4 ms·

This may be one of the stupidest conspiracy theories I've ever seen. The very foundation of the 15-minute city is not to ban cars, but to provide all essential

This may be one of the stupidest conspiracy theories I've ever seen. The very foundation of the 15-minute city is not to ban cars, but to provide all essential services in a close enough radius that people don't need them in the first place. The fact that anyone would rather drive ridiculous distances, either short or long, just to stick it to the lefties, really makes one lose faith in human nature.

bafe 3y ago
It is depressing really. People actively protesting about something which is entirely in their interests. It's almost like refusing clean water and sewage
- smcg 3y ago
  the people "protesting" for this are moneyed business interests, not ordinary people
  - 303uru 3y ago
    I see a lot of Ram 1500 driving, Fox News brain, middle aged men protesting about it (on Facebook), not sure I'd call them ordinary though, so you got me there.
  - bafe 3y ago
    They still manage to capture a significant amount of people to protest on their behalf
davidw 3y ago
It's even dumber because "15 minute cities" have been the norm throughout human history when most people walked to things and we didn't have zoning codes that forced automobile usage for even the most basic of everyday needs.
jjulius 3y ago
>The fact that anyone would rather drive ridiculous distances, either short or long, just to stick it to the lefties, really makes one lose faith in human nature. Welcome! We have nachos in the back, drinks over on the left, and every second Friday of the month is tropical shirt day.
takoid 3y ago
The resistance to the idea of walkable cities often stems from a deeply ingrained cultural perception of personal vehicles as symbols of individual freedom and empowerment. In societies where cars are integral to the social fabric, any shift away from that can ignite concerns about loss of personal liberties. The ability to move freely in one's own vehicle is seen as not just a convenience, but as a safeguard against a potentially oppressive regime that might find it easier to control a population restricted to designated walkways or public transportation. The presence of personal vehicles allows for the rapid mobilization of people for protests, uprisings, or other forms of civil unrest, providing a decentralized form of power. Therefore, the skepticism around the transition to walkable cities isn't just about lifestyle adjustments; it taps into deeper fears about the erosion of individual freedoms and collective agency.
- sagarm 3y ago
  It's very easy to prevent movement via car: just block the roads. Blocking people moving on foot is much harder.
  - takoid 3y ago
    While it's theoretically possible to block roads to prevent the movement of vehicles, doing so on a large scale presents significant logistical challenges that could weaken an authoritative regime. Roadblocks require personnel, materials, and continuous maintenance to remain effective. Every blocked road would require surveillance and manpower to enforce the restrictions, diverting resources from other operations. Moreover, road networks are often intricate and expansive, providing multiple alternative routes that would also need to be blocked and guarded. The sustained effort required would strain any regime's resources, making it a less viable long-term strategy for maintaining control. Additionally, while blocking foot traffic might be "harder," it's crucial to recognize that pedestrian movement has its limitations in speed, distance, and the carrying capacity for supplies. The argument for the "difficulty" in blocking foot traffic seems to overlook these inherent limitations, which can be just as easily exploited to contain and control a population. For instance, restricted zones, barricades, or even curfews could be implemented in walkable areas to deter foot movement. And unlike vehicles, individuals on foot are far more susceptible to environmental factors like weather, further limiting their effectiveness in a scenario requiring rapid mobilization. Contrary to the notion that cars are easily contained, their speed and range offer a unique form of decentralized power. The very act of needing to block roads to contain vehicular movement is a testament to the car's potency as a tool for mobilization and resistance. Therefore, while no method of transportation is completely impervious to control, the ability to move freely in one's own vehicle still offers a degree of autonomy and flexibility that can be crucial in challenging situations.
throwawaaarrgh 3y ago
I think you're missing the part where human nature isn't what you think it is. We aren't as smart and moral and fair as we tell ourselves we are. We are monkeys in fancy hats. It's extremely easy to manipulate people into doing something against their own interests. Just play off of their baser motivations: fear, greed, envy, anger. People enjoy being angry and believing someone is trying to trick them, much more than they enjoy being happy and productive and rational. Negative emotions are just stronger.
- zingababba 3y ago
  Manipulation is hardly required. Whenever 'best interests' are invoked I always think fondly back to the underground man's rant on the topic in Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground which I believe is some of the most fundamentally piercing insight into human behavior in existence. The most fundamental interest is ultimately doing whatever the hell I want at any given moment.

bafe 3y ago

It is depressing really. People actively protesting about something which is entirely in their interests. It's almost like refusing clean water and sewage

smcg 3y ago
the people "protesting" for this are moneyed business interests, not ordinary people
- 303uru 3y ago
  I see a lot of Ram 1500 driving, Fox News brain, middle aged men protesting about it (on Facebook), not sure I'd call them ordinary though, so you got me there.
- bafe 3y ago
  They still manage to capture a significant amount of people to protest on their behalf

davidw 3y ago

It's even dumber because "15 minute cities" have been the norm throughout human history when most people walked to things and we didn't have zoning codes that forced automobile usage for even the most basic of everyday needs.

jjulius 3y ago

>The fact that anyone would rather drive ridiculous distances, either short or long, just to stick it to the lefties, really makes one lose faith in human nature. Welcome! We have nachos in the back, drinks over on the left, and every second Friday of the month is tropical shirt day.

takoid 3y ago

The resistance to the idea of walkable cities often stems from a deeply ingrained cultural perception of personal vehicles as symbols of individual freedom and empowerment. In societies where cars are integral to the social fabric, any shift away from that can ignite concerns about loss of personal liberties. The ability to move freely in one's own vehicle is seen as not just a convenience, but as a safeguard against a potentially oppressive regime that might find it easier to control a population restricted to designated walkways or public transportation. The presence of personal vehicles allows for the rapid mobilization of people for protests, uprisings, or other forms of civil unrest, providing a decentralized form of power. Therefore, the skepticism around the transition to walkable cities isn't just about lifestyle adjustments; it taps into deeper fears about the erosion of individual freedoms and collective agency.

sagarm 3y ago
It's very easy to prevent movement via car: just block the roads. Blocking people moving on foot is much harder.
- takoid 3y ago
  While it's theoretically possible to block roads to prevent the movement of vehicles, doing so on a large scale presents significant logistical challenges that could weaken an authoritative regime. Roadblocks require personnel, materials, and continuous maintenance to remain effective. Every blocked road would require surveillance and manpower to enforce the restrictions, diverting resources from other operations. Moreover, road networks are often intricate and expansive, providing multiple alternative routes that would also need to be blocked and guarded. The sustained effort required would strain any regime's resources, making it a less viable long-term strategy for maintaining control. Additionally, while blocking foot traffic might be "harder," it's crucial to recognize that pedestrian movement has its limitations in speed, distance, and the carrying capacity for supplies. The argument for the "difficulty" in blocking foot traffic seems to overlook these inherent limitations, which can be just as easily exploited to contain and control a population. For instance, restricted zones, barricades, or even curfews could be implemented in walkable areas to deter foot movement. And unlike vehicles, individuals on foot are far more susceptible to environmental factors like weather, further limiting their effectiveness in a scenario requiring rapid mobilization. Contrary to the notion that cars are easily contained, their speed and range offer a unique form of decentralized power. The very act of needing to block roads to contain vehicular movement is a testament to the car's potency as a tool for mobilization and resistance. Therefore, while no method of transportation is completely impervious to control, the ability to move freely in one's own vehicle still offers a degree of autonomy and flexibility that can be crucial in challenging situations.

throwawaaarrgh 3y ago

I think you're missing the part where human nature isn't what you think it is. We aren't as smart and moral and fair as we tell ourselves we are. We are monkeys in fancy hats. It's extremely easy to manipulate people into doing something against their own interests. Just play off of their baser motivations: fear, greed, envy, anger. People enjoy being angry and believing someone is trying to trick them, much more than they enjoy being happy and productive and rational. Negative emotions are just stronger.

zingababba 3y ago
Manipulation is hardly required. Whenever 'best interests' are invoked I always think fondly back to the underground man's rant on the topic in Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground which I believe is some of the most fundamentally piercing insight into human behavior in existence. The most fundamental interest is ultimately doing whatever the hell I want at any given moment.