Posted by Matches (66.219.150.51) on November 29, 2002 at 13:14:10:
In Reply to: that's dumb posted by Diarm (194.125.134.130) on November 29, 2002 at 09:34:23:
> > By this rationale it's virtually impossible to enjoy luxury.. Why do people by a big screen tv when smaller one is just fine?
> How the hell does a big screen TV endanger the lives of other TV owners?
> > Because they's insecure and want their friends to come over to their house to watch the big game.. Why do people plant flowers in their garden? Because they're insecure and not happy enough with their life as it is that they need see pretty flowers and get validation from their growth in order to feel like they "are" something...
>
> How the hell does a flower garden endanger the lives of other garden owners?
> > It's all bullshit. Why does someone buy a fancy car? Because they CAN. It makes them feel good.
> Fancy is fine. If a guy wants to gold-plate his car, it'll amuse me and I'll lose respect for his financial judgement. That's because gold-plated cars aren't more dangerous than other cars. The point about SUVs is that they're a danger to the driver and others. The owner of an SUV is an asshole because she doesn't take this into account.
You're missing the point. Cars themselves endanger the lives of others, so do giant semi-trucks. When it was all horse and carriage don't you think people said "man, those cars is dangerous!"
Sure, they're dangerous. But they're also nice. And we all have choices to make regarding whether or not some activity is too dangerous to try. But you act as if the things are intrinsically evil, and your whole mentality is woefully backwards. It's the same mentality that says "McDonalds is evil because they make us and our kids fat" and it's the same mentality that had a lot of people saying "Alcohol is evil"?
Bottom line is it's not your place to arbitrarily decide what choices people should be allowed to make. And it IS arbitrary. Should drinking be criminalized because sometimes people get stupid as a result and get in fights or go out driving? I'd take a highway full of SUVs over a virtually empty one with a drunk in a Toyota Prius. We don't make drinking illegal because it does not actively endanger the lives of others. But if a drunk loses control and punches someone out, THAT'S wrong. But of course, if you really don't like drunks and are afriad of catching their wrath, the ultimate solution is not to go out to bars, where most hang out. Similarly, if you really don't like SUVs and are afraid of being on the road with them, take the freaking bus or ride your bike, just like you all say should happen.
That's another thing...if all the people who pray and worship Holy Mother Earth would actally do the things they say EVERYBODY else should be doing, I'd have no problem. But it's their trying to force their will on everyone else that irritates me. It's all totally backwards.
> > But it's mob rule nowadays and if enough angry people bitch and moan about something then suddenly it's evil. It's the great satan.
> If mob rule leads to less deaths on the road then yay for mob rule.
> > These haters and their tone seriously sound like they might as well be saying "Destroy the infidel. You shall know them, for they drive sport utility vehicles."
> Uh huh.
> >
> > > Far as I can tell, people buy SUVs for the same reason they buy handguns and gobble steroids: to enjoy the illusion of power.
> > > It's almost always the case that the person is covering up for a major weakness.
> > > SUVs are designed to be intimidating to other drivers.
> > > Buying an SUV is saying to the world "I'm so insecure I'm willing to pay $20,000 more than I need to for the benefit of intimidating nervous motorists." Another, better way is "I'm an asshole."
> > > If a guy came into work every day carrying a spear, because he likes intimidating those around him, would YOU like him? It's the same principle: be a pushy jerk, be hated. There's no mystery.