Myths and misconceptions about living car free
07-21-17, 10:46 AM
#126
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I think that we are compelled largely by survival instincts. Adaptation is a big part of survival, both on an individual basis, and a collective one. I think there are basically two types of people as far as this discussion is concerned; those who are willing and able to see the necessity of a relatively universal, gestalt paradigm and those who are unable or unwilling.
So, while a car-free life is good for the individual, I think it is also inspired by a desire to live in a certain degree of harmony with nature. This is not an aesthetic: It is a critical survival adaptation, inimical to the knee-jerk conformism that the rank-and-file base their identity on.
So, while a car-free life is good for the individual, I think it is also inspired by a desire to live in a certain degree of harmony with nature. This is not an aesthetic: It is a critical survival adaptation, inimical to the knee-jerk conformism that the rank-and-file base their identity on.
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07-21-17, 10:48 AM
#127
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Are there any people who ride a bicycle to go anywhere who would not be labeled as "car light" by the LCF linguists who use this vague term?
07-21-17, 10:50 AM
#128
Senior Member
True... you'd think it'd be simple common sense to first get the job before letting your hair grow down to your shoulders, dying it purple, rolling up your sleeves to show off yards of tats and emit clouds of medically-prescribed marijuana vape as you walk your bike past the cubicles in smelly bike shorts and a sweat-stained jersey...
07-21-17, 10:52 AM
#129
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I think that we are compelled largely by survival instincts. Adaptation is a big part of survival, both on an individual basis, and a collective one. I think there are basically two types of people as far as this discussion is concerned; those who are willing and able to see the necessity of a relatively universal, gestalt paradigm and those who are unable or unwilling.
So, while a car-free life is good for the individual, I think it is also inspired by a desire to live in a certain degree of harmony with nature. This is not an aesthetic: It is a critical survival adaptation, inimical to the knee-jerk conformism that the rank-and-file base their identity on.
So, while a car-free life is good for the individual, I think it is also inspired by a desire to live in a certain degree of harmony with nature. This is not an aesthetic: It is a critical survival adaptation, inimical to the knee-jerk conformism that the rank-and-file base their identity on.
07-21-17, 10:59 AM
#130
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07-21-17, 11:14 AM
#131
Prefers Cicero
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You and any other so-called LCF person who shares this obsessive concern about transportation to an interview, the car parking facilities, and/or if corporate spies are watching for bicycling employees or job applicants, should question yourselves about why you are so fearful that someone, somewhere just might not be neutral about the appearance of a bicyclist on their personal radar, or be shocked, shocked that someone just might not look favorably on a job applicant who doesn't care if he or she presents themselves in a professional manner for a job interview and believes it is a requirement for an interviewer to ignore such an atitude during an interview.
Either that or you are subtly prejudiced against people who bike to interviews and expect them to commit interview faux pas(s).
Last edited by cooker; 07-21-17 at 11:28 AM.
07-21-17, 11:18 AM
#132
Prefers Cicero
Thread Starter
True... you'd think it'd be simple common sense to first get the job before letting your hair grow down to your shoulders, dying it purple, rolling up your sleeves to show off yards of tats and emit clouds of medically-prescribed marijuana vape as you walk your bike past the cubicles in smelly bike shorts and a sweat-stained jersey...
07-21-17, 11:20 AM
#133
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I didn't know anything about them. And to be honest, I didn't care one way or the other whether the company would have a negative reaction to it, because that's not what they'd be paying me for.
07-21-17, 11:44 AM
#134
Prefers Cicero
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I wasn't really thinking about what they would think about it, more whether it might affect your hireability, which obviously it didn't.
07-21-17, 11:44 AM
#135
Senior Member
07-21-17, 12:12 PM
#137
Senior Member
No, they live in an area that has decent public transportation and can go most places by bike or shank's mare. I know young people who are not poor who use Zip car , or public transport. I don't know if they are millionaires,but they don't waste money on cars, but they might use one now and again.
A number of years ago there was a lot of discussions about the cost of car ownership.
A number of years ago there was a lot of discussions about the cost of car ownership.
07-21-17, 12:27 PM
#138
Senior Member
"When I use a word"Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I chose it to mean - neither more or less."
07-21-17, 12:29 PM
#139
Prefers Cicero
Thread Starter
I would hope that's true for all employers, and for a specialized professional like yourself it may be more true, but I suspect there are still some would be influenced by whether or not you owned or drove a car. After all, there are apparently some who be really put off if you were carrying a backpack.
07-21-17, 12:40 PM
#140
Senior Member
07-21-17, 01:02 PM
#141
Prefers Cicero
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07-21-17, 01:29 PM
#142
Senior Member
My CEO sometimes bikes to work. A lot of professionals in cities do.
https://lawyerist.com/10-tips-bike-commuting-lawyer/
https://lawyerist.com/10-tips-bike-commuting-lawyer/
Again, people that are making a lot of money are not cycling to work. Most, sound better.
And where? Ride up the gut of Baltimore County today in your suit. You guys make me laugh.
07-21-17, 01:32 PM
#143
Senior Member
Yes. Since so many on internet forums have so much time to post it's hard to imagine them working, or having the energy to work after they have biked to work. What 10, 15, 20 miles?
07-21-17, 01:38 PM
#144
Senior Member
1. It is doubtful if most non-cyclists could identify a recent or an expensive bike from any other bike if all were clean.
2. It is doubtful if many people who do make a decent yearly wage/salary and/or have a lot of money, and do ride bikes to work (or anywhere else) are living car free.
2. It is doubtful if many people who do make a decent yearly wage/salary and/or have a lot of money, and do ride bikes to work (or anywhere else) are living car free.
Uh, of course to the second comment.
07-21-17, 01:50 PM
#145
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But people that are new to it can benefit from some basic ideas and ways to look at things differently. Connecting with others on the matter can be difficult because most of the world can't identify with it as a goal OR it's trivial to them because they've been carfree since they were born but don't click in your clan or live nearby or actually want to be without a car etc.
07-21-17, 01:51 PM
#146
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Personally I would avoid biking to an interview...One of the questions that often comes up during interviews is: " Do you have a reliable transportation ?...or " Do you have a valid drivers license and do you drive " ??...Sure you may believe that a bicycle is a reliable form of transportation, but that doesn't mean that your potential employer thinks the same way as you do...Another thing to consider is that a bicycle may be reliable but the person riding it may not be reliable or responsible and their lack of responsibility/accountability may be the main reason why they are riding a bicycle.... I don't think it makes a good first impression to show up for an interview on a bicycle.
07-21-17, 01:57 PM
#147
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I used to commute round trip 40 miles daily on my bicycle. Now I work at home mostly. I had more energy when I was riding the bicycle routinely.
07-21-17, 02:01 PM
#148
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This is like asking John Forester if he would ride in a bike lane if it happened to be on the same street he was using - he can't give a straight answer. Do think it would be risky to bike to an interview, no matter how professionally you presented yourself, because if they noticed you came by bike, thev might have some kind of negative reaction?
What about the rest of you?
What about the rest of you?
07-21-17, 02:20 PM
#149
Prefers Cicero
Thread Starter
Personally I would avoid biking to an interview...One of the questions that often comes up during interviews is: " Do you have a reliable transportation ?...or " Do you have a valid drivers license and do you drive " ??...Sure you may believe that a bicycle is a reliable form of transportation, but that doesn't mean that your potential employer thinks the same way as you do...Another thing to consider is that a bicycle may be reliable but the person riding it may not be reliable or responsible and their lack of responsibility/accountability may be the main reason why they are riding a bicycle.... I don't think it makes a good first impression to show up for an interview on a bicycle.
07-21-17, 02:23 PM
#150
Prefers Cicero
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It might not make a big difference but I'd play it safe and not go to the interview by bicycle. I'd want to show up fresh and professionally dressed like I take the opportunity to work there seriously. I think that being a "bicycle enthusiast" would be fine and adds to giving you a human character. But if you have to show up and clean up and get unsweaty and change clothes etc. then you're putting on quite a show before you've even introduced yourself.