Too many big cars

grenadierboy · Aug 5, 2023

Front page story on Melbourne's (Australia's Massuchusetts) daily newspaper today - too many SUV's on "our" roads; getting bigger and causing more injuries, they are invading from the US & all guzzling too much gas!

This is the second or third such article in the past couple of months, trying to generate a movement to apply extra tax on or even ban larger vehicles.

It's the usual suspects that tend to hate cars: academics, greens, walking and cycling groups & climate change activates.

As a resident of melbourne - I hope we don't go down the route of tyre/tire slashing of off road cars seen in parts of Europe and the US.

MrMike · Aug 5, 2023

grenadierboy said:
Front page story on Melbourne's (Australia's Massuchusetts) daily newspaper today - too many SUV's on "our" roads; getting bigger and causing more injuries, they are invading from the US & all guzzling too much gas!

This is the second or third such article in the past couple of months, trying to generate a movement to apply extra tax on or even ban larger vehicles.

It's the usual suspects that tend to hate cars: academics, greens, walking and cycling groups & climate change activates.

As a resident of melbourne - I hope we don't go down the route of tyre/tire slashing of off road cars seen in parts of Europe and the US.

View attachment 7822364

Just the usual sensationalism media outlets put out so that they can create discussion of sorts and gain readers.
Yawn

anand · Aug 5, 2023

grenadierboy said:
As a resident of melbourne - I hope we don't go down the route of tyre/tire slashing of off road cars seen in parts of Europe and the US.

What?! This is a thing in Europe??? I've never heard of it happening in the US (at least with any frequency or methodology)

Solmanic · Aug 5, 2023

Guzzling too much “gas”? Did the Age import an American journalist?

MrMike · Aug 5, 2023

Solmanic said:
Guzzling too much “gas”? Did the Age import an American journalist?

Possibly a rehash as there is unfortunately no original journalism these days

Magical Mystery Tours · Aug 5, 2023

In the German-speaking world, such messages are called "another sow will be driven through the village" (eine Sau durch 's Dorf treiben). That is, one puts a message with polemical features and checks in how far it arouses interest. In the Dutch language, I think they say "Een ballonnetje oplaten". To put that into perspective a bit: Neither are windows of SUVs or off-road vehicles smashed on a large scale in Europe, nor are cars set on fire. Of course, if you look for it long enough, you will find such things. Exaggeration is always, at any time and in any place on earth. This message seems to have exactly the same effect on you: As soon as it appears in the newspaper, you get excited about imaginary groups: academics, greens, walking and cycling groups & climate change activates. And that's exactly what the report wants to achieve: Excitement.

So who are the academics, greens, pedestrian and cycling groups, and climate change activists? I am also concerned about climate change, I also walk on foot with backpack and tent and ride a bike. And yet I drive a Grenadier. But I also found it excessive when my neighbor takes his kids to school in an SUV because they can't seem to manage to walk 500 meters.

As a child, I had a walk of about 1 km and had to do it in all weathers. And when my children went to school, the school felt compelled to issue a ban on bringing the children by car almost to the schoolyard. The danger to the children at the school from maneuvering cars had meanwhile become greater than in normal road traffic. "Built On Purpose" to me also means, " Use for Purpose", and that doesn't include driving 500 meters to buy two buns. Metaphorically speaking: You can drive an off-road vehicle through the terrain, but even your Grendier can't manage to drive through 1.5-meter-wide (or narrow) crevices. But there will be people who try to do just that, because it may look spectacular at the start... And if someone tells you that it can't be done, it's rarely an activist against off-road vehicles.

It applies: Keep calm and carry on! But also be aware of your responsibilities. (BR - Helmsman)

DaveB · Aug 5, 2023

Magical Mystery Tours said:
In the German-speaking world, such messages are called "another sow will be driven through the village" (eine Sau durch 's Dorf treiben). That is, one puts a message with polemical features and checks in how far it arouses interest. In the Dutch language, I think they say "Een ballonnetje oplaten". To put that into perspective a bit: Neither are windows of SUVs or off-road vehicles smashed on a large scale in Europe, nor are cars set on fire. Of course, if you look for it long enough, you will find such things. Exaggeration is always, at any time and in any place on earth. This message seems to have exactly the same effect on you: As soon as it appears in the newspaper, you get excited about imaginary groups: academics, greens, walking and cycling groups & climate change activates. And that's exactly what the report wants to achieve: Excitement.

So who are the academics, greens, pedestrian and cycling groups, and climate change activists? I am also concerned about climate change, I also walk on foot with backpack and tent and ride a bike. And yet I drive a Grenadier. But I also found it excessive when my neighbor takes his kids to school in an SUV because they can't seem to manage to walk 500 meters.

As a child, I had a walk of about 1 km and had to do it in all weathers. And when my children went to school, the school felt compelled to issue a ban on bringing the children by car almost to the schoolyard. The danger to the children at the school from maneuvering cars had meanwhile become greater than in normal road traffic. "Built On Purpose" to me also means, " Use for Purpose", and that doesn't include driving 500 meters to buy two buns. Metaphorically speaking: You can drive an off-road vehicle through the terrain, but even your Grendier can't manage to drive through 1.5-meter-wide (or narrow) crevices. But there will be people who try to do just that, because it may look spectacular at the start... And if someone tells you that it can't be done, it's rarely an activist against off-road vehicles.

It applies: Keep calm and carry on! But also be aware of your responsibilities. (BR - Helmsman)

When I was a child we were so poor....

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAdlkunflRs

Magical Mystery Tours · Aug 5, 2023

DaveB said:
When I was a child we were so poor....

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAdlkunflRs

The great Marty Feldman

trobex · Aug 5, 2023

grenadierboy said:
Front page story on Melbourne's (Australia's Massuchusetts) daily newspaper today - too many SUV's on "our" roads; getting bigger and causing more injuries, they are invading from the US & all guzzling too much gas!

This is the second or third such article in the past couple of months, trying to generate a movement to apply extra tax on or even ban larger vehicles.

It's the usual suspects that tend to hate cars: academics, greens, walking and cycling groups & climate change activates.

As a resident of melbourne - I hope we don't go down the route of tyre/tire slashing of off road cars seen in parts of Europe and the US.

View attachment 7822364

Three organisations around the world are pretty much controlling the narrative these days. Say anything against them and you will be cancelled. The same big organisations say very little on deforestation, which is actually the reason we have a global catastrophe in the making. Forget carbon problems, cutting down millions of hectares each year for urban sprawl will be the biggest disaster to ever happen to the human race.

grenadierboy · Aug 5, 2023

anand said:
What?! This is a thing in Europe??? I've never heard of it happening in the US (at least with any frequency or methodology)

a year or so ago I read that activates in NYC (maybe other costal cities) were slashing the tires on large SUV's

Bruce · Aug 5, 2023

grenadierboy said:
a year or so ago I read that activates in NYC (maybe other costal cities) were slashing the tires on large SUV's

The "tyre extinguishers". It's a worldwide thing.

Tom D · Aug 5, 2023

View: https://youtu.be/VO48Vr4KIc8

Krabby · Aug 5, 2023

Bruce · Aug 5, 2023

Krabby said:

That was great, up until he said he didn't blame the guy for this. That's the mindset that's letting crime go wild here in Seattle. People need to be held accountable for human decency at least.

Magical Mystery Tours · Aug 5, 2023

trobex said:
Three organisations around the world are pretty much controlling the narrative these days. Say anything against them and you will be cancelled. The same big organisations say very little on deforestation, which is actually the reason we have a global catastrophe in the making. Forget carbon problems, cutting down millions of hectares each year for urban sprawl will be the biggest disaster to ever happen to the human race.

I wouldn't even want to imply that it's control. In most cases, what some journalists deliver is poor workmanship. They just are not able to do it. And often they fire good journalists who are worth their money and replace them with bunglers who are cheaper. The other day I read a negative article about the Grenadier by a supposedly professional journalist. Later it turned out that this man has only commented on sports cars so far. He had not understood the whole concept of an off-roader.

But I don't get upset about that, there are also farmers who want to explain to me how to build a house. Or as it's said in German, "He knows as much about it as a cow knows about a milking machine."

As so often, Hanlon's Razor applies: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." --BR - Helmsman

Magical Mystery Tours · Aug 5, 2023

trobex said:
Forget carbon problems, cutting down millions of hectares each year for urban sprawl will be the biggest disaster to ever happen to the human race.

And it is not the forests that are dying, but the plantations. It is not only the destruction of natural forests that is causing problems, but - especially in Europe - a forestry industry that has gotten completely out of hand.

klarie · Aug 5, 2023

Magical Mystery Tours said:
View attachment 7822449
And it is not the forests that are dying, but the plantations. It is not only the destruction of natural forests that is causing problems, but - especially in Europe - a forestry industry that has gotten completely out of hand.

Exactly. Forests as I know and where my hunting area is - are not anymore natural forest but indeed rather plantations. We the hunters call our foresters just tree farmers. Most close to natural /virgin forests in Germany are the Hainich Area in Thuringia, not been treated since many 10th of years - and slowly moving back in to natural and some area in eastern Bavaria - close to CZ Border Near Bayrisch Eisenstein - however this attracts tourists - and hence not really undisturbed. The problem is rather water, and no trees that belong to the area. In that area Oaks and Beeches are normal, occasional cherries .. lesser maples and conifere only in higher altitude. But there is another problem - not the rain but more and more water is used for growing population in Frankfurt Main area. And areas cut down for wind turbines.. gets political again ..

Jean Mercier · Aug 5, 2023

It is a very difficult equilibrium:

I drive a heavy polluting car now
I go to the bakery with my when it doesn't rain
I take the small car of my wife when it rains
I go to the city, with that's 10 to 15 km depending where, when it doesn't rain
I like walking in forests without the noise of machinery
[EDITED] But like to drive in the forests
I switch off lights as soon as I can
I don't do it enough with my computer
I prefer to go to with my when I visit my son there, 1300 km ️, flying is cheaper
I don't trim my garden often, with a lot of machines, like some people do
I voted very often for the Green party, because in the past more "honest", I said "in the past"
I didn’t get a COVID vaccine anymore since they are not forcing me anymore

Conclusion:

I make my own choices
Within what the laws allow me
I am quite happy, not always, but I repeat "quite happy" with our political system? [EDITED] I mean in Western Europe , or in Belgium in my particular case

klarie · Aug 5, 2023

@Je

Jean Mercier said:
It is a very difficult equilibrium:

I drive a heavy polluting car now

I go to the bakery with my when it doesn't rain

I take the small car of my wife when it rains

I go to the city, with that's 10 to 15 km depending where, when it doesn't rain

I like walking in forests without the noise of machinery

[EDITED] But like to drive in the forests

I switch off lights as soon as I can

I don't do it enough with my computer

I prefer to go to with my when I visit my son there, 1300 km ️, flying is cheaper

I don't trim my garden often, with a lot of machines, like some people do

I voted very often for the Green party, because in the past more "honest", I said "in the past"

I didn’t get a COVID vaccine anymore since they are not forcing me anymore

Conclusion:

I make my own choices

Within what the laws allow me

I am quite happy, not always, but I repeat "quite happy" with our political system? [EDITED] I mean in Western Europe , or in Belgium in my particular case

It is difficult.. to answer here w/o becoming political.
In some parts I agree with you in others I ve got a different opinion. -
Never got a a flu shot, never got a Covid jab, and I fought against it.- and Future will tell if I am right. - EU.. a super state that had a chief like Jean C Juncker often piss-drunk and his terms we do something and if noone objects we continue.. and a current one who is hefty invoked in pharma industry and deletes data sounds like corruption to me. - And a government that wants to prohibit vehicles with combustion engines.. nope. (thinking of that vessel that burned on North Sea).

I dont think a Grenadier will pollute the environment a lot. What is currently wasted by our politicans using aircraft or in UA for war, we can pollute a lot of with all Grenaders that will ever be built - not reaching this in all vehicles lifetime.

Jean Mercier · Aug 5, 2023

klarie said:
@Je

It is difficult.. to answer here w/o becoming political.
In some parts I agree with you in others I ve got a different opinion. -
Never got a a flu shot, never got a Covid jab, and I fought against it.- and Future will tell if I am right. - EU.. a super state that had a chief like Jean C Juncker often piss-drunk and his terms we do something and if noone objects we continue.. and a current one who is hefty invoked in pharma industry and deletes data sounds like corruption to me. - And a government that wants to prohibit vehicles with combustion engines.. nope. (thinking of that vessel that burned on North Sea).

I dont think a Grenadier will pollute the environment a lot. What is currently wasted by our politicans using aircraft or in UA for war, we can pollute a lot of with all Grenaders that will ever be built - not reaching this in all vehicles lifetime.

never got a flu shot either
got covid shots because wanted to travel
flu or covid, yes or no, I will die anyhow, sooner or later
all politicians are human beings, I also get drunk sometimes
no wars, more money for useful things, but wars is part of human history

I think we agree on the main things

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