I Was Flipped Off for Driving a Tesla- This Is My Response

Yesterday, I had a moment that shook me. It started like any lovely Sunday should—at my happy place, the local nursery. In the most peaceful way—under the sun-dappled trees of my happy place, the local nursery. I was shopping for plant in honor of my friend Lenae who just passed. The sun was out, the air was light, and I was feeling grounded and grateful before heading to a celebration of life later that day. I was soaking in peace while quietly reflecting on the fragility and counting my blessings.

But as I was leaving the parking lot, something unexpected jolted me. A middle aged-woman walking behind her husband turned around, made direct eye contact with me, and—with zero provocation—threw her arms into a hostile, unmistakable “F-you” gesture.

She turned around once more, and this time I really saw her face.

It was twisted and vulgar in anger—jaw tight, eyes narrowed, lips curled into a scowl so sharp it could cut glass. She didn’t just look mad—she looked consumed by it. Her whole expression radiated something deeper than frustration… it was resentment. Bitterness. Rage. The kind that simmers beneath the surface for a long time before it finds an outlet.

I was taken aback—not just by the gesture, but by the depth of her fury. How could a stranger, on a sunny Sunday afternoon, carry that much venom toward someone she didn’t even know?

I was stunned. Confused. I had done nothing. No honking. No tailgating. I was just driving behind a line of cars, enjoying my thoughts. Moments later, I caught up to her again as traffic crept forward. She looked at me and did it again—just as aggressive, just as bitter.

I rolled down my window, calmly and politely.
“Hi, were you trying to say something to me? I noticed your gestures. Just wanted to ask if something was wrong?”

She glared at me and shot back, “No. Do you have something to say to me?”

“No,” I replied honestly. “But I hope you have a good day.”

That’s when she looked at my car, paused, and said deliberately, “I hope you don’t.” She pointed right at me and my car. Yah.. one of those moments you ask yourself. What just happened? Seriously friends. What the heck?

Then it occured to me…. I was driving a Tesla.

The Tesla Rage is Real—But So is Grace-My Personal Experience

On the way home, I tried to make sense of what had just happened. And then I started seeing more clearly the backdrop of this moment—not just mine, but a larger trend.

Tesla chargers have been set on fire in multiple cities. Vehicles spray-painted and vandalized. Dealerships attacked.In Seattle, four Cybertrucks were torched just days ago. In South Carolina, a man burned three Tesla chargers, accidentally lighting himself on fire in the process. In Boston, someone defaced several cars and damaged more charging stations.

And why? Because some people don’t like Elon Musk. Or because they associate a vehicle with a political figure they despise. It’s irrational. It’s dangerous. And above all—it’s heartbreaking.

How did we get here? When did we decide that the way to express disagreement was to light cars on fire, or scream at strangers just trying to go about their day?

Just several months ago, Teslas were a badge of environmental pride. Now, apparently, they’re lightning rods for political rage. It’s absurd.

Let me be clear: I didn’t buy my car as a political statement. I bought it because I liked it. Period. I am not planning on selling it either. Why would I it’s not worth much right now.

And yet, here I am, the target of someone’s misplaced fury, reduced in her mind to a symbol she decided to hate. It made me realize something: We’ve reached a point where people are letting rage eclipse reason. And that should scare us all friends.

Here’s the truth—hate never leads anywhere good. It consumes from the inside out. It doesn’t fix problems. It creates new ones. And it certainly doesn’t change minds. I could’ve matched her anger. But I didn’t. I chose to meet her hate with grace. Not because she deserved it. But because I do. Because we all do.

We have to be better. We have to be willing to see each other as human beings again—not as enemies because of what we drive or what box we check on a ballot.

So if you’re feeling that kind of anger, please take a breath. Take a breath. And remember: The person in the car next to you is not your enemy.

To The Vulgar Woman Who Flipped Me Off—Twice—For Driving a Tesla:

I’ve thought about you more than I expected to.

Not because of the gesture—though yes, it was aggressive, unexpected, and frankly, hurtful—but because of what it represents.

We live in a world where people are exhausted, divided, and drowning in noise. But we cannot let that justify cruelty. We cannot normalize hating strangers for existing in a moment you don’t agree with.

-You don’t know me.
-You didn’t ask me a question.
-You didn’t consider who I am or where I was going.

You just saw a car—a brand—and you made a snap judgment. Political profiling, plain and simple. Listen any type of profiling is simply wrong.

And that is not okay.

We’re never going to heal as a society if we keep reducing human beings to symbols of political narratives. People are more than the car they drive, the news they consume, the sticker on their bumper, or the ballot they cast.

You may think you were making a point. But what you did was make someone’s day worse. You took your anger out on a stranger who had done nothing but share the road with you.

And it’s not just unkind—it’s dangerous. Because that kind of snap hatred is how division grows. It’s how we lose compassion.

Why Social Profiling is Dangerous

Social profiling—judging someone based on what they wear, drive, look like, post, or even who they associate with—is a shortcut our brains take to make sense of the world. But it’s a dangerous one.

Here’s why it’s wrong:

🔹 It strips people of their individuality.
It reduces complex, layered human beings to a single trait or perceived affiliation. People are not bumper stickers or brand logos. We are all so much more than that.

🔹 It fuels division and misunderstanding.
Assuming someone’s values or intentions based on what they drive or wear only deepens the “us vs. them” mentality. It keeps us boxed in and afraid of each other.

🔹 It creates unnecessary conflict.
When we lead with judgment instead of curiosity, we cut off connection before it has a chance to exist. And in many cases, we cause harm to someone who has done absolutely nothing wrong.

🔹 It often says more about us than the person we’re judging.
Social profiling is often rooted in fear, bias, or our own unresolved experiences. Recognizing that helps us grow.

🔹 It erodes empathy—the foundation of a healthy society.
The moment we stop seeing people as human and start seeing them as “sides,” we all lose. Compassion can’t thrive where assumptions rule.