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I really have a hard time understanding this kind of attitude. No one is advocating that you _don't_ own a car. Cars were a great invention, they've reduced th

by exergy 10y ago

I really have a hard time understanding this kind of attitude. No one is advocating that you _don't_ own a car. Cars were a great invention, they've reduced the size of our world, and genuinely made life better, no doubt. But an entire world undertaking clown-like 40 mile commutes each way, or getting into their tin boxes just to drive down to a store 3 miles away to buy some dishwashing soap because they're too lazy for bikes is no panacea either. Because what you're saying that your store is literally less than two train stations away, and you can only make that journey in a car. And that hyperbole about the "little of privacy we have left" is exactly that. Hyperbolic. What exactly are you doing in a car during your morning commute that requires levels of privacy that trains simply cannot offer? Listening to music? Reading a book? Working on your laptop? News flash. You can do all of that on a train, and no one cares. What I will concede is that the US is particularly idiotic in not offering even a semblance of reliability in their public transport. I stayed in DC, and the metro their is prone to failure, with the buses being even less frequent and late. However, a well functioning public transit system is a blessing and every city/suburb lacking it is the worse for it.

curioussavage 10y ago
Yes, I have read plenty of comments arguing that when we are all 'enlightened' nobody will own cars. I addressed the privacy point below, but to repeat myself, what you do during the commute is not my main worry, its where you go, when and with whom. I would think thats obvious. "And that hyperbole about the "little of privacy we have left" is exactly that" As to whether that is hyperbole, after the things that have come out in the last few years I think many people would agree with me not you. The hyperbole here is your '40 mile commute'. Very few people have commutes that far. Its funny I would argue that those two situation are particularly convenient to do in a car. If you are one of those suckers with a super long commute you probably want the freedom to run errands on the way or have the freedom to stick around at one place until late ( after the stupid trains stop running for example) Quick store runs a mile or two away are actually quick when you don't have a 5-10 min walk to the train/bus stop and 5 - ? minute wait with the slow commute in between. I just love this silly attempt all over hacker news and reddit to shame people into riding bikes. Why don't you stop lazily using that phone to communicate with people and go find them and tell them in person, or how about you throw out your oven and start roasting your meals over a fire. What is considered lazy is very subjective. Using technology that makes things easier/quicker is not something I consider lazy.
- exergy 10y ago
  Um, I get the idea that you're arguing that the government is tracking your movements when you're in public transit? You're a bit on your own with that level of tin-foil hattedness I'm afraid. Dealing with such severe paranoia problems are above my pay grade unfortunately. Especially when you're likely carrying an iPhone or Android in your pocket anyway, which is a far more sophisticated tracker than your train ticket receipt. It certainly is far from being "obvious" that Big Govt. tracking our movements via public transit is a significant problem. Also, I admit that my 40 mile commute was also a hyperbolic statement designed to achieve the same effect as yours. But, indeed, if you somehow contrive to create a lifestyle involving a 40 mile commute, I agree that the car is a superior solution. My contention is that we should strive as hard as we can NOT to end up with a long-ass commute. And, again, far be it from me to shame you into anything. Enjoy your car if you do. Perhaps you're even one of the responsible ones who drives a fuel efficient hatchback, and only when he needs to. However, there is a good chunk of America that takes massive loans to buy $60,000 F-350s or something and then runs themselves into bankruptcy and zero retirement savings. Also, using technology to make things easier is almost the definition of laziness. A scythe, as an example, cuts grass better than a manual lawn mower, which is better than an internal combustion-propelled lawn mower, which requires frequent maintenance, is orders of magnitudes more expensive, and makes you fat and lazy. Yet how many people use scythes? Laziness. Convenience.
  - curioussavage 10y ago
    I was in no way arguing that I am personally being targeted. A society where people only oppose these kinds of abuse if they are personally targeted is screwed. Just because you and I aren't the victims doesn't mean we shouldn't speak up. I'm not paranoid, you are in denial. FBI spy planes ring a bell?? "Especially when you're likely carrying an iPhone" You can power down (or remove the battery if possible) from your phone. And yes the risk is more that city and state governments will use it. And since many have been caught using and abusing stuff like stingrays and license plate readers it's not a stretch by any means to assume. Who wants to live in cities that are under a microscope like London. Your right though, nobody is trying to force me. Now I'm going to go turn on my robot mower. Enjoy cutting grass with your scythe. Watch your legs! And have fun cleaning up all the clippings. I'll be with my family, being fat and "lazy"

by exergy 10y ago

curioussavage 10y ago

Yes, I have read plenty of comments arguing that when we are all 'enlightened' nobody will own cars. I addressed the privacy point below, but to repeat myself, what you do during the commute is not my main worry, its where you go, when and with whom. I would think thats obvious. "And that hyperbole about the "little of privacy we have left" is exactly that" As to whether that is hyperbole, after the things that have come out in the last few years I think many people would agree with me not you. The hyperbole here is your '40 mile commute'. Very few people have commutes that far. Its funny I would argue that those two situation are particularly convenient to do in a car. If you are one of those suckers with a super long commute you probably want the freedom to run errands on the way or have the freedom to stick around at one place until late ( after the stupid trains stop running for example) Quick store runs a mile or two away are actually quick when you don't have a 5-10 min walk to the train/bus stop and 5 - ? minute wait with the slow commute in between. I just love this silly attempt all over hacker news and reddit to shame people into riding bikes. Why don't you stop lazily using that phone to communicate with people and go find them and tell them in person, or how about you throw out your oven and start roasting your meals over a fire. What is considered lazy is very subjective. Using technology that makes things easier/quicker is not something I consider lazy.

exergy 10y ago
Um, I get the idea that you're arguing that the government is tracking your movements when you're in public transit? You're a bit on your own with that level of tin-foil hattedness I'm afraid. Dealing with such severe paranoia problems are above my pay grade unfortunately. Especially when you're likely carrying an iPhone or Android in your pocket anyway, which is a far more sophisticated tracker than your train ticket receipt. It certainly is far from being "obvious" that Big Govt. tracking our movements via public transit is a significant problem. Also, I admit that my 40 mile commute was also a hyperbolic statement designed to achieve the same effect as yours. But, indeed, if you somehow contrive to create a lifestyle involving a 40 mile commute, I agree that the car is a superior solution. My contention is that we should strive as hard as we can NOT to end up with a long-ass commute. And, again, far be it from me to shame you into anything. Enjoy your car if you do. Perhaps you're even one of the responsible ones who drives a fuel efficient hatchback, and only when he needs to. However, there is a good chunk of America that takes massive loans to buy $60,000 F-350s or something and then runs themselves into bankruptcy and zero retirement savings. Also, using technology to make things easier is almost the definition of laziness. A scythe, as an example, cuts grass better than a manual lawn mower, which is better than an internal combustion-propelled lawn mower, which requires frequent maintenance, is orders of magnitudes more expensive, and makes you fat and lazy. Yet how many people use scythes? Laziness. Convenience.
- curioussavage 10y ago
  I was in no way arguing that I am personally being targeted. A society where people only oppose these kinds of abuse if they are personally targeted is screwed. Just because you and I aren't the victims doesn't mean we shouldn't speak up. I'm not paranoid, you are in denial. FBI spy planes ring a bell?? "Especially when you're likely carrying an iPhone" You can power down (or remove the battery if possible) from your phone. And yes the risk is more that city and state governments will use it. And since many have been caught using and abusing stuff like stingrays and license plate readers it's not a stretch by any means to assume. Who wants to live in cities that are under a microscope like London. Your right though, nobody is trying to force me. Now I'm going to go turn on my robot mower. Enjoy cutting grass with your scythe. Watch your legs! And have fun cleaning up all the clippings. I'll be with my family, being fat and "lazy"