I think a lot of that is down to mechanical empathy. I know loads of high time drivers who accelerate/brake throughout the whole of their driving. They have no understanding of machinery.
One of the nicest things my flying instructor said to me when I was a stude was 'You have feel for the aircraft.' I like to think I have for any machine but it was nice all the same.
I don't think you can learn empathy, you either have it or don't, it doesn't make you necessarily dangerous if you don't have it but you can tell almost immediately people who don't. They are the sort who make you think 'I wish you wouldn't do that..' not because it's dangerous but because it's just not right, it doesn't 'gel' with the machine.
I suppose there will be two camps reading this, those who think 'Yeah I know what he means' and the other camp goes 'Eh?' If you're going 'Eh?' then if the cap fits........
