events, and have even driven people around circuits in road and modified road-cars on similar demonstration laps myself.

They go a hell of a lot quicker around corners than the vast majority of people realise. It is an exhilarating experience, and people do react similar to how people do on rollercoasters - they cry out and scream, even if they are having a lot of fun. I even managed to scare a TV presenter in a mini-van while driving far below the limits of even that wallowy pile of poo-poo of a vehicle. I wasn't even trying to, it's just you can go much, much faster on a race track than people not used to it can understand.

I've had passengers/customers scream their heads off and be much more hysterical (more usually female, blokes are too busy 'trying to be cool') than that in the past. Once they got out of the car, however, most of them proclaimed that it was one of the best things they've ever done and a lot of them wanted to go straight back around again. If Patrese's wife wasn't having fun, she was at least a degree of magnitude more composed than a significant proportion of people that I have had that initially reacted 'worse', but subsequently told me they had a great time.

But hey. Clearly I don't have a deep understanding of the female psyche, so they must all have lied to me. It's all about my inability to understand women why I think there was no spousal mental abuse here, you know.
posted by Brockles at 6:14 PM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

oh ... and please take it to email if you must continue pounding your chests.

This is not a productive conversation; sorry for contributing to this divergence this far.


Wait, so you're going to come in here, presuming not only to know the intentions of people in a video you saw on the internet (despite much evidence to the contrary), but that you know me and my ability to relate to an entire gender, make personal attacks on a bunch of people, and THEN pull the "take it to email cus you immature boys can't have a constructive conversation" ripcord?

That's really disingenuous of you. You don't have high ground here with which to condescend upon me.
posted by danny the boy at 6:20 PM on September 16, 2008 [5 favorites]

It's like Bill Frist diagnosing a plate of beans in here.
posted by dirigibleman at 6:29 PM on September 16, 2008 [3 favorites]

Ha! I was just looking at this.

What I find interesting about things like this, and especially this clip, is how people freak out. You're in a car driven by one of the top pros in the world (yeah, Patrese was no Schumacher, but he did have an FIA Super License), what's to worry about?

It's not like he's some amateur or auto-writer.

You'd think that Mrs. Patrese would have a little more confidence in her husband.
posted by Relay at 6:32 PM on September 16, 2008

At first it seemed like a bit sweet spousal ribbing, when she was half-laughing, half-protesting. But at a certain point that changed, and I saw terror. The kind of terror that most people recognize as actual fear, which causes them in turn to stop doing the very thing that's terrifying the other person and apologize.

I've been in her shoes, where someone you love takes an experience that at first is exhilarating and fun just too far. Yes, she knows he's an excellent driver. She knows that there's little risk. That doesn't matter. What does matter is that it looks like he knew he'd gone beyond her comfort zone, and he didn't slow down then.

He could have. He wasn't on the run from bomber planes or the bad guy. He chose not to slow down. Chances are good he knows her well enough to know by her reaction whether he'd crossed the line, and that he didn't cross it.

That's why *to me* this video wasn't cute and silly. I saw my own past experience(s) in that situation--a man has total control of a situation in a way that causes fear in a woman and mindfully chooses to continue the scary behavior.
posted by Stewriffic at 6:47 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Man, some people love to get outraged about anything. At one time in my life I thought it was only Christian nutters that did this, but the Internet has taught me people of all stripes and political affiliations actively search for things to get furious and indignant about.

Life must be joyless like that.
posted by cj_ at 6:55 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

I saw my own past experience(s) in that situation

I think people call that transferal. Often it is guilty of attaching significance present in your own experiences that are not at all present in the situation that you find reminiscent.

The fear was fleeting. He couldn't have immediately stopped what he was doing - he was in the middle of a corner and was committed to it. On the straight, however, his wife didn't continue being scared. She was laughing. He didn't 'continue scary behaviour' as the behaviour didn't remain scary. It was a fleeting moment of adrenalin. 3-4 seconds after being 'terrified' she's laughing and smiling. Not crying. Not begging him to stop the car.

I've never seen anyone so purportedly 'terrified' that was so relaxed in their mannerisms, I have to say. For some reason some people are desperate to attach some sort of "Man consistently terrifies defenceless woman through mental anguish related dominance process" onto this. It's horseplop.
posted by Brockles at 7:01 PM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

That's why *to me* this video wasn't cute and silly. I saw my own past experience(s) in that situation--a man has total control of a situation in a way that causes fear in a woman and mindfully chooses to continue the scary behavior.

Thanks Stewriffic - I can completely respect that interpretation, even if mine is different.
posted by jalexei at 7:06 PM on September 16, 2008

That was beautiful.

No doubt there is room here for a substantial discussion of sexism, feminism, gender roles, the psychology of thrill-seeking, male/female and driver/passenger relationships, but it's only going to be any good if it starts with the participants being aware of the truth of everything Brockles said above.
posted by sfenders at 7:06 PM on September 16, 2008

This totally rekindles my desire for a Civic Si, though. Man, those things look fun as hell to drive.

So I guess I like this as a viral ad.

**shoots self**
posted by BeerFilter at 7:13 PM on September 16, 2008

I think people call that transferal.

Oh, I know. My point was really to communicate the "why" behind why people might not see this as you do, by explaining my personal point of view and the lens that I saw this through. I was also speaking only for myself, rather than for all women.

For some reason some people are desperate to attach some sort of "Man consistently terrifies defenceless woman through mental anguish related dominance process"

I can't imagine why. /sarcasm
posted by Stewriffic at 7:16 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Looong time lurker, recent subscriber here.

I used to get some enjoyment out of reading pointless, back-biting comment threads like these - possibly akin to the mild schadenfreude I experienced watching that video, but this thread and the recent Charlie Brooker thread are really turning me off MetaFilter.

Seriously people - don't be so serious... people
posted by JustAsItSounds at 8:22 PM on September 16, 2008

She was exhilarated, not terrified.

I guess I just don't get the certainty. Your evidence is fine and all (body posture, no explicit word 'stop'), but you weren't this woman at this time. And I'm surprised I and others got jumped on merely for sympathizing with a possibly upset and possibly (yes fine temporarily but also multiple times) frightened woman, which is how I perceived some of the moments of what seemed like freaked out that I saw, but I understand I may not be correct in this perception. I guess I'm just kind of... surprised that you don't even seem to see this as a possibility for yourself. But whatever. Take the highly-perception-based-scenario as you like it but I'd like less bitching about me doing the same.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 8:27 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

And I post my first-ever serious comment right after JustAsItSounds' post. Brilliant. Sorry, JAIS.

I guess I just wanted to be able to say 'I feel bad for her' and 'she looked freaked' without some weird and unnecessary followup.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 8:29 PM on September 16, 2008

Finally got a chance to watch the video, and wow I'm basically in love with the couple -- sure they're a little older, but how much fun they have together is inspiring, heartwarming. In my opinion, an ex-F1 driver who never took his wife for a ride on the track would be a selfish asshole.

My ex-wife still pesters me to take her for brisk drives in the mountains, like we used to do. I regret that I never did take her on a real race track; she would have really enjoyed that, and surely would have screamed the whole time. I should have found time to make that happen, like the fellow in the video.
posted by LordSludge at 10:27 PM on September 16, 2008 [2 favorites]

And I'm surprised I and others got jumped on merely for sympathizing with a possibly upset and possibly (yes fine temporarily but also multiple times) frightened woman, which is how I perceived some of the moments of what seemed like freaked out that I saw, but I understand I may not be correct in this perception.

Six, I appreciate that you're allowing for the possibility that your perspective may not be correct, but as to your point about being jumped on--here's how this thread went down in my eyes:

1. A video gets posted, that many of us who are interested in motorsport (or not) find entertaining.

2. People arrive to tell us how we are terrible monsters for being entertained by what is clearly abuse caught on tape.

3. Several note that she seems to be enjoying the thrill, based on laughter, body language, history, etc.. Several others who have personal, actual experience with motorsport, with driving passengers around a race track, report that "freaking out" does not correlate with having a bad experience, really quite the opposite.

4. Those with no personal, or actual experience of the event on tape, or of motorsport in general, insist that it is much more likely that the woman they saw on a video on the internet is terrified and being emotionally abused by her husband. There is no evidence presented to justify this position, just assertions and emotional appeals. Now we are terrible monsters AND we don't understand women, categorically.

Also, it is suggested in the thread that men who revel in dominating women through terror are everywhere and we are they; that any (man) who marries someone who is decades younger (nevermind that isn't actually the case here) is lame; oh and rather than address the merits of my comments, someone intimated I am emotionally immature, by way of making fun of my user name.
posted by danny the boy at 11:11 PM on September 16, 2008 [5 favorites]

JustAsItSounds: Welcome! And after this I'll try not to be so serious for a bit.

LordSludge: Well put.

six-or-six-thirty: You're right. It's possible that this was genuinely terrifying for Susi, and that I and others have completely misinterpreted things. I don't think so - at all, really - but it's possible. And as JAIS makes clear, there's no need for backbiting here.

I haven't really been a driver for almost ten years now, what with living in NY and DC since college, but their dynamic reminded me of when I'd hang out with my High School girlfriend, and we'd just drive around empty streets in Oklahoma in the middle of the night. It charmed me to see that they still had that youthful flair after all this time, and made me nostalgic and hopeful at the same time. I'm sure I'm not alone in the regard, and so it almost seemed like a personal affront to see something so cute and wonderful and then to read that people thought it was abusive.

None of us know these people though, and we're judging things based on an admittedly ambiguous four-minute video, so who knows. It just seemed to me like she enjoyed the thrill of riding shotgun with a racecar driver (and like she indeed knows tons about F1 driving, as one would assume she must after 24 years being married to an F1 star) and he enjoyed having her company with him while he did some showing off for her. Your instincts may be right about them, but my instincts were that I immediately wanted to hang out with them. That's where the offense came from.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:25 PM on September 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

As a fan, I can tell you that their ages are close - they've been together since he was in his twenties. I guess she's just aging better.
posted by bradth27 at 3:39 AM on September 17, 2008

Ma state veramente pensando su 'sto piatto di fagioli di SLYT senza conoscere A) questa coppia e B) l'italiano? Ma per davvero?!
posted by romakimmy at 4:18 AM on September 17, 2008

Very tangetially related, but also pretty damn cute:
Girlfriend on TF2
TF2 experience useful, but not essential.

Peoples reactions to the OP are interesting. Some want to protect her, some don't see that she needs protection. Both healthy reactions IMHO.
posted by asok at 6:32 AM on September 17, 2008

I would have gotten out at 2:24.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:35 AM on September 17, 2008

Jesus Jumping Christ in a McLaren.

I wonder how some of you get through the day. Are you really so bad at assessing situations that you go for the most remote, unlikely explanation automatically? Is your life not total chaos?

This would be akin to Tiger Woods' wife being afraid of being on the golf course with him because he might hit her in the head with his club. Or Michael Jordan's wife being afraid to play HORSE with him because he might accidentally break her nose.

You're talking about someone who is among perhaps the top 10 most capable drivers of automobiles out of 6 billion people on the planet. You're talking about his wife who has been with him for 20 years, and there's evidence of her riding around a track with him before.

You are not just wrong, you're dead wrong. You're embarrassingly wrong.

You've committed to a childish, ridiculous viewpoint, and then given almost indisputable evidence to the contrary, not to mention violation of anything approaching "common sense", you dig in your heels and continue to say that this superstar of racing was purposefully mentally abusing his wife for no other reason than, well, to abuse her.

This is the one thing I dislike most about "forum communication". Once someone commits to a point of view, they will go on forever (or more likely, take their toys and go home, as above) before they will consider "you know, maybe I was wrong".

Things like this shouldn't taint my impression of people, but it does.
posted by Ynoxas at 8:03 AM on September 17, 2008 [3 favorites]

So last night I made my wife sit down beside me in the den. I fired up Forza 2 on the 360 and grabbed my wheel. I began turning hot laps without her prior knowledge. She was initially amused with the skill and precision I could clip apexes, control oversteer and trail brake. Her amusement quickly turned to horror as I ignored her cries to slow down. I kept pounding away at the circuit. Hairpin to straight to sweeping left hander. When I finished my lap, she was a dishevelled mess, and today will be filing or divorce.

It was abuse.
posted by Keith Talent at 8:23 AM on September 17, 2008

Keith -- Face it: she's a Gran Turismo girl.
posted by LordSludge at 9:05 AM on September 17, 2008 [1 favorite]

Ynoxas: This is the one thing I dislike most about "forum communication". Once someone commits to a point of view, they will go on forever (or more likely, take their toys and go home, as above) before they will consider "you know, maybe I was wrong".

Man, tell me about it. But that's just (most) people in general -- not just online -- and it's frustrating as hell. They'll dig into the most absurd positions rather than admit they're wrong. I once had a very good friend insist that he'd rather he and his entire family (wife + 2 kids) *died* than have national health care in the US. So, so frustrating...
posted by LordSludge at 9:15 AM on September 17, 2008

I do have a sense of humor, according to the latest push-polls! I just don't like the dynamic between the couple in the video.

This is the essential problem with people. Apparently it's somehow became okay for people to enjoy the company of their loved ones differently than the way I do, and that's just wrong. I, too, don't like the dynamic between the couple in the video. I can just see them at home, now, those sick fucks. I bet they sit down to dinner with friends and maybe sometimes she brings up some embarassing story about him in front of them, just to get his goat. The nerve! I bet they do all kinds of exciting things all the time, and then they get all worked up and have great sex afterward. Filthy animals! To think that they love each other both in times of anxiety and times of peace, or that they can enjoy teasing and playing with each other as if there was nothing wrong with showing emotion!

If only everyone could understand that any marital dynamic that I don't personally engage in is abuse!
posted by shmegegge at 9:21 AM on September 17, 2008 [3 favorites]

People arrive to tell us how we are terrible monsters for being entertained by what is clearly abuse caught on tape.

It is abuse. She's yelling at the man for a full four and a half minutes. And she even tells him to go fuck himself. Complete with the hand gesture. And he's just trying to do his job.

If that isn't verbal abuse, I don't know what is! Good thing they have filmed it.

*Sarcasm off*
posted by cjets at 11:38 AM on September 17, 2008

Can someone please point to where I characterized this video as "abusive" or my reaction as "outraged" or "disgusted"? Not one poster, self included, has said that the driver's actions constitute abuse. Screaming that it ain't abuse is well-poisoning, making it appear that I said it is. This is a textbook strawman: one side states X, the opposite side argues against the logically unsupportable position Y. Then you feel deeply righteous because you made X look idiotic, boo-yeah! No, you made Y look idiotic, but Y is an ipso facto idiotic position, which is why no one actually copped to having it.

For crying out loud, people, react to what I said if you must, but not some straw feminista. I said this couple's interpersonal dynamic made me uncomfortable, in that it is reminiscent of that of many couples who seem to delight in having an audience for their dysfunction. I get uncomfortable when married people yell at one another in front of me. This is not a gender-separatist radical bytch dyke womyn position.

Who said that enjoying this video makes you a "terrible monster"? Who said that "men who revel in dominating women through terror are everywhere." No one did, boys, no one. But some seem to be getting so much chest-pounding satisfaction out of countering the points that they concocted in their fevered imaginations... I'll just leave you to it, okay? I'm going to a Valerie Solanas memorial this afternoon and I still need to deep-fry some testicles for us to crunch on. Hey, MacKinnon, don't forget the ranch dressing this time!
posted by cirocco at 12:08 PM on September 17, 2008 [2 favorites]

oh chill, you wet blanket. i can't speak for anybody else, but i'm kidding. i think you're overreacting (and I have better reason to think that than you have for disliking the video) and i'm just ribbing you about it. don't you get tired of being a stick-in-the-mud?
posted by shmegegge at 12:22 PM on September 17, 2008

Man, tell me about it. But that's just (most) people in general -- not just online -- and it's frustrating as hell. They'll dig into the most absurd positions rather than admit they're wrong. I once had a very good friend insist that he'd rather he and his entire family (wife + 2 kids) *died* than have national health care in the US. So, so frustrating...
posted by LordSludge at 11:15 AM on September 17

You're living my life bro. I once backed a neo-con friend of mine into a corner where to try to salvage his argument (about gun control if I recall) he said that there would be less crime if all the police forces were disbanded.

This same friend also said he would ask for a cut in pay and refuse any raises if taxes were raised. This is a guy that makes $200k+. He said he'd rather make less overall if that meant "the government" would make less off of him. Explaining that "the government" actually is not a profit making enterprise, and that tax revenues are all spent on various governmental programs, many of which you benefit from, left him looking at me with that cock-headed look that a spaniel gives you when quoting Bertrand Russell. This guy is smart, but has no ability to fend off propaganda, both religious and political.
posted by Ynoxas at 3:15 PM on September 17, 2008

Riccardo has also driven his wife around Kyalami (a South African circuit) in a Minardi two-seater F1 car.


Here's some transcript of the video posted above...


RP: It's hot in here. I need the air.

SP: You know of this track?

RP: Of course.

SP: Slow down! Don't you see they are working?

SP: You're doing this on purpose. No! Please(?)! I am not having fun now. I'm not having fun. I'm not having fun. It's nice to see, but this car is not stuck to the ground like an F1 (car)!

Oh God. Mamma mia. I only want to do one lap. The man told you to go slow. Please! I have kids at home waiting on their parents! NO, RICCARDO NO... Are you crazy? Guarda! LOOK! ... OH FUCK YOU. Ricardo- please go slow. You're passing too close to them.

MAMMA MIA! Riccardo! NOOOOOO! PLEEEASE! STOP!

You are an asshole. Go fuck yourself. I'm never fucking coming back. Every time I get in the car with you, I feel like vomiting. Mamma mia - what an asshole.

RP: I want to watch that (the video).
posted by Zambrano at 6:06 PM on September 17, 2008

Why are we getting so many angry feminist comments in this thread? Pick your battles, honestly. Her husband is an F1 racer, they're at a track, she decides to get in the car for a lap, she talks a bunch. STOP OVERANALYZING.
posted by tehloki at 11:58 PM on September 17, 2008

F1 driver? Whatevs - we drove the shit out of this plate of beans...
posted by From Bklyn at 2:51 AM on September 18, 2008

But I am what about the analrapists? Should they stop analyzing?
posted by asok at 3:39 AM on September 18, 2008