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Oakes

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the rumba has the advantage ...and no need for a driver.

I would view this as a disadvantage. There is a lot pleasure to be had in the interaction between man and machine. The joy of driving a well made car (or perhaps Skycar!) is something no form of mass transportation will ever replace, however efficient or safe.

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I would view this as a disadvantage.  There is a lot pleasure to be had in the interaction between man and machine.  The joy of driving a well made car (or perhaps Skycar!) is something no form of mass transportation will ever replace, however efficient or safe.

As would I! I see you're a man after my own heart, at least in automotive terms. ;)

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I would view this as a disadvantage.  There is a lot pleasure to be had in the interaction between man and machine.  The joy of driving a well made car (or perhaps Skycar!) is something no form of mass transportation will ever replace, however efficient or safe.

I doubt those who make the same repetitive drive to work everyday care for the car drive too much. I understand what is to be had in a pleasure drive, but others just want to get somewhere, and to do it as fast as possible. That's why I see a future for both types of transportation.

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I doubt those who make the same repetitive drive to work everyday care for the car drive too much.

This is the primary cause, in my observation, of individuals who view the car as an appliance and who want to remove themselves as far as possible from the experience of driving.

It is, in my opinion, a tragedy. The traffic conditions of today are NOT a necessary or ideal part of modern life: to adapt yourself to them is, however momentarily necessary, something that should not be internalized into one's sense of the world.

It may be necessary, in these times, when entering a bad or violent neighborhood, to dress and act in a nonassuming way; to keep one's head down and watch for danger. But this should never become a person's total worldview: they should always refuse to accept this state of affairs as the given, the norm, and the "way things are."

It is for the very same reason that people should never accept traffic jams as "the given" and to never form their ideal in transportation as being a disgusting and frustrating venture which should be automated and isolated as much as possible.

I can accept a person saying, "the roads are clogged, so I must sadly buy a Toyota Camry and try to remove myself as far as I can from the act of driving." I will never accept a person saying, "Driving isn't good; the ideal vehicle would isolate the driver from the experience, or even better it would drive itself."

Do not surrender to the bureaucracy that has made the roads into a clogged mass. Do not let them win. Do not let them rob you of the joy of driving. Everyone who has a bland appliance to drive to work should have a roadster in the garage for the weekends, or should aspire to one at least.

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What does that have to do with what I said? And I suspect the people you describe would hardly want to ride the bus.

Quote you:

I will never accept a person saying, "Driving isn't good; the ideal vehicle would isolate the driver from the experience, or even better it would drive itself."

Many people like me look forward to the possible technological innovations like vehicle "platoons" which eliminate the need to focus on the road and allow for other productive work.

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Many people like me look forward to the possible technological innovations like vehicle "platoons" which eliminate the need to focus on the road and allow for other productive work.

There are things called limosines or taxis, that would suit your needs quite well. Such a thing is entirely beside my point, not for or against it.

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Inspector,

I never mentioned traffic jams at all, and it is not the only reason why some people don't care for their daily drive to work. I think people will want a fully-automated system on their way to work and erans precisely because it isn't a pleasure drive; it is the same old route that they would prefer not to have to pay attention to. They may even prefer it on new trips if speed is a priority.

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Well, my point has more to do with those who, as a result of traffic jams, want to remove themselves as far as possible from the experience of driving. It was my opinion that those who isolate themselves or are driven around should at least have a "weekend" sports car, or aspire to one some day.

The deeper point behind that is that driving is a virtue and a pleasureable experience for a rational man, or it can be at least.

It's a bit of a thread-jack at this point, though, so I'm sorry for that.

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