I love cars - just not yours, OK?
Discussion
This is a bit of a blog/rant so you might want to grab a coffee or move along to something less angsty...
I really like cars, I'm interested in the greasy bits and I like how they look. I'm not a racer, no interest in trackdays and only a passing interest in motorsport but I like cars and driving enough that even borrowing a courtesy car is exciting
People who know this about me seem to assume that because I "love cars" I must, therefore, approve of the fact that as a family they own more than they have space to park and use them for everything. They are reliant on their car for their bats
t-crazy commute and yet they drive to the bank/shops/postbox (often less than a mile) too - oh, and they think pavements are just places to store 2 wheels of their cars and damn those people walking on them etc. etc.
They are, therefore, rather shocked when I generally tell them I consider them to be lazy bds who are enormously selfish and wasteful. They are even less impressed when I remind them that their lack of exercise is making them fat and will probably kill them. It's closer to home that I'd like to admit too - my other half regularly demands I take her to work (a distance of .7 miles) - it used to just be when it was raining but now she's "late" or whatever and...
ANYWAY - I've said it - I love cars, just not yours, OK - the cars 'love' are interesting and never, ever used for long commutes by people grumbling about the cost of fuel or parked on pavements by lazy wkers...
Ever
I really like cars, I'm interested in the greasy bits and I like how they look. I'm not a racer, no interest in trackdays and only a passing interest in motorsport but I like cars and driving enough that even borrowing a courtesy car is exciting
People who know this about me seem to assume that because I "love cars" I must, therefore, approve of the fact that as a family they own more than they have space to park and use them for everything. They are reliant on their car for their bats
t-crazy commute and yet they drive to the bank/shops/postbox (often less than a mile) too - oh, and they think pavements are just places to store 2 wheels of their cars and damn those people walking on them etc. etc.They are, therefore, rather shocked when I generally tell them I consider them to be lazy b
ds who are enormously selfish and wasteful. They are even less impressed when I remind them that their lack of exercise is making them fat and will probably kill them. It's closer to home that I'd like to admit too - my other half regularly demands I take her to work (a distance of .7 miles) - it used to just be when it was raining but now she's "late" or whatever and...ANYWAY - I've said it - I love cars, just not yours, OK - the cars 'love' are interesting and never, ever used for long commutes by people grumbling about the cost of fuel or parked on pavements by lazy w
kers...Ever
Dusty964 said:
My local supermarket is a three minute walk.
I take the car-bmw745li.
I'm not fat.
Would youl like some photos of the greasy bits?
Do you only buy a Mars Bar and then return - or do you actually shop thus making the trip worthwhile?I take the car-bmw745li.
I'm not fat.
Would youl like some photos of the greasy bits?
I was mainly thinking of someone who drives their kids to the shop to buy sweets - it's about 400m, it takes longer to get their car off the drive than it would take to walk...
getawayturtle said:
How do these people you are referring to treat you differently compared to someone who isn't into cars?
Because I like cars they think I must approve of using them for everything (nope), maximising commute distances (absolutely not), buying the biggest and meanest car possible (possibly) and making the outside of your house look like a car sales pitch (absolutely definately not).It goes further too - they assume I'm pro-increasing-speed-limits (I'm not) and anti-car-parking-charges (depends) and that I must assume all speed cameras are evil (only some of them) and that the driving-whilst-on-the-phone thing is stupid (it's not) and so on.
Example: Have you ever been in a pub/club/whatever with a group of people you only vaguely know when someone launches into a rant or routine which is sexist/bigotted/racist but is clearly something the core of the group do a lot and it takes a while before they realise that not everyone is exactly approving of it?
It's like that - "oh you like cars - I was taxed for using my phone when driving recently, stupid isn't it?" - "No" - *tumbleweed*
rb5er said:
OP, have you considered that they dont care what you think or what your transportation habits are either?
If they didn't care they'd not bring it up, would they?My rant was basically that the moment people find out you "Like Cars" they make other assumptions - and the ones which nark me are that I must approve of their car usage/selfishness/driving whilst using the phone and other stupid behaviour.
A genuine comment from someone I was working with was
"Oh you're into cars then? You're probably one of those people who uses their indicators - I can never be bothered myself, people can see where I'm going just fine can't they..."
Then there's the other one, of course, and you've ALL had this one
"Oh you're into cars? My car has a funny knocking noise coming from somewhere and sometimes it goes 'clungflick' when I put it into gear - would I be needing an oilchange do you think?"...
or
"Those 1 series BMWs are really nice aren't they"
and so on...
egor110 said:
Why would your neighbours know you like cars?
If you had interesting cars on your drive or in conversation you mentioned you were off to watch the f1 or touring cars then yes they'd know but otherwise they'd neither know or care what you think.
You have a problem with your neighbours - because I never mentioned mine? If you had interesting cars on your drive or in conversation you mentioned you were off to watch the f1 or touring cars then yes they'd know but otherwise they'd neither know or care what you think.
Perhaps they don't think you have other facets to your character and therefore don't know how else to interact with you?
Tell them you are into line dancing / train spotting / amateur dramatics / historic battle re-enactments / persecuting wasps etc, that should see a new dynamic in your relationships with them?
You're welcome.
Tell them you are into line dancing / train spotting / amateur dramatics / historic battle re-enactments / persecuting wasps etc, that should see a new dynamic in your relationships with them?
You're welcome.
I have a Mustang in the garage, a Mondeo on the drive and a Fiesta half on the pavement yet have successfully ignored my neighbours for many years save to say hello to. Just do not engage, say hello and look away.
The cars on pavements is a necessity on most estates as the roads are too narrow. I used to live on a 70s estate and the roads were nice and wide and you could park both sides. I now live on a 90s estate and if you don't park on the pavement, no-one can get off their drive and if we all parked on the road, no-one could pass though it is annoying some of the houses on the other side have hardstandings which they appear incapable of using. I can't say too much with 3 cars though but I was here first.
The cars on pavements is a necessity on most estates as the roads are too narrow. I used to live on a 70s estate and the roads were nice and wide and you could park both sides. I now live on a 90s estate and if you don't park on the pavement, no-one can get off their drive and if we all parked on the road, no-one could pass though it is annoying some of the houses on the other side have hardstandings which they appear incapable of using. I can't say too much with 3 cars though but I was here first.
On the excess parking front - I believe a friend of mine has the record which no-one will beat here.
Their house has a double garage - but it's full of crap so no cars in there! They do have 2 hardstanding spots and a 3rd area to the side which doesn't obstruct anyone tho.
Sadly those 3 spaces (5 if they didn't have garages full of st) are insufficient for their needs because at any given time there will be a selection from this lot
His Car
His Work Van
His current project car
His last project car (probably for sale but you never know)
Her Car
Her Work Van
Daughter's Car
Son's Car
Son's project car
Son's girlfriends car (she lives there)
Daughter's BFs car (there pretty much every day)
My car pretty often (it's marginally quicker to drive to the nearest parking spot than walk - but it's not MUCH quicker!)
Their neighbours (not just next-door but the 5 houses who have to pass their house to get home) have started legal action against them because the council said it couldn't intervene - that's when it gets silly then
Thing is - I know it's sometimes necessary, but if you block the pavement for access to people/wheelchairs/prams you should expect scratched paint and flat tyres surely?
Their house has a double garage - but it's full of crap so no cars in there! They do have 2 hardstanding spots and a 3rd area to the side which doesn't obstruct anyone tho.
Sadly those 3 spaces (5 if they didn't have garages full of s
t) are insufficient for their needs because at any given time there will be a selection from this lotHis Car
His Work Van
His current project car
His last project car (probably for sale but you never know)
Her Car
Her Work Van
Daughter's Car
Son's Car
Son's project car
Son's girlfriends car (she lives there)
Daughter's BFs car (there pretty much every day)
My car pretty often (it's marginally quicker to drive to the nearest parking spot than walk - but it's not MUCH quicker!)
Their neighbours (not just next-door but the 5 houses who have to pass their house to get home) have started legal action against them because the council said it couldn't intervene - that's when it gets silly then
Thing is - I know it's sometimes necessary, but if you block the pavement for access to people/wheelchairs/prams you should expect scratched paint and flat tyres surely?
405dogvan said:
Thing is - I know it's sometimes necessary, but if you block the pavement for access to people/wheelchairs/prams you should expect scratched paint and flat tyres surely?
I agree but we try to leave sufficient room for pedestrians. I'm lucky as it's a quiet cul-de-sac and there no baby buggy/wheelchair/pram issues though we have kids in the street on scooters and bikes (including my own). We tell them to be careful as everyone is in the same boat (no, a metaphorical one) and, so far, no major scratches have occurred as my wife generally supervises (ours are 6 and 3) and they're tidy kids and many have car-proud dads so have the necessary respect.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff