this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2025
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Fuck Cars

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[discussion] cars are so fucking stupid (lemmy.zip)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by JeSuisUnHombre@lemmy.zip to c/fuckcars@lemmy.world
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Minor rant. I got new tires last year. Today i went to get my oil changed and while I was there I asked for my tires to be rotated. They found a puncture of a nail or something right on the edge so the patch would need to be on the side wall which no one does. The only place around that sold used tires doesn't do that anymore. If i wanted to get it fixed it was going to cost me $200 to replace the tire. I did not drive in any crazy places, just got unlucky enough that my personal 2 ton death machine found this tiny little piece of metal that I wouldn't have even had a chance to see and avoid, and got it stuck in a place that's apparently unfixable.

On top of all the ways car culture has destroyed our landscapes and controls our cities, the car is designed in such a way to be the biggest financial burden possible. What other thing do we have where you can use it as intended, but there's a decent chance for the equivalent of a splinter to make your hand stop working?!

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[–] theskyisfalling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 1 month ago

I don't think they are designed to inherently be the biggest financial burden possible, that is a bit disingenuous. The reason that can't be patched up and fixed is for your own safety, the tyres are the only things connecting you and that vehicle to the road and as such need to be sound.

I have had exactly the same issue on my bike, picking up a screw that went in through the shoulder of the tyre and because of the position just couldn't be patched up properly and still hold air consistently. So it is hardly a car specific issue, yes it is annoying and costly but tyres are a consumable, they aren't designed with planned obsolescence like a lot of shit pushed out these days.

[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Plumbing.

[–] JayleneSlide@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

My general contractor buddy once explained to me the state of plumbing: "We used to make plumbing with lead and cast iron pipes, but that old tech would only last 50 to 100 years before it needed major maintenance. Then we modernized with copper pipes, which gave us about 20 years of working life. We really stepped into the modern age with PVC pipes, which generally give us a solid eight years of working life."

That said, I redid my house and sailboat with PEX, and it's been solid AF. And anything that can survive being on a blue water sailboat is probably going to last a century in a house.

[–] Wfh@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 month ago

I mean, getting rid of lead in plumbing is generally a good idea.

[–] JeSuisUnHombre@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I'm struggling to think of an equivalent situation

[–] Randomocity@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 month ago

A tree root grows into your pipes, nothing you could've done to avoid it but now you have to pay to redo all the pipes in your house.

[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Try peeling a bunch of potatoes, without the water running. Then try to put all the skins down the disposal at once. If you’re lucky, you’ll only clog the disposal side.

[–] Azrael@feddit.org 15 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I have NEVER understood why the fuck Americans put all their garbage down the drain...

[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago

Because we have modern municipal water treatment plants that turn waste into biogas and fertilizer. But even in areas that don’t, it’s convenient and prevents stinky kitchen trash. Most people in the US don’t have access to composting services and don’t do home gardening, so don’t need compost themselves.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If it makes you feel any better, as an American the first thing I did when I bought my house was to rip out the garbage disposal and install a normal drain instead.

[–] CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If you're on city water that "waste" gets turned into fertilizer and it's just composting without extra work. There is little reason to remove a disposal. Such a strange thing to remove.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

It's a hole with grinding teeth that could destroy something accidentally dropped down there and rubber flaps that trap gunk. It's dangerous and gross and I didn't want to deal with it.

[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

It actually uses a shredder ring and impellers. Not saying your reasoning is wrong, just that the parts are a little different than a lot of people think. It’s not like a blender or paper shredder. When it’s off, there’s not really any danger reaching into it. You should unplug it still if you are going to do that.

[–] CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world -1 points 1 month ago

I know, DOZENS EVERY YEAR GET KNICKS ON THEIR HANDS!

Look I know this data doesn't exist, but I'd be happy to bet more people dies from heatstroke and heart attacks from spreading compost then are seriously injured.

If you don't want to, don't use it. Just don't act all shocked and smug when someone else enjoys the convenience.

[–] CallMeAnAI@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Because it's composting without extra steps.

[–] JeSuisUnHombre@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago

That does not feel equivalent to me

[–] yessikg@fedia.io 6 points 1 month ago

If you are in the USA, here's a pro-tip: go to the tire shops where nobody speaks English, they'll fix up your tire and charge you less

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

and got it stuck in a place that's apparently unfixable.

Plug it and send it. If you're not crazy speedster and doesn't drive very long distance every day, and it's not directly on the side wall, the steel belt will hold the plug and you can keep using it until it leak again, which then you might decide to change it or...plug it again.

What other thing do we have where you can use it as intended, but there's a decent chance for the equivalent of a splinter to make your hand stop working?!

No joke? A minor cut on my right index and middle fingers, and it will effectively stop me from doing my job of fixing car.

But yes, i do agree with what you mean. We build a society where car is needed and you have to buy car, and car is expensive so it eat into your salary, and if you cannot keep up the payment your car will repo-ed, and since you don't have a car you need public transport, and if your area doesn't even have a consistent bus schedule(if there is bus at all) you will need a bike, and if you ride a bike you will be ridiculed for it and accused of slowing traffic, and if they're not being careful you will lose your life.

There's no difference between people holding Motonormativity mindset and people with Antisocial Personality Disorder.

[–] dragonfucker@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 month ago

There's no difference between people holding Motonormativity mindset and people with Antisocial Personality Disorder.

The difference is that society caters to carbrains but stigmatises the neurodivergent

[–] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 month ago

My driver's side door latch won't open, I have to scramble in and out from the passenger side. Mechanical issue, not electrical. There is zero way to get to the latch without destroying the door, even from the inside. As nightnarishly complex as my car is, VW just did not think of this scenario. Which seems just fucking insane to me.