TexasCHLforum.com

jmra wrote:I guess I have become a stick in the mud, but I fail to see the humor in vandalism.

Exactly. Do a couple thousand in damage to someone's car, as a pure act of vandalism, and people on the Internet, behind the anonymous safety of their keyboards, will laugh like hades at it............including here.

But the next morning, some person had to go out, call the insurance company, pay a deductible of several hundred dollars, and wait while their car is in the shop for a week before they can get their lives back to normal. And San Francisco or not, that just ain't right.

Besides, I actually almost bought one of those when they first came out in the U.S.

I don't think this is funny either. Yes, SF is a wierd place but this kind of behavior can not be tolerated. Vandalism, sucker punching people, destruction of private property just not funny. Someone ends up paying the bill for these pranks and usually not the vandals involved.

mamabearCali wrote:

jmra wrote:I guess I have become a stick in the mud, but I fail to see the humor in vandalism.

I am with you. I really don't see the humor in it. However I feel sorry for people stuck in cities like San Fran. I would not want to live within 300 miles of it.

Almost all physical comedy is enjoyed at someone else's suffering. Insurance will probably cover damages. If the vandals wanted to they could have just as easily bashed in all the windows and headlights and sprayed paint "God, hates High fuel economy" over everything.

A SmartCar owner has chosen a means of transportation that places fuel economy above all else, even though riding the bus would be cheaper/greener and a motorcycle will get even better gas mileage. On some level society feels that it is appropriate to punish them because they have forgone conventional wisdom. The cars also enables this form of ridicule by simply being so light as a small mob and easily turn one over as delicately and gingerly as one might balance an egg on its end.

But if you don't feel like this article added value to you day I understand

psijac wrote:

mamabearCali wrote:

jmra wrote:I guess I have become a stick in the mud, but I fail to see the humor in vandalism.

I am with you. I really don't see the humor in it. However I feel sorry for people stuck in cities like San Fran. I would not want to live within 300 miles of it.

Almost all physical comedy is enjoyed at someone else's suffering. Insurance will probably cover damages. If the vandals wanted to they could have just as easily bashed in all the windows and headlights and sprayed paint "God, hates High fuel economy" over everything.

A SmartCar owner has chosen a means of transportation that places fuel economy above all else, even though riding the bus would be cheaper/greener and a motorcycle will get even better gas mileage. On some level society feels that it is appropriate to punish them because they have forgone conventional wisdom. The cars also enables this form of ridicule by simply being so light as a small mob and easily turn one over as delicately and gingerly as one might balance an egg on its end.

But if you don't feel like this article added value to you day I understand

So you think this action is somehow justified? It's ok because they could have done more damage but only tipped it? It's ok because insurance will probably cover it? I truly do not understand your response.

psijac wrote: ...A SmartCar owner has chosen a means of transportation that places fuel economy above all else,...

You applied this statement broadly to the world of smart owners, and as such it is simply not true. In my case, as in the case of so many others, its fuel economy was not a relevant factor in my decision to own one. As a smart owner/driver I am acquainted with so many others like me who drive the car just because it is so much fun and it makes this old man, rapidly approaching four-score years of age, feel young again. Its fuel economy was not a relevant factor in my decision to own one.

And yes, "smart" is spelled with a lower-case "s."

If this be somewhat intemperate blame it on my disgust at seeing someone considering criminal vandalism to be humorous, even going so far as to proudly confirm his opinion after being called on it.

Be there be any readers who are tempted to think the smart is just a silly little "town car," they might take a few moments to read this article by a friend and colleague. One has to have made this trip to appreciate its rigors.

https://kimbridges.exposure.so/the-arct ... -challenge" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jim

psijac wrote:

mamabearCali wrote:

jmra wrote:I guess I have become a stick in the mud, but I fail to see the humor in vandalism.

I am with you. I really don't see the humor in it. However I feel sorry for people stuck in cities like San Fran. I would not want to live within 300 miles of it.

Almost all physical comedy is enjoyed at someone else's suffering. Insurance will probably cover damages. If the vandals wanted to they could have just as easily bashed in all the windows and headlights and sprayed paint "God, hates High fuel economy" over everything.

A SmartCar owner has chosen a means of transportation that places fuel economy above all else, even though riding the bus would be cheaper/greener and a motorcycle will get even better gas mileage. On some level society feels that it is appropriate to punish them because they have forgone conventional wisdom. The cars also enables this form of ridicule by simply being so light as a small mob and easily turn one over as delicately and gingerly as one might balance an egg on its end.

But if you don't feel like this article added value to you day I understand

Wow thats epic, and not in the good way.
Its a little car. Considering its San Fran thats almost perfect.
What conventional wisdom? Riding a motorcycle in San Fran is stupid. Its not much smaller than a VW and in many parts of the world thats not a small vehicle.

Everything old is new again...my poor '74 VW beetle was frequently found in locations i did not park it in while at a small college in Texas in the early 90's. Several members of the football team thought it funny to put it between dumpsters and fences and onto sidewalks.

Even made police beat several times. My father was so proud!