Work by Ron Cobb

  • _sideffect@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    People don’t buy these cars and worry about the fact that it’s parked in the driveway or that it’s stuck in traffic during the week.

    It’s bought because it’s something they want and they enjoy owning, and because they can fully utilize the power in the evenings or weekends.

    Just enjoy your life, buy what you want. Stop worrying about how much it gets used.

    • henfredemars@infosec.pub
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      2 months ago

      I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Spend your money where it makes you happy. I’d feel more sympathetic if I didn’t feel compelled to own one when it’s not something that brings me joy.

      I kind of think of it like owning a high-end smartphone. Practically speaking maybe it doesn’t make as much difference as a more cost-effective option, but if it makes you happy, by all means. Life is short. But I can still just manage to get by without a smart phone these days if I wanted to do that. I can’t say the same for a vehicle.

        • NewNewAccount@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Still, the culture surrounding spending so much of your money on a depreciating asset just to have fun or maintain appearances is crazy.

          Americans are spending $1000/month for 6+ years to drive a car that mostly sits in driveways, parking lots, and traffic.

          • ramble81@lemm.ee
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            2 months ago

            Most of enjoyment in life is spent around depreciating items that you’ll get no return on: food, entertainment, travel. If you don’t spend your money on enjoyment and focus only on return, what have you done with your life?

            • NewNewAccount@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Made trillions.

              Kidding aside, if the item wasn’t such a significant chunk of one’s earnings and also wasn’t on the never ending purchase cycle perpetuated by advertising and culture I’d feel differently.

              Buy a nice car that fits your budget and provides satisfaction. Keep it for long enough that it doesn’t impact your family’s financial stability.

              • ramble81@lemm.ee
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                2 months ago

                You also are under the assumption that the people who constantly buy new cars can’t afford it. For me, it brings enjoyment (something that is not tangible). I also can afford to buy a new car every few years. I view it as something I take pleasure in similar to eating or traveling.

                The other perk about me doing that, is since I eat the depreciation, when I turn it in, someone can buy it for cheaper and drive it until the wheels fall off if they want.

                • mojofrododojo@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  For me, it brings enjoyment

                  when your personality is wrapped up in polluting the only ecosystem we have, when we know that pollution is going to harm our kids (it’s already fucked up the atmosphere and ocean mightily), you’ll pardon me if I despise your choices. There are so many ways to find fun, but nope, gotta burn gas fast vrooom vrooom. Such a petty load of garbage for your enjoyment. Pfft.

                  We have one atmosphere, grow up.

          • SuperSpruce@lemmy.zip
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            2 months ago

            That’s why I keep advising people to buy used, and to be able to pay for any expensive toy fully in cash. It saves so much depreciation money, and causes you to not go into debt over an expensive toy.

        • SwingingTheLamp@midwest.social
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          2 months ago

          And yet people get so bent out of shape when I point out that most cars are nothing more than expensive toys for adults.

          • Trail@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Nothing inherently wrong with expensive toys for adults. Not my cup of tea, but still.

            • thewaytothedawn@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Not inherently, but the way people drive? Some people definitely treat driving like a literal toy or a video game, and have no respect for how easily you can kill someone. I can’t help but feel like this is a result of american car culture (speaking from an obv american perspective , since the world obv revolves around us /s)

            • SwingingTheLamp@midwest.social
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              2 months ago

              Agreed, nothing inherently wrong with expensive toys for adults. For instance, I have a sailboat. I just don’t insist that everybody structure their lives and build their world around it.

        • Aniki 🌱🌿@discuss.tchncs.de
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          2 months ago

          But they don’t race them on a track like someone who actually loves speed. They use them as status symbols to flex on the poors.

      • RisingSwell@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 months ago

        I thought that was the coal rolling mega trucks the US has? At least I can see past a sea of mustangs or any other sports/muscle car.