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From the alt text: > 'Will [ ] allow us to better understand each other and thus make war undesirable?' is one that pops up whenever we invent a new communi

From the alt text: > 'Will [ ] allow us to better understand each other and thus make war undesirable?' is one that pops up whenever we invent a new communication medium. I sometimes wonder, if all cars were equipped with a radio where drivers could speak to and hear other drivers around them (naturally, not push-to-talk like CB), would driving behavior improve because it would humanize the other drivers? Or would it make drivers want to be at war with each other even more?

solarmist 4y ago
You and me both.
toomanyrichies 4y ago
This makes me want to go through all his comics to look for more alt-text easter eggs.
- bauruine 4y ago
  They all have an alt-text. https://xkcd.com/1053/ https://xkcd.com/1053/
  - WorldMaker 4y ago
    Relatedly, m.xkcd.com is still one of the best ways to (re-)read long segments of xkcd comics because it moves the alt-text into an expando and is otherwise nicely clutter free truly focusing on the comics. https://m.xkcd.com/1053/ https://m.xkcd.com/1053/ Also, sometimes the Explain xkcd wiki is super handy (and also just includes the alt-text and also even explains the alt-text). https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1053:_Ten_Thousand https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1053:_Ten_Thousan...
mdrzn 4y ago
If instead of flashing high beams or last-resorting to honking I could just say "hey, car in front of me, I'm kinda in a hurry, could you move to the right lane so I can pass?" I feel a lot more people would be relaxed. Me included.
- actionablefiber 4y ago
  When I commute by bicycle on the trails that lead into DC, I frequently have the exact kind of interaction you are describing here.
- soylentcola 4y ago
  At least until the first time you run across someone in a spiteful mood who ignores you or deliberately drives slower/in your way.
actionablefiber 4y ago
I think an easy way to answer this question is to look at major commuting thoroughfares where the people are not in cars to begin with, like busy sidewalks and cyclepaths. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RQrKP9a0XE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RQrKP9a0XE
- sph 4y ago
  For a split second, I thought you used "cyclepaths" as a slur for people riding bicycles.
djmips 4y ago
I thought a judging system that scored your driving based on others driving around you might get people to change their behavior, especially if the score was linked to the cost of driving in some way.
- colejohnson66 4y ago
  Some insurance companies have plans where you plug a module info your OBD2 port and get discounts for “safe driving”
deterministic 4y ago
A small percentage of people love to annoy and piss off other people. And it just takes one to provoke everybody around them. So I think it would lead to more road rage not less. However I would love to have a system where drivers can spend (say) 10 penalty points a year on bad drivers they observe in traffic, and every year the top 1% receivers of penalty points (above a minimum amount) gets heavily fined, and are forced to reapply for a drivers license.

solarmist 4y ago

You and me both.

toomanyrichies 4y ago

This makes me want to go through all his comics to look for more alt-text easter eggs.

bauruine 4y ago
They all have an alt-text. https://xkcd.com/1053/ https://xkcd.com/1053/
- WorldMaker 4y ago
  Relatedly, m.xkcd.com is still one of the best ways to (re-)read long segments of xkcd comics because it moves the alt-text into an expando and is otherwise nicely clutter free truly focusing on the comics. https://m.xkcd.com/1053/ https://m.xkcd.com/1053/ Also, sometimes the Explain xkcd wiki is super handy (and also just includes the alt-text and also even explains the alt-text). https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1053:_Ten_Thousand https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1053:_Ten_Thousan...

mdrzn 4y ago

If instead of flashing high beams or last-resorting to honking I could just say "hey, car in front of me, I'm kinda in a hurry, could you move to the right lane so I can pass?" I feel a lot more people would be relaxed. Me included.

actionablefiber 4y ago
When I commute by bicycle on the trails that lead into DC, I frequently have the exact kind of interaction you are describing here.
soylentcola 4y ago
At least until the first time you run across someone in a spiteful mood who ignores you or deliberately drives slower/in your way.

actionablefiber 4y ago

I think an easy way to answer this question is to look at major commuting thoroughfares where the people are not in cars to begin with, like busy sidewalks and cyclepaths. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RQrKP9a0XE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RQrKP9a0XE

sph 4y ago
For a split second, I thought you used "cyclepaths" as a slur for people riding bicycles.

djmips 4y ago

I thought a judging system that scored your driving based on others driving around you might get people to change their behavior, especially if the score was linked to the cost of driving in some way.

colejohnson66 4y ago
Some insurance companies have plans where you plug a module info your OBD2 port and get discounts for “safe driving”

deterministic 4y ago

A small percentage of people love to annoy and piss off other people. And it just takes one to provoke everybody around them. So I think it would lead to more road rage not less. However I would love to have a system where drivers can spend (say) 10 penalty points a year on bad drivers they observe in traffic, and every year the top 1% receivers of penalty points (above a minimum amount) gets heavily fined, and are forced to reapply for a drivers license.