Sorry to have annoyed you Ryan, it was not my intent.
I never posted "I didn't harm the environment", I use electricity, gas and, as you pointed out, the goods I buy need transporting. My family and I produce an average amount of waste and recycle a small proportion, as much as the next family. I posted that my impact was less than the average two car family because of my non-reliance on the car, something of which I take a little pride from. The statement is only snobbish in the way that you have misinterpreted and misquoted it. I, mostly, used the words "motor vehicles" not cars and as such I was not singling cars out at all. However, the thread has developed along the singular theme of the car as a personal mode of transport and it's relevance to the individual poster, whether that was Peter's intention or not, my post reflected that.
Liberation and convenience are two different things, could all the actions provided by motor vehicles still be done without them, probably yes is the answer (except motorsport obviously). By all means cars, trucks and buses have made life easier for a great number of people but to say it liberated us is a bit grandiose. It has changed the way we live, work and play, of that there is no mistake but it is akin to the chicken and the egg situation. Have no doubts, the way we live today is directly connected to the invention of and mass adoption of the motor vehicle as a means of personal and mass transportation.
Whether that is a good or bad thing was not the point of my post, the point was to highlight the incredulity of your statement, that the motor vehicle liberated mankind. Liberated them from what exactly? Everything in modern civilisation could still have developed the way it has, shops would still be kept stocked, children would still go to school, journeys to see family and friends would still take place, man could still have gone to the moon and the earth could still be in peril of man-made climate change. It wouldn't be the same but it wouldn't be much different either so I ask again, liberated us from what?
I'm sorry you seem to have taken it personally despite me starting the post to the contrary. A cynic I am, of many things, it comes from having a broad view on a great many things and not just seeing what I want to see but how it is seen from many different perspectives, it's a side effect of ageing and experience. You don't agree with what I posted, which is your prerogative and my view still remains, that the motor vehicle has liberated mankind is probably the most ridiculous thing I have read on this forum.
Apologies to Peter for the thread hijack although it saves you having to bump the thread, today at least.
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