EconTalk: Matthew Crawford on Why We Drive

[FractalFootwork]

I think this'll start a good discussion here, but we'll probably all be on the same page.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/11A9YGCb7bWrSs8JhrF1e0

[davesaddiction]

@fractalfootwork

Over an hour? Oof. I started listening, but can we get the Cliff's notes?

Edit - the first few minutes is quite good!

Encouragement to take the "long way" to work more often?

[aremmes]

@davesaddiction said in EconTalk: Matthew Crawford on Why We Drive:

can we get the Cliff's notes?

TL;DR: Because we want to go somewhere.

[davesaddiction]

@aremmes Incorrect!

The best drives are always about the journey itself.

[aremmes]

@davesaddiction That qualifies as "somewhere", though, innit? One doesn't just go on a journey to the driveway.

[FractalFootwork]

@davesaddiction

"Author Matthew Crawford talks about his book Why We Drive with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. The conversation is about driving but also much more: how human beings interact with technology and what we gain and give up when we embrace technology driven by corporate profit-seeking."

I just started listening to it, so I can't give you my take yet.

[Mark Tucker]

Can't do podcasts and stuff (they just don't hold my attention)... but I'm definitely adding that book to my list of stuff to read. Shop Class As Soulcraft was an excellent book.

[FractalFootwork]

Okay, so I've listened to the whole podcast and am ready to share my thoughts (maybe a bit of a tangent from the topic as a whole, but...): I really don't want a self-driving car or self-driving cars to take over. I'm worried that a government would mandate at some point that human-driving is illegal on safety grounds. It's difficult when we watch motorsport and someone dies to not decry that the sport should be safer than that we shouldn't be driving around if it's not 100% safe, but I try to always disagree. No, I don't think anyone should lose their life, but personally I would hate living if I wasn't allowed to step close to the edge; I mean, what's the point?

[VincentMalamute]

@davesaddiction said in EconTalk: Matthew Crawford on Why We Drive:

@aremmes Incorrect!

The best drives are always about the journey itself.

The best drives are the friends we've made along the way

[VincentMalamute]

@fractalfootwork said in EconTalk: Matthew Crawford on Why We Drive:

I'm worried that a government would mandate at some point that human-driving is illegal on safety grounds.

I'm a car guy. Although not a driving guy - I don't like driving.

Making human driving illegal for safety doesn't sound too bad to me. We'd find other hobbies to injure ourselves. Then they'd ban those.

But maybe they could have special licensing requirements for driving hobbyists? Normal people wouldn't be bothered to meet the requirements. Roads would be safer, governments would get money, hobbyists would be happy.

[FractalFootwork]

@vincentmalamute I would 100% be okay with a special driver's license. I've always thought it be interesting if they offered a higher-level driving test and gave certain people special drivers licenses or license plates that allowed them to go over the speed limit, but that probably would never work.

[Exage03040]

@fractalfootwork said in EconTalk: Matthew Crawford on Why We Drive:

@vincentmalamute I would 100% be okay with a special driver's license. I've always thought it be interesting if they offered a higher-level driving test and gave certain people special drivers licenses or license plates that allowed them to go over the speed limit, but that probably would never work.

NGL, I treat my moto endorsement like this.
I really wonder if they made requisites in getting a drivers license harder, how many people wouldn't bother getting a license and driving. Examples: Take the road test in a car with a manual, or a 1 ton pick-up, or additionally a motorcycle...

To you and I it's likely no big deal, but the average person this could be real Mt. Everest shit.

[fintail]

I'd be all for a "special" endorsement. I had to get one for a motorcycle, maybe put the drones in self-driving cars and let those with some situational awareness drive themselves.

Making it harder for everyone might not work so well, as so much of the economy depends on commuting, due to the way American housing is developed.

Last night, I went to the store and ended up on the "long way", didn't bug me a bit.

[VincentMalamute]

@fractalfootwork said

I've always thought it be interesting if they offered a higher-level driving test

@exage03040 said

I really wonder if they made requisites in getting a drivers license harder, how many people wouldn't bother getting a license and driving

To you and I it's likely no big deal, but the average person this could be real Mt. Everest shit.

Really, we should currently be making the qualifications for our current driving licenses harder. And yeah, that could have socio-economic/racial implications.

I got a concealed carry license last year. For a device that is specifically designed to hurt and kill people. As long as you were alive enough to sign the attendance sheet, you passed the required licensing course. The US is a bit too much on freedoms.

[Urambo Tauro]

@fractalfootwork Finally found time to listen to this. There's a lot to take in here! I guess that means the interview served its purpose if makes me want to read his book...