Probably not too unpopular here.

Standing waiting for the bus in my city with decent transit and I have 2 trucks rev their engines loudly past me, another one letting just clouds of pollution, watching people driving who aren’t paying attention and several people blowing cutting last second through a light. All in just 3 minutes by a small corner with light traffic.

Made me think how cars are inherently selfish. People don’t want to be around others (the fear aspect), so they drive their own bubble around. In addition to that, some go out of their way to make their cars even worse to people outside of them.

No wonder we can’t move away from them. They are a definition of our own culture

  • MrJameGumb@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I need my car so I can visit my elderly mother who lives 2 hours away and frequently needs me to help her with things. There is no public transit that goes there. I’m sorry if you think that’s “selfish” 🙄

    • FlordaMan@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      I don’t think they meant the individuals are always selfish, more that the whole culture (and thus the lack of public transport) exists because of selfishness and fear.

      Also in countries which are not as reliant on cars most people still have access to a car, they just use it less often.

      • MrJameGumb@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        OP went out of their way to say people selfishly drive cars to avoid other people. Seems like they are specifically targeting individuals as the problem

    • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      The lack of transit is due to the culture of selfishness. Are you honestly taking this as a personal attack?

      • MrJameGumb@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        People don’t want to be around others (the fear aspect), so they drive their own bubble around. In addition to that, some go out of their way to make their cars even worse to people outside of them.

        That seems pretty personal to me…

        • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          And yet, I was somehow able to not take it personally despite my having similar reasons for needing a car as you.

              • MrJameGumb@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Dude… Your post explicitly stated that all car owners are selfish people who only care about maintaining their personal “bubble”, and according to your own words this was based entirely on two trucks that drove past you at a bus stop. Perhaps I would have a better understanding of what you meant if you actually said what you meant instead of a blanket statement condemning every car owner in existence as a selfish asshole…

                I rarely drive my car. I walk to the stores near me whenever that is an option.

                You are the one who posted a personal attack and then immediately started backpedaling

      • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        The lack of transit is not due to a culture. It’s due to systemic lobbying and political failing to get public works built and funded.

        Where public transit is available, and properly funded, Americans use it.