# my RO aneurysm: Uppity middle-class society destroyers don't want sidewalks! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 9, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419 "2007-05-09T17:12:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/1 "2007-05-09T17:12:45Z")
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](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0705090110may09,1,6246343.story?page=2&coll=chi-news-hed&vote29658317=1) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/2 "2007-05-09T17:14:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/3 "2007-05-09T17:21:54Z")
Oh, look – it’s the Sidewalk Fascist again. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/4 "2007-05-09T17:27:11Z")
Let me check the ol’ RO scale here… hmm, nothing is registering at all. I beg your pardon, there goes a little blip. Looks like a 0.5/10. If this kind of thing makes your head explode, I’d hate to see your reaction to something that actually affects you in some way. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/5 "2007-05-09T17:28:08Z")
Dont’ try to get all R.O. cop on me, because I pre-empted that ass in the thread title. This affects all of us - we’re living in a society! ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/6 "2007-05-09T17:30:38Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] “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**.” [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/7 "2007-05-09T17:39:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/8 "2007-05-09T17:46:11Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] I swear to god my brain is going to explode [/QUOTE] Fuckin’ A. The sooner the better. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/9 "2007-05-09T17:55:06Z")
I am only saying this because I care - there’s a lot of decaffeinated brands on the market that are just as tasty as the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/10 "2007-05-09T17:56:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/11 "2007-05-09T18:04:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/12 "2007-05-09T18:05:32Z")
If they don’t have sidewalks, where do they push their SUV strollers? ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/13 "2007-05-09T18:05:50Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/14 "2007-05-09T18:14:29Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Mudd] Oh, look – it’s the Sidewalk Fascist again. [/QUOTE] “Hey, you kid! Get off my lawn 'afore I squirt you with the Hose…!” “But, there’s no sidewalk…” “Whatcher point…?” :smack: :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/15 "2007-05-09T18:14:59Z")
Think of the neighbors, or criminals, who will get flat tires from fallen jacks. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/16 "2007-05-09T18:15:29Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/17 "2007-05-09T18:17:00Z")
Another VCO3 vs. “Yuppies” thread. What a shock. 1987 called, VCO3: they want their outrage back. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/18 "2007-05-09T18:22:24Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/19 "2007-05-09T18:24:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419/20 "2007-05-09T18:29:01Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-ro-aneurysm-uppity-middle-class-society-destroyers-dont-want-sidewalks/403419.md?page=2)