Cars, like guns and the internet, tell us that other people aren’t real. The subway, bikes, books tell us that other people are real, the basis of community and a new imaginative horizon
Replies
*Adorno intensifies*
aug 24, 2025, 1:24 pm • 2 0 • view
I have family in NYC. I know cars aren't a necessity and are prohibitively expensive. But your message is going out far from NYC. 'A car strips you of humanity' sure doesn't make average people in average towns understand the issue. It's not about cars. It's about class. It's always classism.
aug 24, 2025, 2:00 pm • 2 0 • view
There is no subway where I live. There's no public transportation. There is a train in the next town, if you have a way to get there. Could we use some form of public transpo. You saying or implying that a car strips me of humanity isn't helpful.
aug 24, 2025, 3:07 pm • 0 0 • view
That’s what I was saying. The op said that people who drive cars don’t see others as human. I’m saying that some people live in places where we need cars and some don’t. Our mode of transportation doesn’t make us inhumane. It’s just shitting on those of us who don’t live in big cities.
aug 24, 2025, 6:32 pm • 1 0 • view
Something you may be too young to know: rural PA in late 40s my parents courted by going back and forth on the street cars. Dad would take the line out to mom’s rural town and they’d go back to his where there were fun things to do, then he would escort her back to her town. Very human and humane
aug 24, 2025, 3:05 pm • 0 0 • view
Google it and learn which corporations bribed locals and bought up the street cars & infrastructure & sold it off to South American cities which still operate them
aug 24, 2025, 3:08 pm • 0 0 • view
Google ‘city’. Every city is different. ‘On the wrong side of the tracks’ is when the railroads cut apart neighborhoods. The railroad destroyed native American burial grounds. They’ve fought with railroads here for access to build trails and to not block roads vital for emergency vehicles.
aug 24, 2025, 6:40 pm • 0 0 • view
All I’m asking is ‘big city folks’ stop to realize lots of people don’t live in big cities. We live in different places, that’s my point. Demonizing drivers is pissing on average people. We’re trying to beef up public transport and get high-speed rail. But we’re not evil because we have cars.
aug 24, 2025, 6:40 pm • 0 0 • view
I don’t know who said cars are evil. I am simply pointing out that they are NOT the only way humans can get from place to place. And public transport used to be available in RURAL areas. Did you figure out who killed rural public transport?
aug 24, 2025, 10:10 pm • 0 0 • view
I'm too old for homework.
aug 24, 2025, 10:21 pm • 0 0 • view
Too old to learn from history? Wow that is some serious privilege.
aug 24, 2025, 10:54 pm • 0 0 • view
Whatever.
aug 24, 2025, 10:59 pm • 1 0 • view
Perfect
aug 25, 2025, 12:52 pm • 1 0 • view
That’s not what I am saying. When I was young, we drove to see friends. There were no trains of any type going through town. Every place is different. No one is less humane because of their mode of transport. I’d never call people who ride the subway criminals. Why call people who drive inhumane?
aug 24, 2025, 6:29 pm • 0 0 • view
I like that.
aug 23, 2025, 9:55 pm • 3 0 • view
Anyway I really think that’s what is freaking Cuomo et al out so bad - that we should be able to see and feel for ourselves that another world is possible
aug 23, 2025, 9:53 pm • 48 2 • view
Yes! When I’m unfortunate enough to be in cars I start to feel alienated. When I’m on transit or my bike I feel like I’m part of a community.
aug 23, 2025, 11:25 pm • 3 0 • view