4 ms·

You've pretty much covered the gamut of ridiculous urbanism hyperbole, so there's that. >But only one of us has had their desires subsidized by various levels

by ergo98 16y ago

You've pretty much covered the gamut of ridiculous urbanism hyperbole, so there's that. >But only one of us has had their desires subsidized by various levels of government for decades. This is almost comically wrong, but given the ridiculous hyperbole you engage in, you won't be convinced otherwise.

philwelch 16y ago
Ridicule isn't very convincing. What exactly are you disagreeing with? Did you only spend hundreds of dollars on your car and maybe a few dozen a month for gas, insurance, and (amortized) repairs and maintenance? Have you never lived anywhere with chronic traffic jams? Have you never noticed the statistics on traffic accidents? Or do you think roads are paid for by pixie dust and good wishes? Also, why are my personal desires "urbanist hyperbole" while yours are, evidently, something I should be forced to not only pay for, but live in myself?
- ergo98 16y ago
  It isn't ridicule. It's a simple statement of fact that you're so far down the justify-my-life hyperbole well (you sound like any early-20 year old living in a tiny dump downtown) that you won't be convinced to the contrary. And I don't want to live in a dirty, squalid, crime-filled ghetto of overcrowding and limited accommodation that is the city. Of course that's hyperbole, but given that I'm responding to a guy who referred to suburbs as "the desolate, isolating distance between various places", it sounds like it's the colour of the argument. Of course, I like driving in my comfortable, air-conditioned, very safe vehicle (without the risks of dangers and olfactory offenses of public transit -- again, just borrowing some of your style) while listening to music of my own choice. >something I should be forced to not only pay for Yes, you've covered this again and again. It turns out that in a modern society all of us pay for a lot of things that we don't personally benefit from. I pay towards mass transit that I don't use. I pay towards welfare that I don't use. I pay towards police that aren't policing me, and doctors that aren't tending to me. I pay for arts facilities that I don't use, and sports facilities that I don't play at. That's aggregate living for you. Of course cities simply can't exist without the transportation networks around them (the products and foods that you exist on most certainly weren't made locally), so your argument smells a little more ripe. Let me make it totally clear that I engaged in this discussion with a full expectation of being downvoted (even for absolute statements of fact such as the reason for parking space regulations). People who live in the suburbs generally just enjoy life. People who live in the city sit online justifying why living in the city is the ideal form of existence.
  - philwelch 16y ago
    Actually, I've lived in small towns all my life and usually drive an SUV to get around. I've grown to hate and resent it, especially when I have to drive through cities and suburbs because, as convenient as it may be carrying around a traveling, air-conditioned cage with me, it's a lot less fun when you're on an interstate freeway which has spontaneously turned into a parking lot. I just came into this to say teilo misread the article and that there's more regulations and taxations required to prop up car usage than some people are willing to acknowledge. You're the one started justifying why living in the suburbs is the ideal form of existence. Incidentally, I'd be happier living in a suburb or small town that allowed for a car-free lifestyle than I would be living in a city like Houston or LA where you still need a car.

by ergo98 16y ago

philwelch 16y ago

Ridicule isn't very convincing. What exactly are you disagreeing with? Did you only spend hundreds of dollars on your car and maybe a few dozen a month for gas, insurance, and (amortized) repairs and maintenance? Have you never lived anywhere with chronic traffic jams? Have you never noticed the statistics on traffic accidents? Or do you think roads are paid for by pixie dust and good wishes? Also, why are my personal desires "urbanist hyperbole" while yours are, evidently, something I should be forced to not only pay for, but live in myself?

ergo98 16y ago
It isn't ridicule. It's a simple statement of fact that you're so far down the justify-my-life hyperbole well (you sound like any early-20 year old living in a tiny dump downtown) that you won't be convinced to the contrary. And I don't want to live in a dirty, squalid, crime-filled ghetto of overcrowding and limited accommodation that is the city. Of course that's hyperbole, but given that I'm responding to a guy who referred to suburbs as "the desolate, isolating distance between various places", it sounds like it's the colour of the argument. Of course, I like driving in my comfortable, air-conditioned, very safe vehicle (without the risks of dangers and olfactory offenses of public transit -- again, just borrowing some of your style) while listening to music of my own choice. >something I should be forced to not only pay for Yes, you've covered this again and again. It turns out that in a modern society all of us pay for a lot of things that we don't personally benefit from. I pay towards mass transit that I don't use. I pay towards welfare that I don't use. I pay towards police that aren't policing me, and doctors that aren't tending to me. I pay for arts facilities that I don't use, and sports facilities that I don't play at. That's aggregate living for you. Of course cities simply can't exist without the transportation networks around them (the products and foods that you exist on most certainly weren't made locally), so your argument smells a little more ripe. Let me make it totally clear that I engaged in this discussion with a full expectation of being downvoted (even for absolute statements of fact such as the reason for parking space regulations). People who live in the suburbs generally just enjoy life. People who live in the city sit online justifying why living in the city is the ideal form of existence.
- philwelch 16y ago
  Actually, I've lived in small towns all my life and usually drive an SUV to get around. I've grown to hate and resent it, especially when I have to drive through cities and suburbs because, as convenient as it may be carrying around a traveling, air-conditioned cage with me, it's a lot less fun when you're on an interstate freeway which has spontaneously turned into a parking lot. I just came into this to say teilo misread the article and that there's more regulations and taxations required to prop up car usage than some people are willing to acknowledge. You're the one started justifying why living in the suburbs is the ideal form of existence. Incidentally, I'd be happier living in a suburb or small town that allowed for a car-free lifestyle than I would be living in a city like Houston or LA where you still need a car.