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@olaf_von_pokemon
Mikec - you ask a good question when you say what give a person to shout RED when they spot a RLJ.
I freely admit I do it every now and again (shout rather than RLJ). The reason I do it is because I see it as my duty as a responsible citizen to challenge what I'd say was irresponsible behaviour. I'd do the same with somone littering, somone beating the crap out of their partner or driving with a mobile phone.
The reason I do it is because I feel that unless somone challenges them then that sort of behaviour becomes the norm. I'm not saying my intervention is effective but unless someone stands up the poor behaviour will dominate.
Now on the specifics of RLJ I'd argue that to a degree someone doing it affects me. Why? Because the car driver that sees the RLJ thinks (incorrectly) that all cyclists are 'road taxi avoiding twats' and this attitude may manifest itself the next time the driver is behind me when I'm in the primary position down a narrow road and he thinks 'why the fuck should I wait until there is space to overtake thise RLJing twat - whay not have a laugh and push him into the door zone'.
Now I accept this is an extreme example but not impossible. You can also argue that this type of twat would do this anyway but I think that grater cooperation between road users means that there is greater understanding and this can only be a good thing.
RLJing is illegal for a reason but I do take your point that in the situation you describe you doing so presented no danger. However it is the shared observation of the 'rules of the road' that lead to a much safer, much more predictable cycling, walking and driving environment. Perhaps more importantly it does not give fuel to the arguments that some of the motoring lobby or which ever anti-cyclist group you chose to pick will make in order to demonise cycling. We've seen the government justify major policy change, for example around housing benefit changes, by presenting the 3 families claiming £100,000 in benefits as the norm rather than the miniscule percentage it actually is.
For these reasons (and often the safety of the cyclist - I do see a sizeable proportion of the RLJs do it in a dangerous way) I'll probably shout. I do wonder if a kind word would work - it never seems to. Perhaps I come over as a pompous twat but I tend to think it appears to be a common reaction that when somone's failings are pointed out rather than accept them with good grace they instead attack.
I sort of hope the shame of being called out in front of a group of peers makes them modify their behaviour. It tends to happen.
Anyway that's why I do it.