THANK YOU Kimberly Felipe!!! That's exactly what i was trying to get across to [some] of these very twits!

That law that Ms Felipe cites gives the right-of-way to pedestrians who are crossing the road. It does not require drivers to stop in front of pedestrians who are not yet crossing and gesticulate at them to cross. If a driver is worried about a pedestrian jumping into the path of their vehicle at the last second, there is a law that covers that (§ 814.040) and the pedestrian does not have the right of way in such cases.
I Anon already explained how this type of "politeness" can create a dangerous situation, and many commenters have agreed. There is also the entire issue of this type of behavior toward cyclists, which you conveniently neglect to mention. If you're not willing to consider such relevant points that motivated the discussion in the first place, then stay out of it.

it is a pleasure to stop for pedestrians. PDX is the only town where everybody gives you a thank-you wave.
as a driver/cyclist, the horribly polite drivers are another story. random acts of kindness i.e. waving me through a stop sign when you have the right of way/are in a through traffic lane, are just that, RANDOM. nobody else knows what you're doing. you are going to get someone killed. follow the rules of the road and we'll all get along just fine.

Were you reading a different I Anon? I wholly support the fact that people who stop for pedestrians that AREN'T CROSSING are tards. If I have a stop sign, red light, or I'm just standing there...DON'T BACK UP TRAFFIC BY STOPPING. I don't want to get hit by any cars that think you're an idiot, and go to pass you, and I don't want the hate stares from people that think your moronic actions are caused by me. I will cross when it's SAFE.

Okay guys, its been a few weeks. As terribly dangerous as it is (I know you've all probably lost loved ones because of overly-polite driver's making stops), its time to move on with your lives. Focus on something else important. Find something commonplace that gives lab rats cancer, or start a campaign to take aluminum out of deodorant. Maybe bubble-wrap your children's bedrooms, round the corners on your kitchen counters, or join the PTA. Let this one go.

Ovidius:

It IS terribly dangerous, as anyone who has nearly been ran over because of it can attest to.

It would be nice see people being proactive for a change with this ongoing REAL issue, or do people need to start dying before it's worthy of consideration?

Hug a biker....as soon as possible.Those folks put up with a lot of *hit from motorists.Being in those nasty rear-view blindspots.Being envyed by some jealous folks for being out there doing it.Sucking our petro pollutions.Mud and pebbles kicked up.Malicious criminal *hit from some.On and on ya know?COEXIST.I'm trying.Might as well say sorry to anyone I've offended while I'm at it.Peace.Sincerely,Love buckets[the artist formely none as Mandingo]