I swear to god my brain is going to explode; it’s going to start popping off like fireworks and then it’s all Fight Club up in my reality with an alter-ego and buildings collapsing.
This article from the Chicago Tribune talks about how these Middle-Class Haves who moved to the suburbs because they hate society and they hate community in the first place are opposing sidewalks in their neighborhoods. That’s right, sidewalks - that very last vestige of the sense of community that’s so rapidly vanishing from our “I look out for ME and MINE, and the REST OF Y’ALL C’N FUCK OFF!” society (the same community-eroding attitude that creates suburbs and drives people to operate lethal SUV’s in the first place).
Here’s my absolute favorite quote from the article -
“There’s strange things happening in the world today, so why would we want to open up that possibility?” he said. “We are connected, we all know each other. The concern is, who knows what you’d be encouraging to come through.”
:eek: :eek: :eek:
Fuck the “estate feel” of your suburban sprawl wasteland front yard that you don’t want interrupted. Fuck you for destroying a sense of community. Fuck you for driving everywhere and destroying the environment, and actively discouraging something that helps cut down on that and helps encourage peripatism. Fuck you for white flight and for holing up in your suburban castle with the shades pulled tight and two middle fingers to the rest of the world. Fuck nimbyism and now “nimfyism.” Bomb the suburbs.
I liked sidewalks. I don’t know if the place is really remote or not, but it never makes a difference until you suddenly do have to walk there - maybe your car breaks down! - and you have to walk on the side of the road and people are driving by at 40 mph and they are splashing mud and water on you.
No matter how stupid I think people are, someone always manages to surprise me. Who the fuck is going to come raid their little pissant town because they installed sidewalks? If someone had their heart set on leveling the place, why would they be deterred by the lack of same?
I hate all the “this form of transportation will act as a conduit of crime” arguments. As if criminals don’t own cars like the rest of us. And those criminals that walk are not afraid of walking on grass, people.
I lived in the sticks when I was a kid. Our local “estates” generally had cows. Therefore, we didn’t have sidewalks for entirely different reasons.
Since then I’ve lived in places with and without them, on two separate continents. And the only thing I brought out of it is that local people ought to be able to build sidewalks or bike trails or dirt roads as they see fit, and whatever thing you have, you have to teach your kids the right way to use them.
If everyone took a deep breath and calmed down and did this, we’d all be a bit happier.
About half of my neighborhood has sidewalks. I have one in front of my house. The guy to my left doesn’t, and the two families to my right do - there are three houses on my street “served” by this sidewalk. I wouldn’t miss it if the city wised up and ripped it out.
This increases likelihood that children will be hit by cars when they’re walking to their neighbor’s to play jacks. Oh please, won’t somebody think of the children?
I’m torn between being afraid for your blood pressure and mental health and agreeing with you, VCO3. Is that why sidewalks are hit and miss in newer 'burbs? People don’t want them there? I’m having a logical disconnect over this issue.
You know, I’ll bet that at some point VCO3 is going to grow up and maybe even turn into one of these yuppies. And then we can show these threads to him and all have a big laugh.
Actually this does make me angier than “Wife defends husband who shot her grandmother in the face.” Not as angry as VC03, but pretty angry. This is a really shortsighted and selfish people, basing their objection on fears so irrational they can barely be verbalized.
Sidewalks are the “very last vestige of the sense of community” in our society? If you’re going to have an aneursym, have it over something more interesting - although I suspect it’s too late.