I think it’s just a matter of preference. Just like you might prefer to spend money and time on some other form of entertainment, some people who have to drive every day prefer to get some enjoyment out of it. Regardless of your judgement on “car culture”, it is enjoyment and happiness for that people nonetheless.
>I think it is ruining America.
This is not an America thing. And it’s not new. Many modern societies, ever since cars have been invented, have had this “car culture” you speak of.
Well, according to you. I didn't read it that way at all.
avryhof drives a beater car, but the loss of status that might imply doesn't mean much to them because it's just a way of getting from A to B. That doesn't remotely say that everyone else uses their car as a status symbol, just that driving a beater often implies low status or poverty.
I drive a beater car -> I don't mind that it's not very prestigious -> It's just transport.
> first of all, I don't own three cars. I own exactly one, very sensible, car, one "SUV", and several other pieces of heavy equipment that are all used properly and efficiently.
I often hear "car" used as a synonym with "automobile". And dictionaries seem to agree with that. However, I do not call my pickup truck a car, but I do have another car which I call a car.
>Have you considered that there might be people who don't fetishize cars like you do?
I feel like you might have this loaded as a sort of generic thing you say to people, but it doesn't apply here. I'm talking about the tradeoffs people make in general. Calling me a car fetishist is a non sequitur.
Cars are personal objects. There are also practical concerns.
I rented a Maserati some time ago. It was a fun ride. But most memorable was how aggressive every other sports car (and, perplexingly, truck) became on the highways.
I’ve borrow a friend’s Tesla in the Bay Area from time to time. I’ve recently had the Maserati experience in the Tesla. Abrupt cut-offs, refused merge and turn requests, jeers. For a day-to-day car, I couldn’t be bothered with this.
> Almost everywhere in the world, cars are a means to get around and occasionally carry things.
This is as incorrect as it gets. Cars are considered status symbol almost universally. Look at Bentleys, high tier BMWs, Mercedes, Lexuses etc etc etc of the world.
Occasionally you may see funny things, like France's disregard for car paint and bumpers, but almost everywhere sports car, large premium suv or luxury sedan are very often status symbols.
When cars first became affordable in the US in the 1910's, due to mass production and financing, they were very quickly adopted in massive numbers. So I don't think it is fair to say that people have an aversion to change.
Are you sure the annoyance isn't that they just don't want the changes you want them to want?
> Back in the day it was hot rodders who were talking about fast cars.
I’m not sure where you’re from, but this is just simply not correct. I have never been in that group and I know lots of people who regularly use that phrase. It’s a fundamental colloquialism.
They were never cool in my eyes. They offer you no space and no comfort, which everybody likes, and they try to compensate with huge speed, that nobody is allowed to attain.
> When you smash one you are saying “i vote car.” I vote to continue to make the status quo system of cars how we move from point a to b. And there are a lot of problems with cars. Are you sure you want to be on team car?
You're being too black and white. These people could really just be against "team dockless" [1].
There's also nothing wrong with being on "team car."
As opposed to clear, well defined, and fair rules. Rather than bureaucratic misery designed to annoy people.
> Cars are weapons. The only reason people don't respect it as such is a cultural mishap in a way cars were introduced into society.
Axes are weapons. The only reason people don't respect it as such is a cultural mishap in a way axes were introduced into society.
Your sentence had essentially zero semantic meaning, you can replace "car" with virtually anything without changing the meaning.
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