Comments | shacker: Fake Ticket

shacker

Fake Ticket

Sep 04, 2002 20:46

My post Live Larger, Drive Smaller from a few days ago has drawn some very thoughtful responses. An anonymous interlocutor charges me with inexcusable vandalism for advocating the bumper sticker idea, and I answer flippantly that SUV ownership is a far more destructive form of vandalism; the stickers are easily justified. However, s/he has a point ( Read more... )

Comments 18

Wiping anonymous September 5 2002, 09:55:11 UTC

Much of the world wipes their ass with a bit of water and their left hand. You would use considerably less world resources if you did the same. And don't even consider disposable ditties for the new shackerette.

And then there's meat eating, takes something like 18 lbs of grain to produce a pound of meat - a very consumptive thing indeed.

In summary, walk/bike/use pub transport, eat beans, and wipe ass with hand and insert in big mouth if you miss the taste of meat.

Re: Wiping shacker September 5 2002, 10:35:36 UTC

LOL - Of course, of course. I made the point already that even the most miserly American uses far more resources than a 3rd world citizen. Half the world's population has never made a phone call, for chrissake. That's why I included the points about *irrational* consumption, trying to make this distinction clear.

Meat is a whole other worthwhile discussion.

But your post has a snide element to it I don't get - why the rudeness, esp. if we agree? Particularly unacceptable to be rude if you're posting anonymously, as you are.

gattaca September 5 2002, 12:05:52 UTC

It's my opinion that most people drive SUVs because it's a status symbol. Maybe if there was a way to promote the Mini or other energy-efficient vehicles into being status symbols more people would buy them.

As for motorists being more aware of bicyclists on the road, here in Portland, OR (a very bike friendly city) 4 bicycle accidents happened this past week. Come to find out, the bicyclists were in the wrong. Some people who ride bikes don't feel like they need to obey the rules of the road any more than some of the motorists.

dhuff September 6 2002, 07:01:06 UTC

Maybe if there was a way to promote the Mini or other energy-efficient vehicles into being status symbols more people would buy them.

Excellent point! It's much more effective to create change through positive reinforcement ("Look! I'm hip! I drive a Mini") than by dumping on people about their "guilty pleasures." Please realize, of course, that encouraging change in an effective manner is a completely different issue than why one wants the change in the first place. I think SUVs are often a waste, too - but no one's gonna get folks to give them up with vituperative haranguing...

Yup jamieorc September 6 2002, 20:01:01 UTC

Just today I was crossing JFK street at the bridge in Cambridge/Boston on my bike and nearly got run over. I always wait for the green there, had the green and this lady who had a red light and was behind the line just started to go--nearly right into me! I gave her an earful and she just waved her hand like it was nothing. Just 3000 pounds of metal! My girlfriend actually got hit in the exact same situation last Winter--the guy had stopped and took a right on red without looking right. Part of the problem is motorists aren't educated to bikes. Part of it is just really bad driving habits that seem to have been on a downgrade for a decade or so ( ... )

Re: Yup shacker September 8 2002, 10:02:14 UTC

You're def. right about cyclists not obeying the same rules, and it's a big problem. I know I have to make a really conscious effort to stop for a stop sign on a bike, even though I would never roll through it in a car. I think part of the problem is that it takes more physical effort to build up your momentum on a bike after coming to a stop - slowing/stopping on a bike is a hassle in a way it isn't for a car, and this leads to problems.

As for getting pissed about a fake ticket, well, too bad - at least an effort to communicate has been made, and facts have been communicated.

Re: Yup jamieorc September 8 2002, 10:20:43 UTC

That's true about the fake ticket. It does convey the facts, at least.

Also about biking... I find that when I bike I don't like to lose momentum, it's true! The problem isn't bikers who slow down for a stop, look and then proceed, it's the ones who zoom through at full speed without even looking. Again today, I had to stop my girlfriend from walking into a bike that did just that when we were crossing a street.