Grown Men who can't drive. Do you find them weird?

shs08 · 19-02-2014 05:12PM

Butterface wrote: »

Have you ever actually used public transport? You keep repeating that it doesn't exist outside Dublin. Fair enough, some people would prefer not to have to rely on it, but many people are happy enough to live without a car.
If I have to get somewhere and I'm not arsed getting a bus, then I phone a taxi. Have you heard of those? It's a car right, and you pay somebody else to drive you somewhere in it.

I have yeah, ****ing awful waste of time and money, that's why I can drive and have a car. Taxis are expensive and if you book one on the spur of a moment you'll be waiting an age for them to come, been a few times when it's been faster to walk than wait for a taxi.

HooohRaaah · 19-02-2014 05:12PM

Butterface wrote: »

If you switch the genders in your story above, I'm sure the OP would find it acceptable.. because as we now know, it is less acceptable if a man cannot drive, than if a woman cannot.

Lets use this as an example. A couple both of whom can drive. They're both in the car travelling somewhere. Who do you think does all the driving?

jimgoose · 19-02-2014 05:14PM

Butterface wrote: »

Have you ever actually used public transport? You keep repeating that it doesn't exist outside Dublin. Fair enough, some people would prefer not to have to rely on it, but many people are happy enough to live without a car.
If I have to get somewhere and I'm not arsed getting a bus, then I phone a taxi. Have you heard of those? It's a car right, and you pay somebody else to drive you somewhere in it.

Where I grew up if you didn't drive you might as well bugger off and die! And you'd be broke fairly lively paying for taxis as well.

Temptamperu · 19-02-2014 05:14PM

Im terrified of driving, I cant even play driving games as it brings on anxiety attacks. Besides I live in dublin not much need for it.

Alf Veedersane · 19-02-2014 05:15PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

Lets use this as an example. A couple both of whom can drive. They're both in the car travelling somewhere. Who do you think does all the driving?

'Backseat' or 'actual'?

bee06 · 19-02-2014 05:16PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

Lets use this as an example. A couple both of whom can drive. They're both in the car travelling somewhere. Who do you think does all the driving?

In my house it depends on whose car we're using.

Butterface · 19-02-2014 05:16PM

jimgoose wrote: »

Where I grew up if you didn't drive you might as well bugger off and die! And you'd be broke fairly lively paying for taxis as well.

I also grew up in the countryside, and if I'd had to continue living there then I'm sure I would own a car by now. But I've lived in towns and cities ever since, and it has never been an issue for me to take public transport.

Alf Veedersane · 19-02-2014 05:17PM

wolfpawnat wrote: »

What crappy friends you both have. I never expect anything from someone. I carted home a 10kg wide box yesterday by walking and using public transport, it never even entered my head to ask someone for a lift. A lot of people I know are like that (not all, but a lot)

You misunderstood what I meant. I meant most people that don't drive are happy to make their own way somewhere as opposed to some people that don't drive are happy to make their own way somewhere.

The_Kew_Tour · 19-02-2014 05:18PM

Have 2 mates who get Seizures so they cant drive.

weird no. maybe saving a life, yes.

HooohRaaah · 19-02-2014 05:18PM

How do all the people who can't drive manage to get the bags from the weekly shopping home?

When you're walking in the rain for your bus do you wish you had your own car?

Butterface · 19-02-2014 05:18PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

Lets use this as an example. A couple both of whom can drive. They're both in the car travelling somewhere. Who do you think does all the driving?

Well clearly you are expecting me to answer that the man does all the driving, since you are equating masculinity with driving a car.. therefore men who can't drive are effeminate and should be judged accordingly!

SamAK · 19-02-2014 05:19PM

There's a difference between 'owning a car' and 'being able to drive'.

I'm of the opinion that it is incredibly useful to know how to operate a motor vehicle, in case you need to drive one in an emergency. Sh1t happens.

jamesbere · 19-02-2014 05:20PM

What I find annoying is people who use their car to make short journeys, I mean journeys where they can walk to and back in 15 mins.

Get off your fat a** and walk it won't kill you putting one foot on front of the other.

anncoates · 19-02-2014 05:20PM

mauzo! wrote: »

Not really. If they don't need one and can manage without one, then great.!

I don't find it strange if people can't drive, like I said, I learned late and before that lived centrally (as did all my friends) but I don't think I could manage without a car now.

Just for shopping, visiting people, kids and so on plus my friends are all a bit more scattered around the city now. When I compare visiting a friend in another part of the city by public transport in all weathers and dropping over in the car, it's not comparable.

Somebody living in the country (or even a town with no public transport) must surely be at a huge inconvenience not driving and have to rely heavily on others. The reason I learned to drive was that I was going out with a girl that lived in an Irish town (which even though quite large had no public transport) and she worked Saturdays. Even going to the other side of the town for something was like a 50 minute round walk. Fine for a aimless stroll but a colossal pain in the hole just to visit a shop or go to the gym.

wolfpawnat · 19-02-2014 05:20PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

You misunderstood what I meant. I meant most people that don't drive are happy to make their own way somewhere as opposed to some people that don't drive are happy to make their own way somewhere.

My apologies

HooohRaaah · 19-02-2014 05:20PM

Butterface wrote: »

Well clearly you are expecting me to answer that the man does all the driving, since you are equating masculinity with driving a car.. therefore men who can't drive are effeminate and should be judged accordingly!

If a woman drives their boyfriend/husband around everywhere it is very very strange

Caliden · 19-02-2014 05:21PM

There are certain things you should know how to do by the time you're 25. Driving is one of them.
There's always knowing how to swim, ride a bike, cook for yourself, use an iron, use the washing machine. Basic, basic things...

JoeA3 · 19-02-2014 05:21PM

I can see how one could get away with it if you work and live within a large urban area with good public transport. In Ireland this probably means Dublin city and it's immediate surrounds and absolutely nowhere else.
Even then though, if you want to go anywhere at the weekend or transport an awkward load (even if it's just the weekly shopping!), I'd consider it a major pain in the arse to be without my own wheels.

greentea is just wrong · 19-02-2014 05:21PM

Not having a car is one thing, they can be an unnecessary expense if living somewhere with decent public transport, but if they haven't even bothered to sit their driving test, I would definitely find this weird, especially if from the country...

SimonQuinlank · 19-02-2014 05:21PM

Can't drive and I'm in my 30's,same as a good few mates.Had a provisional in my 20's and just really disliked the stress of driving,not to mention running costs.Have always had good public transport links wherever I've lived anyway so don't really need to drive.

RSA should probably be teaching driving in secondary school nowadays tbh,as the amount of hoops new drivers have to jump through in order to get a license has increased massively over the last few years.

bee06 · 19-02-2014 05:22PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

How do all the people who can't drive manage to get the bags from the weekly shopping home?

Do the shopping more often so the bags are lighter or Tesco home delivery.

jimgoose · 19-02-2014 05:22PM

JoeA3 wrote: »

I can see how one could get away with it if you work and live within a large urban area with good public transport. In Ireland this probably means Dublin city and it's immediate surrounds and absolutely nowhere else.
Even then though, if you want to go anywhere at the weekend or transport an awkward load (even if it's just the weekly shopping!), I'd consider it a major pain in the arse to be without my own wheels.

My brother lives in Manhattan, and finds Zipcars fantastic.

Alf Veedersane · 19-02-2014 05:22PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

How do all the people who can't drive manage to get the bags from the weekly shopping home?

When you're walking in the rain for your bus do you wish you had your own car?

3 supermarkets within a ten minute walk from home. I usually carry the shopping bags home.

I've yet to wish I could get in the car, wait ten minutes at the top of the road to get onto the main road and then go look for paid parking in the usually full car park. In any case, the walk home would probably be quicker than the walk to the car park.

HooohRaaah · 19-02-2014 05:22PM

Caliden wrote: »

There are certain things you should know how to do by the time you're 25. Driving is one of them.
There's always knowing how to swim, ride a bike, cook for yourself, use an iron, use the washing machine. Basic, basic things...

Well said.
There are just some things people need to know how to do.

SpaceTime · 19-02-2014 05:22PM

Butterface wrote: »

If you switch the genders in your story above, I'm sure the OP would find it acceptable.. because as we now know, it is less acceptable if a man cannot drive, than if a woman cannot.

Im equally surprised by either gender being unable to drive.

Mr. CooL ICE · 19-02-2014 05:23PM

No. I'm almost 30 and have been driving since I was 17. It was useful because my town wasn't connected by any direct bus route to my college, so it saved time. But not that I'm living in Dublin in a house that is beside the luas and working near the luas, I'm really considering selling it as it is so damn expensive.

The only person I've heard of who thinks it is weird is a female bogger, who herself can't drive. She says that growing up, the men were always supposed to have cars and drive and the girls didn't need to.

I have a friend (foreign, living in Dublin) who is determined to buy a car just to have a bit of freedom and save money on public transport. He is of the mindset that you spend €1500 in a cheap car, and that is all. He doesn't contemplate the cost of petrol, tax, insurance, repairs, motorway tolls, parking or even having to move house because there is no parking in his apartment.

Having a car gives you some freedom, but also has its restrictions. And it is certainly not weird to not know how to drive.

SimonQuinlank · 19-02-2014 05:23PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

How do all the people who can't drive manage to get the bags from the weekly shopping home?

When you're walking in the rain for your bus do you wish you had your own car?

Recent invention called the internet.You can buy all sorts of things on it,even groceries would you believe!

Butterface · 19-02-2014 05:24PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

If a woman drives their boyfriend/husband around everywhere it is very very strange

You strike me as very immature OP. Maybe use your driving skills and get out of whatever village you're from and experience a bit more of the world.

Ihatecuddles · 19-02-2014 05:24PM

Butterface wrote: »

If you switch the genders in your story above, I'm sure the OP would find it acceptable.. because as we now know, it is less acceptable if a man cannot drive, than if a woman cannot.

It will soon be me!! We're moving miles away from where we live now, so my OH will have to cart me around for a while, but Im learning to drive at the moment so it's one less thing I'll do that annoys him!

SpaceTime · 19-02-2014 05:25PM

HooohRaaah wrote: »

If a woman drives their boyfriend/husband around everywhere it is very very strange

If a man drives his wife or girlfriend around it's strange too. You don't get married for the sake of a chauffer service!

Grown Men who can't drive. Do you find them weird?

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