Umm, "lifehack," I guess?

"With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username" (with-a-g)
03/28/2014 at 10:38 • Filed to: JustRolledIntoTheShop

From the always informative "JustRolledIntoTheShop" on reddit:

DISCUSSION (20)

Frank Grimes > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 10:43

What the heck is this? some kind of cheat code? Are those sea shells? on the dash? What the heck!?

N/A POWAAAHH > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 10:44

Uhh, backwards alphabet? wut.. Also, N/A subaru.

McMike > Frank Grimes
03/28/2014 at 10:45

It's the alphabet backwards. I'm assuming it's for practice.

Kinja'd!!!

RazoE > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 10:46

Backwards alphabet is for a field sobriety test, I guess?

Shells are just decoration, the way people (stupidly) cover their gauges with a photo.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 10:51

I was once asked to do this when I was pulled over on suspicion of drinking and driving (rolled a stop sign). I told them: "I've only lived in this country for about 3 years, I went to school in the Netherlands and whenever I do the alphabet or math in my head, it's in Dutch" (I've now been here 8 years and I no longer do so). She continued right on with the stand on one foot and look at the sky, touch your nose and walking a straight line. After all that she finally did a breathalizer, I passed it and I was on my way. Either way, I rarely hear of someone doing the physical/mental tests and then getting away w/o being breathalized. I think, in a lot of cases, it's just a stall tactic in case you just got done drinking and your levels are still on their way up.

By the way, that was one scary experience, I knew I had spent quite a bit of time working on those 4 gin and tonics I had, but I was still worried.

*edit: Also, I wouldn't have been able to read that off of my dash, because at that point the officer had me outside of my car.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > N/A POWAAAHH
03/28/2014 at 10:52

There's an old trope that cops will ask you to recite the alphabet backward as part of a field sobriety test. The actual purpose is to see how you respond to a stupid and arbitrary challenge. When you're drunk, your emotional state will kind of give you away. The thing is, some people think that the police are actually interested in hearing you answer correctly, and put effort into memorizing it for that purpose, instead of, say, putting effort into straightening out your life so you're not habitually driving drunk.

04sneaky - Boxers. Blowers. Bikes. And bitches. > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 10:54

I'm never drunk....

But reciting the alphabet backwars would be an impossible task for me.

pdx107 > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 10:56

That gas gauge seems comically large

McMike > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
03/28/2014 at 10:56

I just tried to say the alphabet backwards, and I've been in this country for 45 years, and I can't do it.

I mean, I will eventually, by breaking it down, and going back and forth, and spitting out three at a time. Might as well give me a Rubik's Cube.

How to police determine who fails? By the method they tackle the challenge? I don't think many people can rattle off the alphabet backwards.

jariten1781 > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 10:58

I hate it when cars don't have a coolant gauge.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > McMike
03/28/2014 at 11:03

Yeah, there are all kinds theories on why they ask that, but I think they are all a myth. You are probably right. They want to see how confused you react.

I've just now decided that it is a stupid question and if I get asked it I'll, in a nice way, say I don't want to do it. At least I won't sound confused...

McMike > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
03/28/2014 at 11:08

Maybe they're looking at the reaction?

If they ask a sober person, the motorist will look back at the officer with a crazy "who the hell can do that" look on their face. A drunk person will panic and immediately attempt it.

Same reason they ask if there are any guns, knives, drugs, or bazookas in the car. A nervous person with something to hide is to worried about the item(s) to notice the "bazooka" question. Someone riding clean will get a laugh out of it, or reply with "Bazookas?"

Jayhawk Jake > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 11:16

But what if I just view it as a challenge and do it anyways?

Can I say 'I'm not drunk, and that's a stupid challenge, but I bet you 20 bucks I could do it'?

Tekamul > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
03/28/2014 at 11:20

They ask you to do the physical/mental, because it looks better in court for them to say they saw signs of obvious impairment before issuing the breathalyzer.

Regardless of your performance, they always 'see' impairment, because it is a judgement call, and requires no support. So it's only a gaming of the legal system.

Bottom line, if you aren't impaired, just say "breathalyze me". If you are, you're screwed anyway, because no amount of physical and mental prowess will help.

N/A POWAAAHH > pdx107
03/28/2014 at 11:28

Subaru for you. I believe on the WRX/STI, the lower half is a boost/vacuum gauge.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Tekamul
03/28/2014 at 11:29

That all makes a whole lot of sense.

Although I have heard of cases where the officer will not move forward with a breathalyzer. But I intend to not ever be in that situation, I live downtown, there is no reason for me to drive home drunk within walking distance of my place.

McLarry > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 11:40

For the record I can do this while very drunk.

Also for the record I meant 'say the alphabet backwards' not 'look at my gauges' because I wouldn't be in the driver's seat...Never drink and drive, kids.

jariten1781 > McMike
03/28/2014 at 11:45

I've never actually seen them ask that. The one I've actually seen them use is count from '61 to 71' using only the odd numbers or 'spell your first name backwards'. I think the alphabet one is too difficult and lazy. Doesn't matter anyway, to fail a field sobriety test you have to show signs of impairment in multiple unrelated tasks so even having difficulty with one isn't a problem. They almost always breathalyze now anyway.

McMike > jariten1781
03/28/2014 at 11:51

What does it mean if you giggle between 69 and 71?

thebigbossyboss > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/28/2014 at 13:04

Kinja'd!!!

Gas gauge down the 64ths.