[Closed] Can you really afford Sky, cigarettes, bingo, drinks and other non-essentials?

We want Fred!

I get abused by Fred via the medium of text message nowadays. He doesn't even charge me for this service! 😀

Am I socially irresponsible for choosing to drive a car that isnt the most fuel efficient/least polluting I could afford?

I do 10000 miles per year, and I choose to drive a car that only does 20mpg, does that make me a bad person?

Or does it make me no worse than the person that does 20000 miles per year in a car that does 40mpg?

I also happen to live in a house that has 4 bedrooms, but we only use 3 of them, I suppose I should give the house up and let someone more deserving have it, or at least get a lodger in rent free and let them make good use of the space.

I do 10000 miles per year, and I choose to drive a car that only does 20mpg, does that make me a bad person?

Yes it does! I don't know how you sleep at night! You bastard!!! Come the glorious revolution, you'll be first against the wall!!!

thx1138 - I liked Fred, I wish he would come back.

We want Fred!

Why did he leave?

I get abused by Fred via the medium of text message nowadays.

Is he a friend of yours? You're a bit 'lefty' too aren't you? Seems that 'lefties' come in for a bit of stick on here. Perhaps we should stick together? 🙂

although the George Lucas sign-on is a tester, I myself like spaceships but loathe George Lucas and his myriad of muppets masquerading as science fiction and ruining it for the rest of us, but anyways cool user name)

Thanks. Jar Jar Binks was a real low point for me; Lucas' best days seem to be behind him. THX1138 was actually developed from a student project. Maybe he should go back to college.

What has 'left' or 'right' got to do with this at all?

Then why are you banging on about BMW's, Tarquin and Tabitha and keeping up with the neighbours?

Most of the 4wd owners I know have kids names more along the lines of Chardonnay & Tyson, and Japanese made cars - and to be honest, there are far more polluting vehicles out there than a modern 4WD, with just as big a footprint and gross weight as one

But I suppose that complaining about Transporter of Sharan owners wouldn't have really fitted in with your petty bourgeoisie class warrior status would it Fred?

thx1138 - Lefties can't stick together. Everyone knows that. We are destined to split in to narrow Peoples Front of Judea/Judean Peoples Front style, leftier-than-you factions, and spend our days sniping at each other rather than the true enemy, while the Tories get on with Privatising everything while braking into their Krug

Actually... thinking about it, depressingly.... most of the time, that's true 😥

Fred got banned for being just a bit TOO obstreperous. And having multiple user names so he could argue with himself. Was fun, and he had some interesting and challenging views that IMHO were very well expressed. But then he would take it to heart and get petulant and abuse people. So perhaps you are too mild mannered to be Fred now I think about it some more.

there are far more polluting vehicles out there than a modern 4WD, with just as big a footprint and gross weight as one

They are just as bad. And Sharans are more economical than 4x4s anyway.

tbh cycling around london am irrational hatred of school run mums driving x5s cayenes (often with mirrors folded in?)etc is quite rational they are the worst culprits for ignoring asl s at traffic lights (after buses)

I do 10000 miles per year, and I choose to drive a car that only does 20mpg, does that make me a bad person?

Yep. Because you chose that car, knowing it has a significant negative impact. You chose not to mitigate your impact on the environment.

In short, you don't give a shit, at a time when we all really need to give a shit.

Or does it make me no worse than the person that does 20000 miles per year in a car that does 40mpg?

What about the person who does 3,000 miles a year in a car that does 65mpg?

I suppose I should give the house up and let someone more deserving have it

Point missed.

I don't think he's Fred. I know what'll flush him out if it is. Ahem.....

Louis Suarez, the bloody cheating scouse diver? He'll be off at the end of the season. He's had enough of carrying the rest of the losers in what is admittedly a top 4 side. Top 4 of the championship, that is....

*sits and waits*

Personally, I'd like to see some proactive work from hippies and yoghurt knitters who don't like my big 4x4.

They could come and take turns to suck on my great big dirty exhaust pipe for an hour each, whilst I sit with the engine ticking over, when it could really be switched off. I do like to keep warm in this cold weather!

Am I socially irresponsible for choosing to drive a car that isnt the most fuel efficient/least polluting I could afford?

Yes. It's the degree of irresponsibility that's the key factor here though; we're all socially irresponsibly in some way. Maybe you've chosen to drive a car you like rather than what would be best for the polar bears. fine, that's your choice, but you have to accept you will be open to criticism for your choices, as we all are. None of us are perfect. I could create less energy wastage by posting on here less. 😉

I do 10000 miles per year, and I choose to drive a car that only does 20mpg, does that make me a bad person?

Or does it make me no worse than the person that does 20000 miles per year in a car that does 40mpg?

Oh you're definitely going to Hell; it's just how many endangered species you take with you. 😀

It's all about proportion though, isn't it? And the reasons for doing things. Seems that far too many London 4x4 owners do so because they want status symbols rather than looking beyond their own noses; they will then blame everyone else for any problems. I had a stupid woman in an Audi tank screaming at me because I was on the road, on my bicycle (she had actually moved onto my side of the road to go round a parked van, rather than wait for me to pass safely). Apparently, according to her I shouldn't be doing so. I did try to remind her that we are supposed to share the roads and in fact she was causing far more of a problem than I was, but her behaviour was just one more example of the selfishness of too many people.

It's ok to play a bit of music in your own home. It's also ok to play it a bit loud occasionally, at reasonable times of the day. Playing it extremely loudly in the middle of night, without any consideration or respect for others, just makes you a ****.

Interesting how that sort of behaviour will rightly be frowned upon, but other equally selfish behaviour isn't.

To work out if he's Fred, all we need to do is start dissing London. He'd never be able to resist telling us about it being the greatest city on earth.

"They are just as bad. And Sharans are more economical than 4x4s anyway."

Depends on the sharans engine and the model of 4x4 doesnt it really ....... panda 4x4 = 67.3 MPG OMG IS THAT MORE THAN YOUR PRIUS AND A 4X4 ?????

Seems that far too many [s]London[/s] [s]4x4[/s] [s]van[/s] [s]estate[/s] [s]sports car[/s] car owners do so because they want status symbols rather than looking beyond their own noses

FTFY

I had a stupid woman in an Audi tank screaming at me because I was [s]on the road[/s] riding like a cock

That too! I bet you're the type of person that wears a gopro on his helmet when he's commuting too, aren't you NuFred?

We[b] have to[/b] share crowded, congested space in London.

Then why are you banging on about BMW's, Tarquin and Tabitha and keeping up with the neighbours?

What's that got to do with 'left' or 'right' politics again?

Fred got banned for being just a bit TOO obstreperous. And having multiple user names so he could argue with himself. Was fun, and he had some interesting and challenging views that IMHO were very well expressed. But then he would take it to heart and get petulant and abuse people. So perhaps you are too mild mannered to be Fred now I think about it some more.

'Obstreperous'. What a great word. 😀

So, 'Fred' appears to be a form of insult perhaps, used by those who don't agree with my views and opinions?

But I suppose that complaining about Transporter of Sharan owners wouldn't have really fitted in with your petty bourgeoisie class warrior status would it Fred?

Yes, it appears so. 😀

Rattrap; I'm middle class and live in an affluent part of London. I socialise with layers, judges, architects, designers, doctors, university professors and all manner of bourgeoisie. Hardly 'petty'. Some of them are really rather wealthy. All of us could probably be a lot more socially responsible and less selfish in our habits. Interestingly, none of us drive 4x4s. Perhaps because we don't feel the need to. I know a QC who cycles everywhere; she shlepps her legal documents around in large panniers. I also know a high court judge who gets the bus everywhere (because she enjoys meeting people!). So at least a few of us are making an effort.

But carry on with your ignorant assumptions, if it serves your purpose (whatever that is).

thx1138 - Lefties can't stick together. Everyone knows that. We are destined to split in to narrow Peoples Front of Judea/Judean Peoples Front style, leftier-than-you factions, and spend our days sniping at each other rather than the true enemy, while the Tories get on with Privatising everything while braking into their Krug

Actually... thinking about it, depressingly.... most of the time, that's true

You're right. Whatever happened to Solidarity? 🙁

I don't think he's Fred. I know what'll flush him out if it is. Ahem.....

Louis Suarez, the bloody cheating scouse diver? He'll be off at the end of the season. He's had enough of carrying the rest of the losers in what is admittedly a top 4 side. Top 4 of the championship, that is....

*sits and waits*

Sorry to dissapoint Binners, but I'm actually a QPR fan. Well I say 'fan', what I really mean is 'sufferer'. 😥

Depends on the sharans engine and the model of 4x4 doesnt it really ....... panda 4x4 = 67.3 MPG

If you think this is all about the number of driven wheels on a vehicle then you're an idiot. Can't tell if it's deliberate or not though 🙂

Let's just clear something up: 4x4 is a short-hand for 'unnecessarily large and/or uneconomical vehicle'. Maybe we can call them ULUVs and remove the debate about Sharans, Transporters and Pandas.

Yep. Because you chose that car, knowing it has a significant negative impact. You chose not to mitigate your impact on the environment.

In short, you don't give a shit, at a time when we all really need to give a shit.

But I also pay far more in tax than I would do if I was driving something that did 65mpg, so driving gas guzzlers is actually the answer to this countries problems not the cause of it. If more people drove gas guzzlers then other things like income tax could be lowered helping the less well off.

Ps - just to get the lefties frothing a bit more, I also have two other cars that do less than 25mpg, and a boat that does ~1.5mpg. And I ride a bike that is overkill for 90% of the riding I do.

I'm middle class and live in an affluent part of London

Ah, I [b]was[/b] right about the petty bourgeoisie class warrior then 😉

Guess what - the world doesn't stop at the M25, and some of those people might actually drive their cars [i]outside[/i] of London as well (here be dragons) - you'll never believe this, but other people live even further away in the wild desolate parts of the country beyond Surrey, where there are trees and everyfink, and they might have a 4WD to get around where there are no gritters or bus services. some even put tools and dogs and bales of hay and sheep and things in the back - amazing, isn't it!

Admit it, I'm right about the Gopro on your helmet for commuting, aren't I?

thx1138 - In that case, sorry, that last sentence must have been worryingly prosaic.

Ah, I was right about the petty bourgeoisie class warrior then

No, you're still wrong I'm afraid. don't let things like facts get in the way of your judgment though.

Guess what - the world doesn't stop at the M25, and some of those people might actually drive their cars outside of London as well

They may well might. I don't see how they 'need' a massive 4x4 over something like a Focus/Astra etc though. And they have their shopping delivered by Occado so it's not like they need the boot space either. And judging by the pristine condition of all those in my area, they probably never venture off road at all. So why exactly are people driving them? Because they're insecure and inadequate.

Do you drive a 4x4 ratrap?

If more people drove gas guzzlers then other things like income tax could be lowered helping the less well off.

There would be an increase in respitory illnesses, requiring more to be spent on healthcare. Bang goes your income tax decrease.

Nope - I have in the past though!

And you haven't denied the Gopro, have you NuFred?

But I also pay far more in tax than I would do if I was driving something that did 65mpg, so driving gas guzzlers is actually the answer to this countries problems not the cause of it.

The country's needs, fine, what about the world's needs?

haha it was deliberate but a 4x4 is a 4x4 because it has 4 driven wheels ....

ULUV is much more appropriate. ULUV WELUV EVERYBODYLUVS 😉

this thread has turned in to a "word-off"

obstreperous
bourgeoisie
prosaic

😕

it's like being back at school, but with the posh kids...

Bloody hell. One of the posh kids? Clearly you've never met me 😯

I had a stupid woman in an Audi tank screaming at me because I was on the road riding like a cock

So, riding along a road, on the side you are meant to be on, is 'riding like a cock', is it? Ok. With such contempt for cyclists, what are you doing on a cycling forum?

That too! I bet you're the type of person that wears a gopro on his helmet when he's commuting too, aren't you NuFred?

If I knew what a 'gopro' was, then I'd be able to answer.

Is it ok if I take 'Fred' as a form of compliment, seeing as how this individual was clearly well loved on here? 🙂

ULUV

That's too 'nice'. What about 'U****'?

So, riding along a road, on the side you are meant to be on, is 'riding like a cock', is it? Ok. With such contempt for cyclists, what are you doing on a cycling forum?

Aha! It is Mike Connor 😀

We'll see......

[img] [/img]

😉

(although the George Lucas sign-on is a tester, I myself like spaceships but loathe George Lucas and his myriad of muppets masquerading as science fiction and ruining it for the rest of us, but anyways cool user name)

To be fair, THX1138 was before George Lucas decided he had to have muppets in all his movies....

Lets hope he doesn't make a "prequel" - another odious contribution to film-making.

Probably but I choose to spend it on important stuff instead 🙂