Jerry, and I am sure others, seem to have the impression of me that I hate everyone. I guess I am not compassionate enough for others as well. Have pity and mercy on my poor soul.

Truth is, I prefer to set the bar low on my expectations of people that I do not know. That way, you are never disappointed, but sometime pleasantly surprised as I am with most of the people I met here for example



I am not going to feel sorry for someone who CHOOSES to drive a V8 gas guzzler and then cries poverty because gas is expensive. Would it be great if everyone could make a million dollars and not care about the cost? Sure! Even better, would it be great if gas was cheap? Yup.

It is not either, and it never will be. There is no way that that kid is forced to drive a car like that. Feeling bad for him because he can't afford to fill his beast of a car is crazy. No one is forcing him to drive it over a more economical car. No one. Maybe it holds sentimental value? Than park it and look for a civic or a moped.

IMO, feeling bad for him after he chooses to drive a guzzler and then cries about the cost is analogous to feeling bad for myself because that damned S2000 costs money to mod, or feeling bad for good old Bill when he fills up the tank of his boat this summer. In both cases, we choose to spend our money like that. So does this guy.

Had the story been about some poor guy who already drives a 4cyl car, or already drives a moped in the rain to work trying to save gas, but is still falling behind, THEN I would feel sorry. But, that wasn't the story in this case.

When someone is on hard times despite their best efforts, they deserve a certain amount of pity. When someone refuses to help themselves but wants to cry about it, I say they get whats coming.

Shame on me

 

You make perfect sence to me.
Levi

 

Maybe the story was not the best example, but we don't know why the guy continued to drive a gas guzzler, and I try not to judge. The point of the thread was to bring attention to the fact that there ARE are people our there who are hurting, due to the high energy costs, just like the ones you mention above.

PM sent.

 

We don't even know for a fact that this car is a gas guzzler. The majority of Camaro/Firebirds sold were the V6 model which got even better gas mileage than our S2000's.

 

In Jeff's job he sees ALOT of people who are, lets say, NOT as high a class as most of us here. When you are in that type of position you often DO tend to look for the bad side of people because that is what you are used to seeing.

I have worked in situations similar that myself. Most of the people you meet suck and you sadly start to believe that about all people.

I still have to work hard some days to turn that around to the point where I can think the best about people and/or imagine a situation that would cause them to act a certain way...

The mean woman at the grocery store just had a biopsy that showed bad news, the unsmiling man at the coffee shop who didn't thank you for your purchase just found out his wife was having an affair. And situations like Lainey mentioned about the kid moving home to take care of his mom.

Yes there are many people who suck but I like to think there are just as many who don't

 

I don't mean to sound condescending, but I guess most of us were wondering what the main objective was of starting the previous thread to begin with? Everyone knows that increased energy costs suck, and it doesn't take much of an imagination to picture what it would be like to be worse off than I am now. I think everyone here is capable of that.

I just fail to see what's to be gained by having a sympathy fest besides getting everyone to feel bad. I'm not devoid of emotion or compassion... but if you just want me to say "Oh, that's unfortunate, I feel for his plight" then I suppose I could say it if it might do some good. I'm pretty sure it won't, though.

And by nature, I'm a critical person. I'm well aware of it, and while it hasn't made me the most popular fellow around, it has helped me be aware that I need to make good decisions in life. It's shaped who I am and how I operate. It doesn't surprise me that I ended up being an engineer... but my point here is that I prefer to *solve* problems rather than wallow in pity. I think other people here are similar, if not the most tactful, in their responses. However, it is an internet forum, so tact is not a requirement.

And what I alluded to before still holds... EVERY DAY the news has some sob story, about someone losing their house, their kids, their job... the increasing cost of gas, oil, electricity, food, health care, etc. It's not like I don't have a job, car, a home, a furnace, and health issues. I know costs are going up. I know it sucks. I know people aren't as well off as me. But me feeling bad or sympathetic isn't going to help anything. Not that suggesting alternatives on the internet will, either, but I do provide my advice to my friends and family who ask for it.

As I said in my previous post, common sense is free. Instead of giving an interview to CNN (who in turn will make money from advertisers for showing it) he could ask friends and family for an evaluation of his situation, and what he could do better or differently in life. The article, of course, doesn't mention any other aspect of his life, so we can only comment on what we know.

One of my old, grizzled co workers has a basic mantra: "You tell me the rules, I'll tell you how to play the game." I don't know what this guy in Alabama wants out of life, besides maybe to drive his Firebird. But I refuse to feel sorry for someone until I know they're truly a victim.

Dang, that was a long rant. I need some caffeine.

 

im with you sireousrex

even if it was a v6, he could be driving a civic or a toyota that gets better gas milage.

 

someone please tell me where i can buy a civic for a couple hundred bucks

 

I'm sure you can find it... it may still have a 2 barrel carburetor on it, but I'm sure it's out there!

 

will maintance costs exceed the current costs i am spending on gas?