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The argument would be that you don't need to travel where you can't take the train. If you have a job that requires it, quit.

by Kiro 8y ago

criddell 8y ago
You've convinced me. This is my last day as an airline pilot!
ineedasername 8y ago
Congratulations, you have good job mobility. And it biases you towards the privilege that you have, but most other people do not. The vast majority of people do not have that ability to be selective. In a few months, I must travel for work. Should I quit? You would say yes, I suppose. I don't have the luxury, either financially or as a matter of practicality: any other I might take would similarly require such travel on occasion. Maybe I could find another field to work in? Ah, but I live extremely close to my work place, less then 3km. Most other jobs, even within my field, would require I commute daily between 40-50km each way. So, maybe I avoid occasional air travel, but I still produce a larger carbon foot print. Train travel to other locations around me? Doesn't exist, there aren't the rails. Take a bus? Similarly, the routes don't work out: I might have to take 6 buses for 3 hours to get some place 40-50km away. This is just the work side of things. What about family? A loved one is sick, or dies. Should I not travel to be with them, to help, to grieve with my family? Should I ask for a teleconference into the funeral?
InitialLastName 8y ago
That works better in a place where people can reliably and cheaply take trains from A to B. The people arguing with you that they need to fly are almost certainly in places like the US, where even local trains are a pretty terrible, expensive experience relative to flying (or driving, on the shorter end). I'm 90% of an anti-car zealot that lives in the densest city in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US. I would love to be able to reasonably take a train when I travel, but the ticket prices are astronomical and the reliability is horrendous relative to buses, airplanes or driving costs.

The argument would be that you don't need to travel where you can't take the train. If you have a job that requires it, quit.

by Kiro 8y ago

The argument would be that you don't need to travel where you can't take the train. If you have a job that requires it, quit.

criddell 8y ago

You've convinced me. This is my last day as an airline pilot!

ineedasername 8y ago

Congratulations, you have good job mobility. And it biases you towards the privilege that you have, but most other people do not. The vast majority of people do not have that ability to be selective. In a few months, I must travel for work. Should I quit? You would say yes, I suppose. I don't have the luxury, either financially or as a matter of practicality: any other I might take would similarly require such travel on occasion. Maybe I could find another field to work in? Ah, but I live extremely close to my work place, less then 3km. Most other jobs, even within my field, would require I commute daily between 40-50km each way. So, maybe I avoid occasional air travel, but I still produce a larger carbon foot print. Train travel to other locations around me? Doesn't exist, there aren't the rails. Take a bus? Similarly, the routes don't work out: I might have to take 6 buses for 3 hours to get some place 40-50km away. This is just the work side of things. What about family? A loved one is sick, or dies. Should I not travel to be with them, to help, to grieve with my family? Should I ask for a teleconference into the funeral?

InitialLastName 8y ago

That works better in a place where people can reliably and cheaply take trains from A to B. The people arguing with you that they need to fly are almost certainly in places like the US, where even local trains are a pretty terrible, expensive experience relative to flying (or driving, on the shorter end). I'm 90% of an anti-car zealot that lives in the densest city in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US. I would love to be able to reasonably take a train when I travel, but the ticket prices are astronomical and the reliability is horrendous relative to buses, airplanes or driving costs.