Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Day 12 of 16 - On my Soapbox

Thanks for all of your anti-boredom suggestions, guys :) I really appreciate it! I'd be more than happy to come and help all of you with your mundane tasks and busywork! Alas, I haven't yet figured out how to make a cheap, effective teleporter.

I've been spending a lot of time outside, a lot of time reading, and I'm starting to make a wishlist for the new house! Good stuff!! I've been less bored; I think I was having an 'off day'... so I'm taking it for what it is -- a nice, rare vacation -- and sleeping late and just enjoying my time.

So I just saw a commercial for one of these "smarter cars", although I think they should be called, "moron proof cars"... a Mercedes something-or-other that boasted the following -- not only would it wake the driver up if he dozed off, but it will honk at you if you 'stray from your lane', and if you start to tailgate another car... yes, another gentle warning. 'Hey! Be careful!'

I remember when the cars came out with that thing, that if you were about to back into another car it would honk a warning at you. Myself, if I couldn't see WHERE THE HELL I WAS BACKING MY CAR INTO, maybe it was a good note that I shouldn't be driving that car.

I really, really hate these "moron proof cars". If a car has to wake you up from dozing off... guess what? You shouldn't be driving!! If you're drifting into the other lane and need a gentle honk of a reminder, you should get off your damn Blackberry and pay some freeeeakin' attention. And if you need something to beep at you when you're too close to the car in front of you, you are probably driving on the DC Beltway and need it. No no, wait. You should probably be NOT DRIVING.

This kinder, gentler driving experience crap is just that -- crap. If we would all pay a little more attention instead of trying to constantly multi-task and staying at the office 24/7 people probably wouldn't be in such a rush, or feel the need to take a snoozer while on the freeway. We don't need smarter cars, just smarter people. (Those seem to be fading, though! So I guess I can't blame the car companies for trying to compensate somewhere...)

And besides, the movie Christine scares me. I don't need an intelligent car to run me over in my sleep, thanks!!

4 comments:

ladytruth said...

I absolutely agree with you; it's like everyone has ADD these days in the sense that they have to do three things at once. I wonder if you can go do your driver's license with this type of car? If you fail the test then you REALLY know you shouldn't be driving.

Valerie said...

they could also be called- how not to get caught drunk driving cars.

Susan said...

Here! Here! I couldn't agree with you more. We need smarter drivers, not smarter cars.

If my car ever started talking or honking at me, I'd probably freak out.

The movie, Christine scared me too. Homicidal cars - eeeccckkkk!

Great post as always!

Laura said...

Ugh, I totally agree with you. Smarter cars will just end up making people more idiotic in the long run!