# A four thousand dollar trip to Europe for a fourteen year old? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 25, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939 "2015-03-25T14:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/221 "2015-04-01T15:16:49Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Manual transmissions are pointless. Using one is like navigating a ship with a sextant. Maybe learning the theory is useful, but actually doing it in practice is a waste of time. > > Come at me bro. Been to Europe? Most rental cars are manual. Same is true in Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia. As to why: A manual transmission car is typically cheaper, may actually have a lower insurance cost and in some places, a drivers license specifies whether you can drive manual and automatic, or just automatic. It’s not pointless at all if you plan to travel or work internationally. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/222 "2015-04-01T15:18:53Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > I wasn’t sure if it was OK to post the link to the transphobic rants, and I’m still not sure (especially now that the thread has been closed). Then again, they only took a few seconds of Googling to find, and it seems obvious that it’s the same guy behind them (same name and profile photo as on the GoFundMe page). Maybe those who really want to see them despite weak Google-fu could get a mod to confirm it’s OK for me to post the link. Otherwise I’m happy to drop the matter. Well now I’m just sulking 'cause you dissed my Google-fu 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/223 "2015-04-01T15:24:03Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > I wasn’t sure if it was OK to post the link to the transphobic rants, and I’m still not sure (especially now that the thread has been closed). Then again, they only took a few seconds of Googling to find, and it seems obvious that it’s the same guy behind them (same name and profile photo as on the GoFundMe page). Maybe those who really want to see them despite weak Google-fu could get a mod to confirm it’s OK for me to post the link. Otherwise I’m happy to drop the matter. It is far from OK which will be addressed in the other thread. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/224 "2015-04-01T15:24:05Z")
> [@Bouncer](#): > > a drivers license specifies whether you can drive manual and automatic, or just automatic. Not in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/225 "2015-04-01T15:27:50Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > It is far from OK which will be addressed in the other thread. Is there a 3rd thread? The only other one I’m aware of has already been locked down. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/226 "2015-04-01T15:27:58Z")
> [@Bouncer](#): > > Been to Europe? Most rental cars are manual. Same is true in Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia. Yes to Europe and Asia, several times. > [@](#): > > As to why: A manual transmission car is typically cheaper, may actually have a lower insurance cost and in some places, a drivers license specifies whether you can drive manual and automatic, or just automatic. It’s not pointless at all if you plan to travel or work internationally. Which is all irrelevant. Automobile transmissions are a solved technological problem. There is no excuse for Europeans to continue defaulting to manual transmissions other than cultural inertia. Like us with the metric system. ETA: And although I rarely drive overseas, I’ve never had trouble renting an automatic in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/227 "2015-04-01T15:29:26Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Not in the U.S. So? Bouncer’s point was that in much of the rest of the world, knowing how to drive a stick shift is a definite advantage, and maybe even a necessity. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/228 "2015-04-01T15:29:57Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is there a 3rd thread? The only other one I’m aware of has already been locked down. There’s an ATMB one at [Is There A Board Policy About Approving Donation Request Threads? - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752629) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/229 "2015-04-01T15:34:23Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Is there a 3rd thread? The only other one I’m aware of has already been locked down. I have the keys. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/230 "2015-04-01T15:45:38Z")
But can you drive a manual? That’s the important part. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/231 "2015-04-01T15:51:09Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > The thread is closed now, but it took a really weird turn just before the ending: > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18254117&postcount=55](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18254117&postcount=55) > > Anyone know what’s up with that?!? [Moderating] No, we’re not going to go there, not even in the Pit. Stalking the children of other posters and bringing in their off-board activities is not allowed on the SDMB. This discussion is over now, and anyone trying to skirt this ruling is going to get a warning. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/232 "2015-04-01T16:38:13Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > And **misstee** ’s not been active here since 25th March. Us nasty cyberbullies must’ve scared her off. Well, she used up her biannual quota of SDMB posts. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/233 "2015-04-01T16:38:45Z")
Perhaps MissTee would have more luck if she distinguished between [living expenses and travel/touring expenses](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=701115). Or perhaps not. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/234 "2015-04-01T17:31:29Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [Moderating] > No, we’re not going to go there, not even in the Pit. Stalking the children of other posters and bringing in their off-board activities is not allowed on the SDMB. This discussion is over now, and anyone trying to skirt this ruling is going to get a warning. > [/Moderating] Good call. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/235 "2015-04-01T20:00:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Good call. Agreed; that was totally not cool. It’s all pretty moot anyway, since I doubt she’s returning; I think that thread was the equivalent of a flier on a telegraph pole. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/236 "2015-04-01T20:43:15Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Agreed; that was totally not cool. It’s all pretty moot anyway, since I doubt she’s returning; I think that thread was the equivalent of a flier on a telegraph pole. I agree as well. In what universe should someone be punished because of their brother’s nasty tweets? ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/237 "2015-04-02T13:53:45Z")
So a coworker just mailed our whole staff to let us know that his brother has a brain tumor and had surgery that resulted in brain damage, and his wife is having trouble finding the funds to pay for his high medical bills; they also have two young children to raise. Coworker has set up a GoFundMe page to solicit donations to help with the cost. This is the kind of charity solicitation I get behind. I happily donated $100 and am sorry I can’t afford to donate more. On the webpage there are links to other people asking for donations to help pay for a loved one’s cancer treatments, and I wish I could give money to all of them. Fuck cancer, and fuck the high cost of medical care. Now I’m appalled all over again at the thought of someone asking strangers to pay for a luxury vacation. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/238 "2015-04-03T12:40:48Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > ETA: And although I rarely drive overseas, I’ve never had trouble renting an automatic in Europe. To my recollection, when we traveled to Ireland in 2008 we found it impossible to rent an automatic. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/239 "2015-04-03T12:51:49Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > So a coworker just mailed our whole staff to let us know that his brother has a brain tumor and had surgery that resulted in brain damage, and his wife is having trouble finding the funds to pay for his high medical bills; they also have two young children to raise. Coworker has set up a GoFundMe page to solicit donations to help with the cost. > > This is the kind of charity solicitation I get behind. I happily donated $100 and am sorry I can’t afford to donate more. On the webpage there are links to other people asking for donations to help pay for a loved one’s cancer treatments, and I wish I could give money to all of them. Fuck cancer, and fuck the high cost of medical care. > > Now I’m appalled all over again at the thought of someone asking strangers to pay for a luxury vacation. A single-payer system sure would help out with such things. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939/240 "2015-04-04T02:03:49Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > To my recollection, when we traveled to Ireland in 2008 we found it impossible to rent an automatic. We traveled to Ireland in 2014 and found it easy. The company we wound up going with was Enterprise (which does not pick you up in Ireland, BTW), but there were others. This was Dublin; it may be that out in the sticks things are different. I know how to drive manual–my first two cars were manual–but did not think it would be wise to mix driving a manual with learning how to drive on the wrong side of the road. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-four-thousand-dollar-trip-to-europe-for-a-fourteen-year-old/715939.md?page=13)