I Like My Car
What I was trying to say was that, although I am supposed to be doing other stuff, I have decided instead to write about my car.
Because this weekend I drove my car to the countryside and back, and while in it I thought about how much I like it, and how reprehensible it is, and how guilty I feel about it. And then I read Anna's post saying similar things about planes, and I decided to post about it.
My main thought was about the disconnect which often exists between the moral standing of a thing and its subjective meaning. Ooh, that sounded quite impressive (if slightly confusing).
What I mean is, I like being in a fast portable comfortable pod, which belongs to me and allows me leisurely privacy whilst simultaneously giving me a view on the world. And OK, so some people say it encourages alienation and isolation, and they may have a point, but it's good to have a bit of space now and then. There's nothing wrong with enjoying your own company.
And you can whizz (within reason) round bends, and up and down hills, and go "wheeee!" and admire the scenery, and listen to music (the new Prince album has moments of wonderfulness but is mostly boring, Amy Winehouse is great, I'm sorry about buying the Mail on Sunday but I did put it straight in the bin and reasoned I was actually doing the world a favour as now one less person will be able to read their rubbish, ooh and Digitalism are fantastic), and think thoughts, and maybe have a bit of a cry, and laugh at the mud-splattered racing vehicle with "If you can read this please turn me upside down" written in upside-down letters, and have Great Ideas and generally have a few little moments apart from the world.
There's nothing so bad about any of that.
But it fucks up the environment.
But it doesn't fuck up the environment because of singing and music and crying and thinking and looking at the view, it fucks up the environment cos of fossil fuels and stuff. And plastic, and Too Much Stuff, and all that jazz.
So, what I was thinking is that I shouldn't be apologetic that I enjoy all the things that come with Driving A Car, because there isn't anything objectively wrong with all of those things.
But still, it's hard for me to make statements like "I Like My Car" without people instantly making judgements.
It wouldn't have been practical for me to make the same journey on a train, for many reasons. Just so's you know. But that stinks, and shouldn't be so. And there are many ways in which the world could be organised so that I wouldn't have had to make that journey in a car. And that would be a Good Thing.
But, you know, if they ever sort it out (and of course they should)...
I'll miss my car.
___
Because this weekend I drove my car to the countryside and back, and while in it I thought about how much I like it, and how reprehensible it is, and how guilty I feel about it. And then I read Anna's post saying similar things about planes, and I decided to post about it.
My main thought was about the disconnect which often exists between the moral standing of a thing and its subjective meaning. Ooh, that sounded quite impressive (if slightly confusing).
What I mean is, I like being in a fast portable comfortable pod, which belongs to me and allows me leisurely privacy whilst simultaneously giving me a view on the world. And OK, so some people say it encourages alienation and isolation, and they may have a point, but it's good to have a bit of space now and then. There's nothing wrong with enjoying your own company.
And you can whizz (within reason) round bends, and up and down hills, and go "wheeee!" and admire the scenery, and listen to music (the new Prince album has moments of wonderfulness but is mostly boring, Amy Winehouse is great, I'm sorry about buying the Mail on Sunday but I did put it straight in the bin and reasoned I was actually doing the world a favour as now one less person will be able to read their rubbish, ooh and Digitalism are fantastic), and think thoughts, and maybe have a bit of a cry, and laugh at the mud-splattered racing vehicle with "If you can read this please turn me upside down" written in upside-down letters, and have Great Ideas and generally have a few little moments apart from the world.
There's nothing so bad about any of that.
But it fucks up the environment.
But it doesn't fuck up the environment because of singing and music and crying and thinking and looking at the view, it fucks up the environment cos of fossil fuels and stuff. And plastic, and Too Much Stuff, and all that jazz.
So, what I was thinking is that I shouldn't be apologetic that I enjoy all the things that come with Driving A Car, because there isn't anything objectively wrong with all of those things.
But still, it's hard for me to make statements like "I Like My Car" without people instantly making judgements.
It wouldn't have been practical for me to make the same journey on a train, for many reasons. Just so's you know. But that stinks, and shouldn't be so. And there are many ways in which the world could be organised so that I wouldn't have had to make that journey in a car. And that would be a Good Thing.
But, you know, if they ever sort it out (and of course they should)...
I'll miss my car.
___
Labels: Philosophisering
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